22Different Activities
Para. 3.2.5Status unknownSaudi ArabiaRegulation
Issued by Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA)
Other General Guidelines Regarding Zakat Base
Zakat base may not be less than the net profit adjusted for the purpose of Zakat
collection.
Example (15):
Zakat base of one of the Zakat payers was SAR 1,000,000 and the adjusted profit was SAR
1,100,000 for the period from 1/1/2020 to 31/12/2020 of the same year.
What is the Zakat base of the Company?
Since Zakat is less than the adjusted profit, Zakat should be calculated based on the adjusted
profit.
Adjusted profit × 2.5% = Zakat amount due
1,100,000 × 2.5% = SAR 27,500
The Zakat payer shall be held accountable for Zakat of the entire Zakat year in which one
of the partners died or waived his share and the entry of others to replace him, whether heirs
or others, if the Zakat payer continues activity.
Example (16):
A joint venture company whose financial year ends on 31/12/2019. On1/7/2019, one partner
assigned its stake in the company to another partner.
How should the company be accountable for Zakat this year?
As long as the activity continues, the Zakat base is not affected by the entry or exit of a part-
ner. Accordingly, the Company is accountable for the entire Zakat year in accordance with the
Regulation and the continuation of business.
A sole proprietorship entity shall be accounted for the Zakat year during which owner-
ship is fully transferred to other owners in proportion to the financial period, whether transfer
of ownership was by sale, assignment or otherwise.
Example (17):
A sole proprietorship entity transferred to a new owner on 1/7/2019 noting that the financial
year ends on 31/12/2019.
How will the entity be charged this year on the assumption that the calculated Zakat base
was SAR 10,000,000?
The old owner shall be charged proportionally from the beginning of the year until the date of
transfer of ownership on 30/6/2019.
The new owner shall be charged proportionally from the date of transfer of ownership
(1/7/2019) to the end of the year (31/9/2019).
Calculation of the Zakat base for both the old and the new owners:
In the event that the Zakatpayer converts from one legal form to another by any means
whatsoever, the proportaional (pro-rata) accounting method shall not be applied,
notwithstanding what is stated in the paragraph above.
Number of days before and after
ownership transfer
Days of the year (365)
X
Zakat base
X
4. In the event that the Zakat payer is converted from one legal form to another in any way,
the accounting may not be applied in a pro rata basis other than what is mentioned in para-
graph above.
The table below shows the Zakat treatment in cases of conversion from one legal entity to
another as follows:
Conversion of the legal entity
Zakat Transaction
From
To
capital company\ partnership
Sole proprietorship
Zakat transaction is not affected
Sole proprietorship
capital company\ partnership
Zakat transaction is not affected
capital company\ partnership
capital company\ partnership
Zakat transaction is not affected
Sole proprietorship
Sole proprietorship
5. There shall be no clearing or settlement between the payable balances of owners or
partners (including their current accounts) and debits to other owners or partners (including
their current accounts). Clearing or settlement may be made between the balances of owner
and the same owner (or the balances of the partner or the same partner).
6. For Zakat purposes, the revaluation results are taken into account in accordance with the
fair value shown in the financial statements.
The period between the former
owner and the new owner shall
be divided in proportion, and shall
be accounted for on this basis
Example (18):
Al-Bahr Company owns shares in Al-Salam Company (a Saudi joint stock company listed on
the Exchange) and is classified as long-term investment.
The fair value of investments in Al-Salam Company amounted to SAR 1,000,000 at the
beginning of the Zakat year. However, the fair value increased to SAR 1,500,000 at the end
of the year. The increase in fair value (SAR 500,000) is included in the other overall income
statement.
How the investment in Al-Salam Company is treated in the Zakat Declaration?
Item
Amount (SAR)
Value of the investment deducted from the Zakat base
Change in fair value added to Zakat base
The Arabic text is the legally binding version. The English translation is provided for guidance only.
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