2017-04-10
Accounting for Zakat and Income Tax
The Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) has issued new regulatory guidance requiring all banks, insurance companies, and finance companies to replace domestic accounting standards with IFRS as of January 1, 2017, while establishing a dedicated framework for Zakat and income tax. Since IFRS does not cover Zakat, the directive mandates a standalone compliance annexure to standardize the accounting treatment and financial statement presentation of these obligations across the entire financial sector. Institutions must apply this uniform methodology consistently, utilizing the specified guidance to accurately calculate, account for, and disclose Zakat and income tax liabilities.

BANKING CONTROL
From
To
Attention
Subject
Saudi }lra6ian �onetary jlutliority
Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA)
All Banks, Insurance and Finance Companies
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\ April 2017
Managing Directors, Chief Executive Officers and General Managers
Accounting of Zakat and Income Tax
This has reference to SAMA circular no. 381000029499 dated 15/03/1438, which
explains amendments to SAMA Accounting Standards for Commercial Banks issued
in December 1994, regarding treatment of Zakat and Income Tax.
In order to clarify the accounting treatment and financial statement presentation of
Zakat and Income Tax, SAMA has decided to take the following actions:
• SAMA Accounting Standards for Commercial Banks will no longer be
applicable from 1 January 2017.
• All Banks, Insurance Companies and Finance Companies should prepare
their financial statements using IFRS except for IAS 12 and IFRIC 21 so far as
they relate to the accounting of Zakat (IFRS as adopted by SAMA).
Accounting for Zakat is a matter, which is not addressed, by IFRS, and
therefore SAMA recognizes a need to provide guidance for a uniform
application of accounting and financial statements presentation of Zakat and
related matters.
• For the purpose of accounting of zakat and income tax, a standalone
guidance document is being issued as per Annexure I which should be
applicable from 1 January 2017. This treatment should be applied consistently
across all the three sectors i.e. Banking, Insurance Companies and Finance
Companies.
• � :,_.-f'
Deputy Governor for Supervision
P.O. Box 2992 - Riyadh-11169, Saudi Arabia -Tel: 011-4633000-Telex 404390 SJ - Fax: 011-4632090