Tax in Syria

Who is the tax authority and where do filings live?

Syria's General Commission for Taxes and Fees, under the Ministry of Finance, administers Syria's tax system [SC1]. Substantive law: Income Tax Law 24/2003 (as amended), and successive amendments. Syria is a Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA) member but post-2011 framework has been substantially affected by sanctions and conflict context.

What is the tax year and when are returns due?

Individual tax year is the calendar year. Personal returns due 31 March [SC1]. Corporate annual returns due 31 May. Indirect tax framework filings monthly.

Who is a Syrian tax resident?

Under Income Tax Law 24/2003, an individual is tax resident if (a) maintaining residence in Syria, OR (b) physically present 183+ days [SC2]. Residents taxed on worldwide income.

What are the personal income tax rates?

Progressive PIT 5-22 percent across multiple bands [SC1]. Investment income face specific rates.

How does Syria's corporate tax work?

CIT progressive 14/22/28 percent depending on entity type [SC2]. Banking sector elevated rates. Withholding on dividends to non-residents specific rates. Pillar Two not transposed.

What about indirect tax?

Indirect tax framework includes consumption tax. No general VAT.

How are cryptoassets taxed?

Central Bank of Syria advisory: cryptoassets restricted [SC2]. Where declared, gains under existing categories.

What is the treaty network and what are the audit triggers?

Syria has approximately 30 active double tax treaties (post-2011 operability substantially affected) [SC4]. MLI not signed.

What are the common penalties and pitfalls for foreigners?

Penalty framework: late filings, failure to file, incorrect declarations [SC5]. Common pitfalls: (1) post-2011 EU/UK/US sanctions exposure dominates any Syria-related operation — full sanctions compliance review required; (2) post-2024 political-economic transition context creates substantial uncertainty; (3) progressive PIT/CIT framework with banking-sector elevated rates; (4) limited treaty operability (post-2011 sanctions affect many treaty counterparties); (5) MLI not signed; (6) no general VAT (consumption-tax framework); (7) GAFTA member; (8) Pillar Two not transposed; (9) Income Tax Law 24/2003 framework; (10) currency-control framework affecting cross-border flows.