How is Saudi import duty calculated?

Customs duty is a percentage of the CIF value — the goods value plus international freight plus insurance. Most goods fall under the 5% GCC common external tariff, but some items carry higher protective rates and a few are duty-free or 20%.

What VAT applies to imports into Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia charges 15% VAT on imports. It is levied on the CIF value plus the customs duty, so VAT is calculated after duty is added. VAT-registered businesses can usually reclaim it as input tax.

What is the GCC common external tariff?

Saudi Arabia is part of the GCC customs union, which applies a unified external tariff. The standard rate is 5% of CIF for most goods, with selected categories taxed higher to protect local industry and essentials taxed at 0%.

Are excise goods handled differently?

Yes. Tobacco, energy drinks, soft drinks and similar excise goods attract a separate selective tax (often 50% or 100%) before VAT. This calculator covers customs duty and VAT only — add excise separately for those products.

Are my figures sent anywhere?

No. Every calculation runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is uploaded or stored, so you can model sensitive shipment values privately.

Saudi Arabia Import Duty & Customs Calculator

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This Saudi Arabia import duty and customs calculator estimates the total landed cost of bringing goods into the Kingdom — the customs duty and the 15% import VAT — on top of the price you paid. It is built for importers, e-commerce sellers and businesses sourcing from outside the GCC who need the true cost before Saudi Customs releases the shipment.

How it works

Saudi Arabia belongs to the GCC customs union, so its tariff follows the GCC common external tariff. Two charges stack up:

Customs duty is a percentage of the CIF value — goods value plus international freight plus insurance. Most goods are dutied at 5%, but some carry higher protective rates and others are zero-rated. The exact rate depends on your HS code.
Import VAT is charged at 15% on a base of CIF + customs duty. Because duty is added first, VAT is effectively charged on the duty too.

The total landed cost is therefore CIF + customs duty + import VAT.

Example

A SAR 10,000 shipment with SAR 600 freight and SAR 200 insurance gives a CIF value of SAR 10,800. At a 5% duty rate the duty is SAR 540. VAT at 15% applies to 10,800 + 540 = 11,340, giving SAR 1,701. The total landed cost is SAR 13,041 — about 30% on top of the goods value once both levies are added.

Notes

The duty rate is the biggest variable, so always look up the correct HS code rather than guessing. VAT-registered businesses can normally reclaim the import VAT, so for them the real cost is closer to CIF plus duty. Excise goods (tobacco, sugary drinks) carry an extra selective tax that this tool does not model. This is an estimate and does not replace a formal customs declaration.