Prepare a zakat return file
Organise business and financial information and connect differences to their source before approving the review copy.
Open the preparation guide and registerZakat & Income Tax Advisory in Saudi Arabia
Zakat and income tax advisory for businesses in Jeddah and across Saudi Arabia: review financial information, resolve questions about the return and prepare a file that supports the agreed work.
We agree the scope and fees with you before work begins.
What do you need to do next?
Choose the route that matches your business file: prepare for review, clarify an issue or find an official transaction.
Review an item or return
Identify the question, period and return status. Agree the review, outputs and responsibility for any action with the team.
Read the advisory scopeRespond to a document request
Connect each requested item to its supporting attachment and record what has been sent or remains outstanding.
Open the response preparation guideLooking for filing or another authority transaction?
ZATCA provides official transactions through its portal. Mada is an independent consultancy; preparation, review or assistance is agreed through a defined engagement.
Browse ZATCA’s official zakat servicesIs this the support you need?
For owners and finance managers preparing a return, reviewing an earlier file or clarifying an accounting item before taking action. The starting point is the business, period and obligations that apply to it, rather than assuming every company has the same treatment.
When this support is useful
Preparing a company return
Identify balance questions and missing information early. Agree who prepares the working file, who reviews it and who authorises submission.
Responding to a question about a balance
Connect each question to the supporting record and note what was previously submitted. Understand the request before sending a large collection of attachments.
A change in activity or ownership
Prepare the facts and supporting documents for the change. Discuss how they affect the review instead of simply copying the prior file.
Zakat and income tax return support
Review business details, return type and financial period before developing the working file.
Discuss balances and supporting schedules, linking open questions to available statements and records.
Prepare or review the return file within the engagement, documenting assumptions and missing information.
Consider zakat-base or income-tax questions in the context of the business and its specific facts.
Help organise supporting documents and responses to enquiries, identifying work that needs an additional scope.
We review your requirements, then agree the scope of work and next steps with you.
Outputs to agree with the team
- An information request list and clearly recorded unresolved questions.
- An agreed review working paper or findings on the return file.
- An identified supporting record set and responsibilities for approval and follow-up.
Agree the output format and review boundaries in the engagement; not every item is included in every scope.
A trial-balance movement cannot be explained by its supporting schedule. Rather than changing the balance to reach an expected total, the team records the difference, links the entry and evidence, and identifies the review question. This illustrates file preparation, not a zakat calculation.
Prepare for the first conversation.
- Registration details, ownership structure, business activity and the period to be reviewed.
- Financial statements, trial balance and available schedules for the balances in question.
- A previous return and its working file, if available, and an explanation of changes.
- The relevant authority request or notice when it forms part of the engagement.
Start with a general description. The team will discuss the documents needed and an appropriate sharing channel.
What should be agreed before work begins?
Deliverables
Clarify what you need to receive: a review, written memorandum, findings list or support with a specific process, depending on the engagement.
Responsibilities
Who supplies information, who reviews it and who authorises a filing or action? Define these roles within the agreed scope.
Scope and boundaries
Discuss inclusions, exclusions, fees, target turnaround and any work that would require a separate engagement.
Outcomes and timing depend on the facts, completeness of documents and relevant procedures. An enquiry or this page does not guarantee an outcome or confirm acceptance of an engagement.
Meet the Mada teamQuestions before you begin
Is this company zakat or personal zakat advice?
This page concerns zakat and income tax matters for businesses and finance teams. It starts with business records and returns; it is not a personal wealth zakat calculator.
Are financial statements enough to prepare the file?
They are an important starting point, but a review may need balance details, schedules and business information. ZATCA highlights registration information, return type and period; requirements vary with the return.
Can Mada review a file prepared by our existing accountant?
You can discuss a focused review of the available file and specific questions, agreeing who prepares and approves the information and what the review should deliver.
Is preparing a file the same as filing a return?
Preparation organises information for review. Filing is a separate action requiring approved information and clear authority. Agree explicitly whether it is included in the engagement.
How are zakat advisory fees determined?
By the periods involved, record readiness, complexity and requested deliverables. Include these details in your enquiry so the team can discuss a specific scope and fee.