MUSCAT, OMAN – June 26, 2025 – Oman will implement a personal income tax (PIT) starting January 1, 2028, becoming the first Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nation to introduce direct taxation on individual earnings. This landmark decision ends the region's decades-long tradition of zero personal income tax.
The move addresses Oman's reliance on hydrocarbon revenues (85% of state budget), accelerated by oil price volatility. Finance Ministry officials position this as essential for:
This follows Oman's 2021 VAT introduction, but marks a more significant shift by directly taxing individual earnings – a policy avoided by neighboring GCC states.
The announcement triggers regional debate as Oman diverges from core GCC tax principles:
Financial Sector: Concerns about skilled expatriate retention and consumer spending
Government Assurance: "Vast majority unaffected" due to high threshold
Critical milestones before 2028 implementation:
Oman's pioneering move signals a fundamental reorientation toward post-oil economic governance, with the GCC watching closely as this unprecedented fiscal transformation unfolds.
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