English text status

English translation published by the NBR in its bilingual Regulations file (marked unofficial). The Arabic text published in the Official Gazette remains the legal reference in the event of any discrepancy.

Practical summary

The minimum Tax records include chronological transaction books, balance sheet and profit and loss, payroll, fixed assets, quantity-and-value inventory, issued invoices and notes, originals received, import and export customs documents and additional NBR-specified records. They must be secure, readable and reviewable.

Who should read this?

Accounting, finance, inventory, payroll, customs, IT, Representatives and Agents.

Why does it matter?

An invoice file alone is not a complete record. Evidence should trace a transaction from entry to invoice, inventory or customs document and Return. A Representative must keep the records; an Agent may do so; the Taxable Person remains responsible for availability.

Eight core categoriesSecure, readable and reviewableNBR may require additional records

Current text

A. A Taxable Person shall keep and retain accounting books and records for Tax purposes, including all of the following: 1. Accounting books related to the.() Taxable Person’s work (all of the transactions according to their chronological and numerical order). 2. Balance sheet and profit and loss account. 3. Records of salaries and wages. 4. Records of fixed assets. 5. Inventory records and accounts (including quantities and values) at the end of any relevant Tax Period. 6. A copy of Tax Invoices, credit and debit notes issued, and original Tax Invoices received by the Taxable Person. 7. All customs documents relating to import and export transactions carried out by the Taxable Person. 8. Additional records determined by the Bureau. B. Taxable Persons must retain records and accounting books in a secure way to avoid their damage, and in a state where they can be read and reviewed. C. A Tax Representative shall keep the records stipulated in Paragraph A of this Article. D. A Tax Agent may keep the records stipulated in Paragraph A of this Article. E. The Bureau reserves the right to request a Taxable Person to keep additional records, and shall notify the Taxable Person where the Bureau considers this necessary.

Record completeness test

  1. 1

    Link each sale or purchase to entry, invoice and Return.

  2. 2

    Keep financial statements, payroll and fixed assets.

  3. 3

    Reconcile quantity-and-value inventory at relevant period end.

  4. 4

    Keep issued copies and notes and originals received.

  5. 5

    Link Imports and Exports to customs documents.

  6. 6

    Test security, readability, extraction and review.

  7. 7

    Implement any NBR notice requiring added records.

Connected provisions

Official guides and tools

Connected Madar tools

Illustrative example by Madar

Invoice PDFs without inventory ledger

A shop stores invoice PDFs but has no quantity-and-value inventory ledger and no customs-document link for Imports. Invoice storage helps, but it does not by itself meet the record list or explain differences between purchases, sales and stock.

Questions to help you apply it

  • Chronological and traceable?
  • Quantity-and-value inventory?
  • Received originals and issued copies?
  • Customs linked to entries?
  • Readable and extractable on request?