Saudi Arabia announces 13th wave of Phase 2 e-invoicing integration

Executive summary

On 28 June 2024, Saudi Arabia's Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) announced on its website that taxpayers resident in Saudi Arabia, with a taxable turnover exceeding seven million Saudi Riyal (SAR7m) during calendar year 2022 or 2023, will fall within the 13th wave of Phase 2 e-invoicing integration and should comply with the Phase 2 requirements. The ZATCA will notify the impacted taxpayers in preparation for linking and integrating their electronic invoicing systems with the ZATCA's e-invoicing platform (Fatoora).

Further, the ZATCA Governor issued Decision No. (1445-99-687) dated 06/12/1445AH, which was published in the Official Gazette on 28 June 2024 and mentions that the taxpayers coming under the 13th wave should comply with the Phase 2 e-invoicing requirements between 1 January 2025 and 31 March 2025, inclusive of both dates.

Detailed discussion

Background

On 4 December 2020, the ZATCA introduced e-invoicing in Saudi Arabia, releasing the E-Invoicing Regulation. E-invoicing in Saudi Arabia is being implemented in two phases:

• Phase 1, effective from 4 December 2021, mandates generation of e-invoices and e-notes, including related processing and record keeping.

• Phase 2, effective from 1 January 2023, mandates integration of a taxpayer's system with the ZATCA, along with the transmission of e-invoices and e-notes to the ZATCA. This phase is being implemented in waves. The criteria and timelines for the first 12 waves, which were previously announced, are:

The ZATCA has already notified resident businesses falling under the above waves to comply with Phase 2 of e-invoicing as per their applicable timelines.

ZATCA announcement

Based on the latest announcements, the ZATCA will begin notifying taxpayers who fall within the 13th wave of Phase 2 e-invoicing integration, to go live within the period between 1 January 2025 and 31 March 2025, inclusive of both dates.

Implications

Resident businesses should comply with the obligations of Phase 2 e-invoicing integration based on the ZATCA notification and undertake the relevant steps in making the required changes in their information technology systems. Taxpayers should comply with the Phase 2 requirements in line with the e-invoicing regulation to preclude possible penalties.

Taxpayers who do not fall within the first 13 waves of Phase 2 e-invoicing integration should monitor future announcements from the ZATCA on the integration timeline period applicable to them in subsequent waves.