Egypt's Ministry of Finance announced a series of final deadlines for taxpayers to benefit from broad tax relief initiatives aimed at resolving legacy disputes, incentivising compliance, and easing the tax burden on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The move is part of a wider push to stabilise public finances and stimulate economic activity. Under Law No. 5 of 2025, taxpayers have until May 12 to submit applications to settle tax disputes arising from periods before January 1, 2020. This move is designed to clear a significant backlog of unresolved cases and generate much-needed revenue without resorting to lengthy litigation. Additional deadlines under the same law include August 12, the cutoff for settling taxes on real estate transactions and unlisted securities disposals carried out in the five years preceding the law's enactment. The same date also marks the final opportunity to file or amend income tax declarations for 2020–2023 and VAT returns for 2020–2024. Separately, the Ministry of Finance has also set a June 30 deadline for requests to settle any tax disputes under Law No. 160 of 2024, which applies to various tax periods and aims to streamline dispute resolution mechanisms. In a parallel effort to bring small businesses into the formal economy, Law No. 6 of 2025 introduces a simplified integrated tax system for enterprises with annual revenues below 20 million Egyptian pounds. Enrollment begins immediately through the Egyptian Tax Authority's online portal and takes effect upon application submission. The package of measures reflects Egypt's attempt to broaden the tax base, enhance collection efficiency, and support SMEs—particularly critical as the government navigates inflationary pressures, currency volatility, and ongoing negotiations with international lenders. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
