Saudi authorities seek SAR 619 mln Zakat, taxes from Zain

Mobile Telecommunications Company Saudi Arabia (Zain Saudi) has received a request from the kingdom’s Department of Zakat and Income Tax (DZIT) to pay an additional SAR 619 million for 2009-2011.

The telco said in a statement to Tadawul that SAR 352 million out of the total amount is related to Zakat, while SAR 267 million is labeled as withholding taxes for the three fiscal years.

The country’s third mobile operator said it had paid the Zakat and tax on time based on the calculation of external auditors.

Zain Saudi plans to file an objection to the request. Under federal law, firms have the right to object to DZIT's assessment within 60 days from the receipt date of the official letter.