Egypt VAT Guide for Nonresident SaaS and E-commerce
A practical guide for US SaaS and e-commerce companies selling into Egypt. Rates, registration thresholds, filing deadlines and e-invoicing status, pulled from the same data that powers our free tools.
EGP 500,000 (~USD 16,000) in annual taxable supplies to Egyptian consumers triggers Simplified VAT vendor registration.
Filing frequency
Monthly
Do I need to register for VAT in Egypt?
Egypt charges 14% VAT on B2C cross-border digital services and goods under its Simplified VAT Vendor regime, in force since 2022. Foreign suppliers register through the ETA once annual sales to Egyptian consumers exceed EGP 500,000. A local fiscal representative is typically required.
B2C digital services and low-value goods to Egyptian consumers: register under the Simplified VAT Vendor regime once annual taxable supplies exceed EGP 500,000. Tax rate is 14%.
B2B services to a VAT-registered Egyptian buyer: reverse-charge mechanism applies. The buyer self-accounts. Capture the buyer's Egyptian VAT number.
Goods over the customs de minimis: standard import VAT and customs duties apply at the border, separate from the Simplified VAT Vendor regime.
Fiscal representative: typically required by the ETA for nonresident registrations. Most US sellers retain a Cairo-based accounting firm.
How to register
Egyptian Simplified VAT Vendor registration runs through the ETA's nonresident channel. A local fiscal representative is typically required to handle Arabic-language correspondence and monthly filings.
Where: via your fiscal representative, who files the application with the ETA. Local link: Egyptian Tax Authority (ETA).
What you'll need: US tax ID (EIN), articles of incorporation (Arabic-translated, attested), fiscal representative engagement, evidence of crossing EGP 500,000, expected Egyptian turnover.
Typical timeline: 8 to 12 weeks from a complete application to ETA approval and Simplified VAT Vendor number issuance.
Cost: Registration is free. Plan for EGP 50,000 to EGP 200,000 per year in fiscal representative fees, plus translation and attestation costs at registration.
Filing and deadlines
Simplified VAT Vendor returns are filed monthly through the ETA portal, due by the end of the month following the tax period. Returns are filed in EGP. There is no OSS overlap.
Local Egypt filing frequency: Monthly.
Return due: Within 2 months after end of tax period.
Payment due: Same as return.
E-invoicing status in Egypt
Status
Mandatory
Format
XML via Egyptian Tax Authority (ETA) portal
Model
Pre-clearance
Scope
B2G + B2B + B2C (e-receipt phased)
Go-live
B2B from 2023-04-01 (all VAT payers); B2C e-receipt phased from 2022
Invoices must carry an ETA-issued UUID; e-receipt system covers B2C in phases by size and sector.
Common mistakes US SaaS makes in Egypt
Trying to register without a fiscal representative. The ETA typically rejects nonresident applications without one.
Filing in USD. Returns must be in EGP. The pound has depreciated sharply since 2022; FX timing matters for revenue recognition.
Treating B2B and B2C the same. Reverse charge applies for VAT-registered Egyptian buyers; capture the buyer's VAT number to substantiate.
Missing the monthly filing deadline. ETA issues automatic late-filing penalties on day 1 of the second month after the tax period.
Trusting Stripe Tax to handle Egyptian VAT. Stripe collects but you remain the supplier of record. ETA registration via a fiscal representative is still your obligation.
Not sure if you've crossed the Egypt threshold?
Run a free exposure check across Egypt and the major MENA, EU and APAC jurisdictions. Upload a CSV or sync Stripe; we'll show every country where you're already over the line.
The standard VAT rate in Egypt is 14%. Reduced rates apply at 5%, 0%, special table tax rates.
Do US SaaS companies need to register for Egyptian VAT?
Yes, once annual taxable supplies to Egyptian consumers exceed EGP 500,000 (about USD 16,000). The Simplified VAT Vendor regime applies; a fiscal representative is typically required.
What is the Egyptian VAT registration threshold for nonresident sellers?
EGP 500,000 in annual taxable supplies to Egyptian consumers. Below the threshold, registration is voluntary.
How often do I file VAT returns for Egypt sales?
Simplified VAT Vendor returns are filed monthly through the ETA. The data sources show the local Egyptian filing frequency as: Monthly.
Is e-invoicing mandatory in Egypt?
E-invoicing status in Egypt: Mandatory. Format: XML via Egyptian Tax Authority (ETA) portal.
Can I use the EU One Stop Shop (OSS) for Egyptian VAT?
No. Egypt is not part of any EU scheme. Egyptian VAT is filed under the Simplified VAT Vendor regime directly with the ETA.