Oman to Introduce VAT

Selin Adler Ring
September 24, 2020

This blog was last updated on September 24, 2020

Oman is on its way to introduce VAT. After the approval of the State Council and the Shura Council the draft law was sent for final approval to Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq Al Said. If the draft law is approved, VAT is expected to be implemented in 2022.

Background

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states signed the Common VAT Framework Agreement in 2016. The VAT Framework Agreement envisages the six Gulf states (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar) would implement a unified VAT system. This would strengthen the GCC and continue work towards creating a unified regional economy through VAT integration.

Following this initiative, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates introduced VAT regimes in January 2018, while Bahrain followed suit in January 2019. The remaining three countries are still expected to implement the tax.

After the economic recession caused by COVID-19 and the drop in oil prices, Saudi Arabia has increased its VAT rate this year from 5% to 15% to generate more revenue. It is for these same reasons that Oman is taking steps to implement VAT.

VAT implementation progress

The draft law envisages a 5% VAT rate and it was first approved on 21 July 2020 by the Shura Council whose members were elected. As a secondary step in Omani judicial process, the draft law was sent to the State Council whose members were appointed by the Sultan. Currently, the draft law is waiting for the Sultan´s approval which is the final stage for VAT Law to be enacted. The draft law envisages VAT to be implemented in Oman in 2022 making it the fourth of the six Gulf states to introduce VAT as part of a 2016 VAT union agreement.

Take Action

To keep up to date with the changing VAT compliance landscape, download Trends: Continuous Global VAT Compliance and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter to stay ahead of regulatory news and other updates.

Sign up for Email Updates

Stay up to date with the latest tax and compliance updates that may impact your business.

Author

Selin Adler Ring

Selin is Regulatory Counsel at Sovos. Based in Stockholm and originally from Turkey, Selin’s background is in corporate and commercial law, and currently specializes in global e-invoicing compliance. Selin earned a Law degree in her home country and has a master’s degree in Law and Economics. She speaks Russian, Arabic, English and Turkish.
Share this post

Hungary Supplemental Insurance Premium Tax
EMEA IPT
July 11, 2022
Extra Profit Tax: An Introduction to Supplemental IPT in Hungary

This blog was last updated on October 28, 2024 Update 7 October 2024 by Edit Buliczka Hungarian Tax Office Updates IPT Declaration Form for 2023 The procedure necessary to correct an underdeclared premium figure in Hungary can be complicated. The complexity of a correction for return form 2320 has become even more challenging. Following a […]

E-Invoicing Compliance EMEA VAT & Fiscal Reporting
November 1, 2024
New ViDA Proposal Set for ECOFIN Approval

This blog was last updated on November 1, 2024 The Council of the European Union has released a new proposal regarding the VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) reform. The proposal aims to modernise and streamline VAT systems across the EU, notably e-invoicing and Continuous Transaction Controls (CTC). Members States will review it on 5 […]

what is peppol
E-Invoicing Compliance North America
October 29, 2024
What it is PEPPOL?

This blog was last updated on October 29, 2024 Peppol E-invoicing explained: What it is and how it works The global adoption of electronic invoicing is accelerating. Governments worldwide are pushing to adopt e-invoicing to digitally transform their national systems and, often, to close the VAT gap. While many countries have introduced their own e-invoicing […]

remote sellers sales tax
North America Sales & Use Tax
October 28, 2024
Will Congress Act to Simplify Remote Seller Sales Tax Collection

This blog was last updated on October 29, 2024 When the United States Supreme Court ruled in 2018, that South Dakota’s law imposing sales tax collection requirements on sellers without in-state physical presence was constitutional, it did not grant states free reign. States are still responsible for ensuring that their sales tax requirements are manageable, […]

dtc shipping laws for craft spirits
North America ShipCompliant
October 23, 2024
Why It’s Time to Reform DtC Shipping Laws for Craft Spirits

This blog was last updated on October 23, 2024 While wine lovers have enjoyed the convenience of direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping for nearly two decades, the craft spirits market is still not afforded the same access. Outdated and restrictive spirits shipping laws have kept the spirits industry from fully leveraging the benefits of DtC shipping, leaving […]

reporting unclaimed property
North America Unclaimed Property
October 21, 2024
Three Key Reminders for Businesses Reporting Unclaimed Property

This blog was last updated on October 21, 2024 Unclaimed property compliance is one of those legal obligations that often flies under the radar for many businesses, especially smaller ones. However, failing to stay compliant can quickly turn minor oversights into major liabilities. In many cases, the penalties far exceed the value of the property […]