
Oman to impose 5% tax on individuals with annual income of OR42,000, a first in Gulf region
Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq of Oman has issued a decree on Sunday mandating the introduction of income tax, with the intention of implementing this on an individual income basis from 2028, according to the Oman News Agency.
This would make Oman the first country in the Gulf region to impose such a tax.
The law will impose a 5% tax on the taxable income of natural persons whose gross annual income exceeds OR42,000, derived from specific income types as defined by the law.
The law will come into effect at the beginning of 2028.
The Tax Authority said that the Personal Income Tax Law complements the tax system in line with Oman's economic and social conditions and aligns with the role assigned to the Tax Authority.
It also contributes to the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 by diversifying income sources and reducing reliance on oil revenues, with targets of 15% of GDP by 2030 and 18% by 2040.
Additionally, the tax aims to promote wealth redistribution among societal segments, enhancing social justice, while supporting the state budget and specifically financing part of the social protection system.
The Authority also affirms that the implementation of the personal income tax follows an in-depth study assessing its economic and social impact, based on income data from various government entities.
The study established a carefully considered exemption threshold, revealing that approximately 99% of Oman's population will not be subject to this tax.
Notably, the exemption threshold is set high at RO 42,000, and the tax rate is low at 5%.
The law also includes deductions and exemptions accounting for social considerations in the Sultanate of Oman, such as education, healthcare, inheritance, zakat, donations, primary housing, and other factors.
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Gulf Today
4 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Oman to impose 5% tax on individuals with annual income of OR42,000, a first in Gulf region
Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq of Oman has issued a decree on Sunday mandating the introduction of income tax, with the intention of implementing this on an individual income basis from 2028, according to the Oman News Agency. This would make Oman the first country in the Gulf region to impose such a tax. The law will impose a 5% tax on the taxable income of natural persons whose gross annual income exceeds OR42,000, derived from specific income types as defined by the law. The law will come into effect at the beginning of 2028. The Tax Authority said that the Personal Income Tax Law complements the tax system in line with Oman's economic and social conditions and aligns with the role assigned to the Tax Authority. It also contributes to the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 by diversifying income sources and reducing reliance on oil revenues, with targets of 15% of GDP by 2030 and 18% by 2040. Additionally, the tax aims to promote wealth redistribution among societal segments, enhancing social justice, while supporting the state budget and specifically financing part of the social protection system. The Authority also affirms that the implementation of the personal income tax follows an in-depth study assessing its economic and social impact, based on income data from various government entities. The study established a carefully considered exemption threshold, revealing that approximately 99% of Oman's population will not be subject to this tax. Notably, the exemption threshold is set high at RO 42,000, and the tax rate is low at 5%. The law also includes deductions and exemptions accounting for social considerations in the Sultanate of Oman, such as education, healthcare, inheritance, zakat, donations, primary housing, and other factors.


Arabian Business
7 hours ago
- Arabian Business
Personal income tax comes into effect in Oman from January 1, 2028
Oman's first Personal Income Tax Law, which will affect only 1 per cent of its high-earning population, will come into effect from January 1, 2028. The new Personal Income Tax Law contributes to the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 by diversifying income sources and reducing reliance on oil revenues. The targets set are 15 per cent of GDP by 2030 and 18 per cent by 2040. The law, issued by Royal Decree No 56/2025 (consisting of 76 articles across 16 chapters), will apply a 5 per cent tax rate on individuals earning over OMR42,000 (USD109,230/AED401,160) annually. It also includes deductions and exemptions for social considerations in Oman, such as education, healthcare, inheritance, zakat, donations, primary housing, and other factors. The Authority added that the new tax system follows an in-depth study assessing its economic and social impact, based on income data from various government entities. It led to the establishment of a carefully considered exemption threshold, which ensures that approximately 99 per cent of Oman's population will not be subject to this tax. Karima Mubarak Al Saadi, Director of the Personal Income Tax Project, confirmed that all necessary preparations and requirements for implementing the tax have been completed. Speaking to Oman News Agency (ONA), Al Saadi said that an electronic system has been developed by the Tax Authority to promote voluntary compliance and has been linked with the departments concerned to ensure accurate income calculation and verification of tax declarations. The Tax Authority has also strengthened its workforce through specialised training programs in line with the tax implementation requirements. The Authority said the new tax aims to promote wealth redistribution among societal segments, enhancing social justice, while supporting the state budget and specifically financing part of the social protection system.


