Egypt: Tax System

Consumption Taxes

Nature of the Tax: A "General Sales Tax (GST)" apply.
Standard Rate: The GST (General Sales Tax) rate is 10%, except for some products :
- 25% to televisions, radios, jewellery and certain motors vehicles;
- 30% to luxury goods such as cosmetics, video cameras, and high-value vehicle.
Reduced Tax Rate: Reduced rates of 5% or 10%, depending on their type :
- 5% to some foodstuffs, fertilisers and locally produced medicines ;
- 10% to hotel and tourism services, specific international communications and certain services.
Exclusion From Taxation: Basic foodstuffs, catering, natural gas, books and magazines and goods used for scientific, educative and cultural purposes are exempt of tax.
Method of Calculation, Declaration and Settlement: Apply to the supply of most goods and services at a rate of 10%.
Other Consumption Taxes: Excise duty is also collected on alcoholic drinks and coffee. An additional duty is collected on brandy, cognac, gin and whisky.

Tax Base For Resident and Foreign Companies: For additional information on consumption tax for non-resident access the PKF tax guide on Egypt.

Legal Entity Income Tax	0.2
Tax on the Canal de Suez operator Profits	0.4
For oil and gas companies	40.55%

Tax Rate For Foreign Companies: None
Capital Gains Taxation: Long-term capital gains are subject to tax on the companies at the standard rate (20%). Profits from movable capital are not taxable.
Main Allowable Deductions and Tax Credit: Setting up in special economic zones entitles the company to tax benefits. They are only taxed at 1% of their profits or operations. For additional information access the PKF tax guide on Egypt.
Other Corporate Taxes: A tax on real-estate assets has been put in place in June 2008. It is up to 10% of the rental value whether the property is rented out or not. If the property is rented, the rental value is the effective value of rent collected by the owner if it is higher than 7% of the purchase value. The owner is exempted from landed property if the value of the property is less than or equal to EGP 500,000.

	Egypt	Middle East & North Africa	الولايات المتحدة	Germany
Number of Payments of Taxes per Year	29.0	21.6	11.0	16.0
Time Taken For Administrative Formalities (Hours)	433.0	194.1	187.0	215.0
Total Share of Taxes (% of Profit)	42.6	32.8	46.8	48.2

Source: Doing Business - Last Available Data.

Tax Base For Residents and Non-Residents: Non-residents are subject to tax on income earned or realised in Egypt only.
Dividends paid to non-residents are not subject to withholding tax under Egyptian domestic law.

Allowable Deductions and Tax Credit: Deductible Costs:
- Pension scheme amounts;
- Life and heath insurance.
Special Expatriate Tax Regime: No special tax regime for expatriates.
Capital Tax Rate: A tax is levied on the annual value of real estate (or land), the rate of which is between 10% and 40%.

Countries With Whom a Double Taxation Treaty Have Been Signed: Refer to the list of International tax convention, Ministry of Maritime Transport website.

Learn more about Service Providers in Egypt on Globaltrade.net, the Directory for International Trade Services.

Accounting Standards: The accounting obligations result from the Companies Act no. 159 of 1981 and Financial Market and Money Market Act no. 95 of 1992. The Accounting Plan (the Egyptian accounting standards) is close to international accounting standards.
Accounting Regulation Bodies: EFSA, Egyptian Financial Supervisory Authority
Accounting Law: All companies have to present an audit report, an assessment, income statement and a profit and loss account to their shareholders each year. After having been quoted on the stock market, a company should present a detailed activity status every three months. Every year, or more or less at the end of every fiscal year, it should give a report of its activities and accounts to the Egyptian Financial Supervisory Authority
Difference Between National and International Standards (IAS/IFRS): The Egyptian accounting system is close to the international accounting standards. for additional information, access the Egyptian Financial Supervisory authority (EFSA) website.

Tax Year: The fiscal year starts on January 1st and ends on December 31st the same year.
Accounting Reports: According to the law, all companies must present to the shareholders during their annual meeting an audit report, a balance sheet, an income statement and cash flow statement.
Publication Requirements: After its initial public offering, the company must present every three months a detailed report of its business (business progress and results).
Each year, a progress report and a report of the accounts (before certification) must be sent to the Capital Market Authority one month after the fiscal year end at the latest. The certified accounts cited on the Official Schedule 1 must be published in two reference journals of which at least one must be in the Arabic language.

Accountants: There are 7,000 to 8,000 auditors registered in Egypt.
Professional Accountancy Bodies: Egyptian Society of Accountants and Auditors (ESAASC), on IFAC website.
Member of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC): The Egyptian Society of Accountants and Auditors is a member of the International Federation of Accountants.

Member of Other Federation of Accountants: Member of the ACCA (Gobal Body for Professional Accoutants).
Audit Bodies: All the accounts and reports are likely to be verified by government authorities such as the Tax Department (Internal Revenue) or the corporate department of the Department of Economy and Industry.

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