The oversight and field teams of the General Authority of Zakat and Tax, last week, detected 1,304 violations to the provisions of the Kingdom's tax laws, during 7,048 inspection rounds on markets and commercial shops in various cities and regions across the Kingdom.

The inspection visits covered several sectors including retail, general trade, and petroleum services. The violations detected included the absence of the tax number on the invoice, non-display of the tax certificate, and the non-inscription of the establishment's address on the invoice.

GAZT revealed that the violations detected were in a large part reported by consumers through the official reporting channels, as the Authority's Oversight and Inspection Department received 183 complaints during the same period.

The authority stated that the inspection rounds are part of the efforts exerted by its field detection teams to ensure utmost taxpayer compliance and eliminate business transactions in violation of its rules and regulations.

GAZT has reiterated its calls to business owners to enforce the 15% VAT, and warned that its inspection visits to the markets and commercial shops shall continue to ensure taxpayers are in compliance with the provisions of the Kingdom's tax laws.

The Authority also urges all consumers to lodge their reports against any establishment that does not apply the 15% VAT, via the VAT smart phone application or GAZT's website (gazt.gov.sa). GAZT offers incentive rewards for people who file reports on tax violations; rewards amount to 2.5% of the value of violations and fines, at a maximum of 1 million riyals or a minimum of 1000 riyals.​