The National
10 hours ago
- The National
Oman to impose Gulf's first income tax on high earners to 'help economic goals'
Oman's move to introduce personal income tax from 2028 is a significant milestone in the sultanate's push to achieve its economic diversification goals, although the tax ratio remains low to reduce burden on the population, analysts have said. On Sunday, Oman issued the Personal Income Tax Law through royal decree, which imposes a 5 per cent tax on annual income exceeding 42,000 Omani rials ($109,236), Oman News Agency said, citing the country's tax authority. The law, which will come into effect at the beginning of 2028, will levy tax on income derived from 'specific income types as defined by the law', the news agency said. The Tax Authority said that the new law was in line with Oman's economic and social conditions and contributes to the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 to cut reliance on revenue generated from the sale of hydrocarbons. 'The introduction of income tax is another signal that a country has achieved a mature economic position,' David Daly, partner at Gulf Tax Accounting Group, told The National. 'That the rate is competitive internationally will ensure that Oman remains a country of choice for international professionals.' Careful study Oman, which has been in the process of drafting the personal income tax framework since 2022, said the move to finally implement the tax law follows an in-depth study that assessed the economic and social impact, based on income data from a number of government entities. The study has established a 'carefully considered exemption threshold', which means 99 per cent of Oman's population will not be taxed. 'The law is a precedent, setting Oman as the first GCC country to impose income taxes on its citizens,' EFG Hermes analyst Mohamed Abu Basha said in a research note on Monday. 'In that sense, while partially symbolic in nature – given the limited base of citizens to be impacted by the law (only 1 per cent of the population as per official estimates) – the move is still significant, considering the precedent it sets.' The law not only sets a higher personal income threshold and a low tax ratio, it also includes deductions and exemptions accounting for social considerations in the sultanate, such as education, health care, inheritance, zakat, donations, primary housing and other factors, according to the ONA report. Oman's plans to levy income tax on high earners was first mentioned in a bond prospectus published by the Finance Ministry in 2020 when the sultanate raised $2 billion in external financing. At the drafting stage, the expected reported tax rates ranged between 5 per cent and 9 per cent for foreign nationals, with a flat rate of 5 per cent for Omanis. ONA on Sunday did not disclose details on whether there are separate tax brackets for expatriates and Omani nationals. Oman, like its peers in the Gulf, is trying to diversify its economy away from oil. Tourism and agriculture are among sources of economic activity outside of the oil and gas sector, which accounts for about 70 per cent of the government revenue. Under its economic and social reforms programme, the sultanate aims to reduce its dependence on oil income by 15 per of its gross domestic product by 2030 and further reduce it by 18 per cent by 2040. Oman's economy is set to expand at a faster pace over the medium term, with overall GDP growth projected at 2.4 per cent in 2025 and 3.7 per cent in 2026, according to the International Monetary Fund. The country's real GDP strengthened to 1.7 per cent in 2024, an increase from 1.2 per cent in 2023, boosted by robust non-hydrocarbon activity, notably in manufacturing and services sectors of the sultanate, the IMF said earlier this month. Systems in place Oman on Sunday said the new tax not only aims to promote wealth redistribution among societal segments, it will also support 'the state budget, and specifically, financing part of the social protection system'. 'Given the tax-free allowance and structure of the Omani economy, I don't see any material economic impact in the near to medium term. Indeed, it should allow for government investment in their society to the benefit of all,' Mr Daly said. When implemented, personal income tax will be a first in the Gulf region and is likely impact only the high-earning foreign workers and wealthy Omani citizens. All necessary preparations and requirements for implementing the tax have been completed, said Karima Al Saadi, director of the Personal Income Tax Project at the Tax Authority. 'The executive regulations of the law will be issued within one year of its publication in the Official Gazette,' she added. An electronic system has been developed by the Tax Authority to promote voluntary compliance and has been linked with the departments concerned to ensure accurate income calculation and verification of tax declarations, she told the news agency. 'Guidance manuals for natural and legal persons will be published according to a predetermined schedule,' she said.