E-invoicing In Saudi Arabia: Step-by-step Guide

Saudi Arabia is going through a major digital change as part of its Vision 2030 plan, and one important step in this journey is the move to e-invoicing in Saudi Arabia. To make business transactions more transparent and efficient, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) has introduced new rules that require businesses to switch from paper invoices to electronic ones.
If you’re a business owner in Saudi Arabia, it’s important to understand how this system works and what you need to do to stay compliant.
In Saudi Arabia, e-invoicing, commonly known as Fatoorah, is a government-mandated process that replaces traditional paper invoices with fully digital ones. Instead of printing and manually storing invoices, businesses must now generate, issue, and keep them electronically. This shift is part of the broader initiative to implement e-invoicing in Saudi Arabia and enhance the accuracy and traceability of commercial transactions.
The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) introduced e-invoicing in two key phases. Phase 1, which began on December 4, 2021, focuses on the digital creation and storage of invoices. Phase 2, launched on January 1, 2023, goes a step further by requiring businesses to integrate their e-invoicing systems directly with ZATCA’s Fatoora platform for real-time reporting and validation.