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Saudi Customs Duty & Import VAT Calculator 2026

Estimate what you pay to clear goods into Saudi Arabia: customs duty on the CIF value by category, 15% VAT on top, and the landed cost per unit.

⚠️ Duty depends on the HS code. The category bands here are common rates (5% general, 12% textiles/furniture, 0% basic food); the exact rate for your product is in the ZATCA tariff search by HS code. The 15% VAT calculation is fixed; the duty rate is editable.
0 total duty + VAT payable at customs
CIF value (goods + freight + insurance)—
Customs duty—
VAT (15% on CIF + duty)—
Clearance and other fees—
Total landed cost—
Effective tax rate on goods value—

In short

Saudi import duty is charged on the CIF value (goods + insurance + freight) at the ZATCA tariff rate — 5% for most goods, 12% for clothing, textiles and furniture, 0% for many basic foods — and 15% VAT is then charged on CIF plus duty, giving an effective 20.75% on a 5% product. GCC-origin goods with a certificate of origin are duty-free.

Who this is for: Importers, e-commerce sellers and individuals shipping goods into Saudi Arabia who need the duty, VAT and landed cost.

Not tax or legal advice. Duty bands are common rates; the binding rate is the ZATCA tariff for your exact HS code, and excise, anti-dumping and conformity costs can apply to specific products.
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How Saudi import duty and VAT are calculated

  1. CIF value = cost of goods + insurance + freight to the Saudi port or airport. Customs values in SAR at the ZATCA exchange rate on the declaration date.
  2. Customs duty = CIF × the tariff rate for the product's HS code. Most goods are at the GCC common 5%; textiles, clothing, footwear and furniture 12% (some lines raised to 15–20% after 2020); many basic foodstuffs, medicines and books 0%; tobacco and energy drinks carry 100% excise on top.
  3. VAT 15% is charged on CIF + duty (and any excise) — tax on tax, which is why the effective rate on a 5% product is 20.75%.
  4. Fees: customs clearance, port handling, SABER/SALEEM conformity certificates and the broker's charge are extra and are shown separately.

Goods manufactured in another GCC state with at least 40% local value-added and a certificate of origin enter duty-free (VAT still applies). Importers registered for VAT recover the import VAT as input tax.

Assumptions

  • Duty = CIF × band rate (or your rate); VAT = 15% × (CIF + duty); GCC origin sets duty to zero.
  • Band rates are common tariff rates from the Saudi rules file, not HS-code-specific.
  • Clearance fees are added to the landed cost but not taxed.

Worked example

SAR 20,000 of clothing from Pakistan, SAR 2,000 freight, 100 units

CIF = SAR 22,000. Duty at 12% = SAR 2,640. VAT = 15% × (22,000 + 2,640) = SAR 3,696.
Duty + VAT = SAR 6,336 (31.7% of the goods value); with SAR 800 clearance the landed cost is SAR 29,136, or SAR 291 per unit.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find the duty rate for my product?

Search the ZATCA integrated tariff by HS code or description; the first 6 digits of the HS code are international, the last 6 are Saudi-specific and determine the rate.

Is there duty on personal parcels from Amazon or AliExpress?

Shipments valued under about SAR 3,000 are commonly cleared duty-free as personal imports, but 15% VAT is still collected by the courier, plus a handling fee.

Do I pay VAT twice if the supplier charged VAT abroad?

Exports are normally zero-rated by the supplier; if a foreign supplier charged its own VAT you cannot recover it in Saudi Arabia — ask for an export invoice.

What documents are needed to clear goods?

Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or airway bill, certificate of origin, and for regulated products a SABER product certificate and SALEEM shipment certificate.

How much is customs duty in Saudi Arabia?

Most goods 5% of the CIF value, textiles and furniture 12%, many foods 0%, plus 15% VAT on CIF + duty.

Is VAT charged on imports to Saudi Arabia?

Yes, 15% at customs on the CIF value plus duty; VAT-registered importers recover it as input tax.

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Written by the Swift IT Sols editorial team · SWIFT SOLSRules sourced from the official authorities named on this page and last checked How we source and check calculators

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