Saudi Arabia’s Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) has reminded businesses subject to excise tax to file their returns for the March–April period by May 15.
The authority stated that failure to submit on time would result in a penalty of 5% of the due tax for every 30 days of delay. Filing must be completed through ZATCA’s online portal.
Excise tax in Saudi Arabia applies to products considered harmful to health or the environment. These include tobacco and its derivatives, energy drinks, soft drinks, and sweetened beverages. The tax is intended to reduce consumption of such goods and align with public health objectives.
Saudi Arabia introduced the excise tax in 2017 as part of its broader fiscal diversification strategy under Vision 2030. According to recent government data, excise tax revenues contribute a growing share to non-oil income, alongside VAT and customs duties.
