What is the Fatoora Platform in Saudi Arabia’s ZATCA?
Fatoora is an official platform introduced by Saudi Arabia’s Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority (ZATCA) as part of the country’s e-invoicing initiative. The platform plays a crucial role in the digital transformation of Saudi Arabia’s taxation system, ensuring transparency and efficiency in business transactions.
Key Features of the Fatoora Platform:
E-Invoicing Compliance: Fatoora is designed to ensure that businesses in Saudi Arabia comply with the e-invoicing regulations mandated by ZATCA. It enables companies to issue, process, and store invoices electronically, making it easier to track and manage business transactions in real-time.
Enhanced Tax Control: By using Fatoora, businesses are directly connected to ZATCA, ensuring that all invoices are verified, authenticated, and stored securely. This helps the government enhance its control over tax collection, reducing cases of tax evasion and improving accuracy in tax filings.
Integration with Business Systems: The platform integrates seamlessly with various accounting and business management systems, allowing businesses to automate their invoicing processes. This not only saves time but also reduces the risk of manual errors.
Digital Transformation: Fatoora is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader push toward digital transformation in line with Vision 2030. This initiative promotes the use of technology to improve business processes, ensure transparency, and enhance the overall economy.
Why is Fatoora Important for Businesses?
Legal Requirement: As of December 4, 2021, businesses in Saudi Arabia are legally required to use e-invoicing systems like Fatoora to issue their invoices.
Simplified Taxation: Fatoora simplifies the process of tax reporting for businesses by automating and centralizing invoicing data.
Real-time Verification: Invoices generated via Fatoora are instantly verified by ZATCA, ensuring that they meet regulatory standards.
Security: The platform ensures that all invoicing data is securely stored and cannot be altered or tampered with after submission.
How to Access and Log In to the Fatoora Platform
Many countries have adopted or are moving towards mandatory e-invoicing. In Europe, systems like Peppol have created standardized frameworks for cross-border e-invoicing. In Saudi Arabia, the ZATCA platform facilitates e-invoicing for tax compliance, while Egypt’s ETA system ensures real-time invoice validation and tax reporting.
he Fatoora platform is part of ZATCA’s e-invoicing system in Saudi Arabia, allowing businesses to comply with e-invoicing regulations. Here’s how you can access and log in to the platform:
Step 1: Register with ZATCA
Before accessing Fatoora, businesses need to register with the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority (ZATCA). Follow these steps:
Visit the ZATCA Portal: Go to the ZATCA official website.
Create an Account: If your business is not already registered, you’ll need to sign up. This requires your company details, including a valid tax number.
Login Credentials: Once registered, you will receive login credentials (username and password) to access the platform.
Step 2: Log in to the Fatoora Platform
After registration, follow these steps to log in to the Fatoora platform:
Go to the Fatoora login page: Typically, you can access it directly through the ZATCA portal.
Enter your credentials: Use your ZATCA account credentials (username and password).
Two-factor authentication: ZATCA may implement an additional layer of security like an OTP sent to your registered phone number or email.
Step 3: Accessing and Using the Platform
Once logged in, you’ll be able to:
Issue E-Invoices: Submit invoices electronically to ensure compliance with ZATCA’s regulations.
View and Track Invoices: Keep track of all your submitted and approved invoices.
Integrate with Business Systems: You can integrate the Fatoora platform with your business’s accounting or ERP systems to automate invoice generation and submission.
Step 4: Technical Setup and Integration
If your business uses a custom invoicing solution, you can integrate directly with ZATCA’s e-invoicing API:
API Documentation: ZATCA provides detailed API documentation for developers to help integrate their systems.
Sandbox Environment: Before going live, businesses can use ZATCA’s sandbox environment to test the API integration.
Key Points:
Mandatory e-invoicing: All businesses are required to use Fatoora for issuing invoices as per Saudi regulations.
Digital Signature: Each invoice needs a digital signature to be valid.
Technical Support: ZATCA provides support through its website and a dedicated help desk.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Fatoora is a critical platform for businesses in Saudi Arabia to comply with the country’s e-invoicing regulations and streamline their tax reporting processes. Its seamless integration with existing business systems and focus on transparency makes it a vital tool in the country’s ongoing digital transformation.