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.
| 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.
How Saudi import duty and VAT are calculated
- 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.
- 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.
- 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%.
- 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
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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