English text status

English translation published by the Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission. The Arabic text published in the Official Gazette remains the legal reference in the event of any discrepancy.

Practical summary

This Article provides special tax points for periodic contracts, successive invoices, vending machines, Deemed Supplies, Imports and vouchers.

Who should read this?

Subscription businesses, continuous suppliers, vending operators, importers and voucher issuers.

Why does it matter?

A special rule may move VAT away from the ordinary delivery date. Periodic contracts are also subject to a 12-month maximum from the start of Supply.

Periodic contracts12-month maximumSpecial cases

Current text

The date of Supply of Goods or Services in relation to any contract containing periodic payments or consecutive invoices is the earliest of the following dates, provided that it does not exceed twelve months from the date of the commencement of the Supply of Goods or Services: The date of issue of a Tax Invoice or any other similar document. The due date of payment of the amount specified in the Tax Invoice. The date of receipt of payment. The date of Supply in circumstances where payment is made through vending machines is the date the amounts paid are collected from those machines. The date of a deemed Supply of Goods or Services is the date of their Supply, assignment, disposal, change in the use or the date of deregistration, on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with what the Regulations shall specify. The date customs fees are due, or the date on which they were supposed to be due, in accordance with the provisions of the Unified Customs Law. The date of Supply of a Voucher shall be the date of its issue or the date of subsequent Supply.

Does a special tax point apply?

  1. 1

    Classify the transaction into a named special case.

  2. 2

    For periodic contracts, compare invoice, payment-due and receipt dates and apply the 12-month cap.

  3. 3

    Classify vouchers under Article (15) of the Regulations.

  4. 4

    Document why the special rule replaces Article (12).

Connected provisions

Official guides and tools

Illustrative example by Madar

Monthly subscription

For a continuous monthly Service, each cycle uses the earliest relevant invoice, due or receipt date, subject to the statutory maximum period.

Questions to help you apply it

  • Is this one of the named special cases?
  • What is the earliest date for each periodic cycle?
  • Has the 12-month maximum been respected?