Rasha Abdel Aal, head of the Egyptian Tax Authority, announced new executive instructions establishing a unified framework for VAT refund procedures to speed up processes and boost efficiency.
The new instructions aim to remove obstacles affecting the speed and accuracy of refund procedures while offering integrated guidance that complies with legal requirements. They include using an electronic system to handle all requests, with a commitment to respond within five working days.
Procedures will rely on analytical data from import and export certificates when it matches the integrated digital system linking the Tax Authority and Customs Authority. Applicants must now submit statements of electronic invoices without providing the invoices themselves.
The refund period has been shortened to 20 days from the 45 days stipulated by law, with two working days allocated for reviewing applications. Companies on the white list will receive priority processing for their requests.
