With the help of Allah the Almighty,
We, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud,
the King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
based on article 70 of the Basic Law of Governance issued by Royal Order O/90 dated 27 Sha’ban 1412 [1 March 1992],
based on article 20 of the Law of the Council of Ministers issued by Royal Order O/13 dated 3 Rabi Al-Awwal 1414 [20 August 1993],
based on article 18 of the Law of the Shura Council issued by Royal Order O/91 dated 27 Sha’ban 1412 [1 March 1992],
after perusal of the Law of the Profession of Accounting and Auditing issued by Royal Decree D/59 dated 27 Rajab 1442 [11 March 2021],
after perusal of Shura Council Decision 105/10 dated 17 Jumada Al-Awwal 1446 [19 November 2024],
and after perusal of Council of Ministers Decision 571 dated 5 Sha’ban 1446 [4 February 2025],
have decreed as follows
First
The Law of the Profession of Accounting and Auditing issued by Royal Decree D/59 dated 27 Rajab 1442 [11 March 2021] is hereby amended as follows:
1. The definition of “ministry” provided in article 1 is deleted.
2․ The definition of “license” provided in article 1 is amended to read as follows:
License: A document issued by the authority, allowing those who have been issued a license to practice the profession in accordance with the conditions and controls specified in the law and regulation.
3․ Article 4 is amended to read as follows:
1․ The license application must be submitted to the authority in accordance with the procedures specified by the board.
2. The authority shall issue its decision to approve the granting of the license, or to reject the license application with reasons, within a period specified by the regulation. The license applicant may file a grievance against the rejection decision before the Administrative Court.
3․ The regulation must specify the procedures for reviewing and deciding on the license application, its duration, and the conditions for its renewal.
4․ The board shall determine the fee for the license.
4. Article 5 is amended to read as follows:
Without prejudice to the punishments stipulated in article 10 of the law, the authority may issue a decision to cancel the license. A person for whom a license cancellation decision is issued may file a grievance against it before the Administrative Court. The cancellation of the license does not result in the cancellation of his membership in the authority.
5․ Article 19 is amended to read as follows:
A chartered accountant whose license has been struck off in accordance with the provisions of the law may apply for reinstatement of the license after five years from the date of the striking-off decision. The board or whoever it authorizes shall decide on the application. The same conditions and procedures prescribed for issuing the license must be followed in reinstatement of the license.
6. Article 20 is amended to read as follows:
Without prejudice to the mandates of the relevant entities, employees of the authority—who are appointed by a decision by the board—shall police the crimes stipulated in article 10 of the law, and any violations of the provisions of the law, its regulation, and the decisions issued for their implementation.
Second
The Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority is hereby granted the power to set the specific standards and conditions that must be met by licensees before dealing with them to provide zakat and tax services on behalf of taxpayers. The authority shall raise any matters requiring a legal procedure in this regard.
Third
His Royal Highness the Prime Minister, the ministers, and the heads of independent concerned authorities—each within their area of competence—shall implement this decree of Ours.
Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud
Issued on: 10 Sha’ban 1446
Corresponding to: 9 February 2025
Published in Umm Al-Qura 5072 issued on 21 February 2025.