Saudi customs duty rates: what will my shipment pay?

The standard Saudi customs duty is 5% of CIF value (goods + freight + insurance). By HS code the range is 0–25%: many machines and raw materials enter at 0%, most consumer goods at 5%, and protected lines like some foodstuffs, steel and furniture at 12–25%. On top of duty, import VAT of 15% is charged on CIF + duty. GCC-origin goods enter duty-free.

How do I calculate duty and VAT — worked example

Goods worth $20,000 with $2,500 freight and $100 insurance → CIF = $22,600. At 5% duty: $1,130. VAT base = $22,600 + $1,130 = $23,730; VAT 15% = $3,559.50. Total ZATCA payment ≈ $4,689.50, of which the VAT part ($3,559.50) is recoverable as input tax for VAT-registered companies — the true unrecoverable cost is the $1,130 duty.

How do I find the rate for my product?

The rate is set by the 12-digit Saudi HS code of each product. Look codes up in the ZATCA tariff tool on zatca.gov.sa, or send Sanad Global your product list — classification is the single highest-stakes paperwork step: a wrong code causes reassessment, penalties and delayed releases, and an over-cautious one quietly overpays duty on every shipment.

Which exemptions and special cases exist?

• GCC-origin goods with GCC certificate of origin: 0%
• Many production inputs and machinery lines: 0–5%, with exemption programs for licensed factories
• Personal effects and low-value parcels follow separate simplified rules
• Excise goods (tobacco, energy drinks, sweetened beverages) carry 50–100% excise on top of duty and VAT

Questions importers ask about this

• How much is customs duty in Saudi Arabia?
• How is import VAT calculated in Saudi Arabia?
• What is CIF value and why does Saudi customs use it?

Related guides

• Customs clearance in Saudi Arabia
• FASAH customs platform
• Customs clearance in Jeddah
• Customs clearance in Dammam