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

Input VAT is blocked for non-business, personal or recreational Goods and Services, including certain hospitality, accommodation, food, events, trips and free personal employee benefits. For vehicles provided to employees, deduction is limited to business use, subject to specified vehicle categories such as rental, emergency, licensed taxis and buses, and vehicles usable only in the Economic Activity.

Who should read this?

Expense, HR, fleet, accounting and audit teams.

Why does it matter?

Payment by the company does not decide deduction. Purpose and actual use do. Mixed-use vehicles usually require an evidenced business-use percentage rather than an automatic full deduction or full block.

Personal and recreation blockedVehicle by business useSpecified vehicle exceptions

Current text

deductible Input Tax A. Input Tax charged for purposes other than his Economic Activity or relating to Goods or Services intended for personal or recreational use shall not be deductible by the Taxable Person, including: 1. Tax paid in relation to the provision of recreational Services to individuals, such as hospitality and accommodation Services, food and drink, which are not provided in the normal course of business. 2. Tax paid in relation to accessing events or functions, and for trips for recreational purposes. 3. Tax paid in relation to Goods and Services used by employees free of charge and for their personal use, with the exception of any Tax paid as a result of an obligation under any other laws applied in the Kingdom. B. Input Tax relating to vehicles provided by a Taxable Person to his employees shall not be deductible, except in proportion to their use for business purposes. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply to Input Tax on Supplies associated with such vehicles such as maintenance, repair and insurance Services. The controls and conditions of deducting Input Tax related to vehicles shall be determined by a decision of the Chief Executive Officer the Bureau. C. The provisions of Paragraph B of this Article shall not apply to the following categories of vehicle: 1. Vehicles that are rented by rental companies. 2. Vehicles registered and used for emergency purposes such as police cars, ambulances, fire engines. 3. Taxis and buses licensed by the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunication. 4. Buses, trucks, cranes and other similar vehicles that can only be used in the course of an Economic Activity.

Before deducting entertainment or vehicle VAT

  1. 1

    Identify who benefited and why.

  2. 2

    Distinguish ordinary business provision from recreation or personal benefit.

  3. 3

    Document vehicle business use with a reasonable measure.

  4. 4

    Apply the same test to maintenance, repair and insurance.

  5. 5

    Check specified rental, emergency, taxi, bus and business-only categories.

  6. 6

    Adjust where actual vehicle use differs from the percentage applied.

Connected provisions

Official guides and tools

Connected Madar tools

Illustrative example by Madar

Vehicle used for work and family

Where a usage log supports 70% business and 30% personal use, full VAT on purchase, maintenance and insurance should not be assumed. The supported business percentage is reviewed against actual annual use.

Questions to help you apply it

  • Is this business or personal benefit?
  • What evidences vehicle business use?
  • Were related vehicle costs included?
  • Does a specified vehicle category apply?