Saudi VAT Invoice Template with Phase-1 QR (2026)
A Saudi simplified tax invoice must show the date, the seller's name, address and VAT number, the goods or services, the amount and the 15% VAT, and carry a QR code with the seller name, VAT number, time stamp, total with VAT and VAT amount. Invoices must be in Arabic and issued from a ZATCA-compliant e-invoicing solution; most businesses are now in the Fatoora integration phase.
For businesses and freelancers billing their own real sales. An invoice or receipt for a supply or payment that did not happen is a false document. Figures are entered by you and are not checked by AiStaffo.
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Saudi tax invoice rules (VAT Implementing Regulations, Art. 53; e-invoicing)
| Title | "Tax Invoice" or "Simplified Tax Invoice" (فاتورة ضريبية / فاتورة ضريبية مبسطة) |
|---|---|
| Simplified tax invoice | For supplies under SAR 1,000, and for any supply to a person not registered for VAT (B2C) |
| Simplified: contents | Date, seller name, address and VAT number, the goods or services, the amount payable, and the VAT amount or a statement that the price includes 15% VAT |
| Tax invoice (B2B) | Adds the buyer's name, address and VAT number, a sequential number, supply date, unit price, quantity, VAT rate and VAT per line |
| Language | Arabic. Other languages may be added, but only as a translation |
| Currency | VAT must be stated in SAR; other currencies are converted at the Saudi Central Bank rate |
| QR code (phase 1) | On simplified tax invoices: seller name, VAT number, time stamp, total with VAT and VAT total, as TLV encoded in Base64 |
| E-invoicing | Invoices must come from a compliant e-invoicing solution. In the integration phase (Fatoora, phase 2) each invoice is also sent to ZATCA and the QR adds a hash and cryptographic stamp |
| VAT rate | 15% standard; 0% for zero-rated supplies; some supplies exempt |
What this tool can and cannot do
It can: lay out a simplified tax invoice or tax invoice with the required fields, the Arabic title, 15% VAT and a phase-1 QR code that any ZATCA-format reader decodes to the seller name, VAT number, time, total and VAT. Use it to understand the format, check what a QR should contain, or make a pro-forma or a copy for your records.
It cannot: act as your e-invoicing solution. ZATCA requires invoices to be generated by tamper-resistant software with an unchangeable invoice counter, a unique ID and a hash for every invoice. In the integration phase the software must also be connected to the Fatoora platform, which clears or reports each invoice and adds the cryptographic stamp to the QR. A browser page cannot do that, so for live B2B and B2C invoicing use certified e-invoicing software.
Who is in phase 2 now
ZATCA brings taxpayers into the integration phase in waves, each told at least six months ahead. Wave 24 covered businesses with VAT-able revenue above SAR 375,000 in 2022, 2023 or 2024, with a deadline of 30 June 2026. Wave 25, announced in July 2026, covers revenue above SAR 187,500 in any year from 2022 to 2025, with a deadline of 1 February 2027.
How the QR code works
Each of the five fields is written as a tag number (1 to 5), the length of the value in bytes, and the value in UTF-8. The bytes are joined and Base64 encoded, and that text is put in the QR code. The time is written in UTC, for example 2026-10-21T09:30:00Z for 12:30 in Riyadh. The tool was tested against ZATCA's published examples.
Worked example
A shop sells 3 items at SAR 50 and 1 at SAR 200 to a consumer. Amount before VAT SAR 350.00; VAT 15% = SAR 52.50; total SAR 402.50. The QR code carries 402.50 as the total with VAT and 52.50 as the VAT.
For businesses: let the invoicing run itself
Saudi businesses also juggle VAT returns, Fatoora integration waves and Arabic records. Raising invoices, matching payments and chasing overdue clients is routine work an AI worker can run end to end, with your team only checking exceptions. Book a free automation audit and we will show you what it would take off your desk.
Please note: this page explains the ZATCA invoice rules as checked on 21 October 2026 and creates a phase-1 style QR code. It is not a ZATCA-certified e-invoicing solution and must not replace one for invoices you issue in the course of business.
Sources
Questions people ask
What is a simplified tax invoice in Saudi Arabia?
What goes in the ZATCA QR code?
Can I make Saudi invoices in Word, Excel or a free online tool?
Do Saudi invoices have to be in Arabic?
What is ZATCA phase 2?
Is my business in phase 2?
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