How does VAT work for clients in Egypt

Learn why Upwork collects Egypt's 14% VAT, which services it applies to, and how providing valid tax IDs can help you avoid these charges.

In this article

• What is Egypt VAT and why does Upwork collect it?
• What services does Egypt VAT apply to for clients on Upwork?
• What is the Egypt VAT rate?
• Am I required to provide Egypt tax IDs to work on Upwork?
• What are the Egypt tax ID formats?
• How do I enter my Egypt tax IDs on Upwork?
• Does Egypt offer any exemptions to VAT?
• What happens to Egypt VAT if I change my location or other information?
• Who does Upwork collect VAT from in Egypt?
• Do I have to pay VAT if I am only residing in Egypt temporarily?
• If I pay VAT before I enter valid tax IDs for Egypt, will you refund that money?
• UIN Renewal and Expiration

What is Egypt VAT and why does Upwork collect it?

Value-added tax, or VAT, is a tax on goods or services, including our services to you. Egypt requires Upwork to collect 14% VAT and send it to the Egyptian government unless you provide valid tax IDs. We're required to comply with the tax laws of countries where we do business.

What services does Egypt VAT apply to for clients on Upwork?

Examples of what VAT applies to:

• Marketplace fee
• Recruiter fee
• Conversion fee
• Contract Initiation fee
• Featured Job purchases

Since we collect tax when your government requires it, this tax may change or apply to additional services in the future.

What is the Egypt VAT rate?

It's 14% of the cost of the service being taxed.

Example: On $100 USD in Marketplace fees, you'll pay $14 in tax, for a total of $114.

You'll see the estimated amount of tax when you check out (for purchases) and the final charge on your invoices and in your transaction history.

Am I required to provide Egypt tax IDs to work on Upwork?

You're not required to provide your Egypt tax IDs, but if you do, we will not have to collect VAT from you.

You can enter your tax IDs in your tax information.

To avoid VAT charges, you must be registered for VAT in Egypt and provide two separate tax IDs. Most clients without these registrations will have VAT applied to their Upwork fees.

What are the Egypt tax ID formats?

Egypt requires two separate tax IDs to claim VAT exemption:

Tax Registration Number (TRN): A 9-digit numeric ID that identifies you as a VAT-registered entity. It looks like this: 012345678

Unique Identification Number (UIN): A 39-character alphanumeric code that is unique to you as the business owner. This is a private credential and only you have access to it.

Both IDs are issued by the Egyptian Tax Authority. To learn more, visit the Egyptian Tax Authority website.

How do I enter my Egypt tax IDs on Upwork?

1. Go to Account settings (desktop) or Settings (mobile) > Tax information
2. Click the pencil icon to enter or edit your info
3. Enter both your TRN and UIN in the Egypt VAT section
4. Check the confirmation box to verify that your information is accurate
5. Select Save

Once you enter your IDs, we'll verify them in real time with the Egyptian Tax Authority. You'll see your validation status on your tax information page. If both IDs are valid, we won't collect VAT from you.

Does Egypt offer any exemptions to VAT?

Egypt does not offer exemptions from VAT on services that Upwork provides, but you can avoid having VAT collected by Upwork by providing valid TRN and UIN in your tax information.

What happens to Egypt VAT if I change my location or other information?

If you change locations and update your tax residence in your tax information, we'll automatically adjust your VAT to correspond with the tax rates in your new country of residence, if any. You may have to enter a new VAT ID or similar ID, if applicable.

If you make other changes to your information, such as changing your legal name, you may have to revalidate your tax IDs.

Who does Upwork collect VAT from in Egypt?

Egypt's VAT collection on Upwork applies to services we provide to both freelancers and clients if they reside, have a permanent address, or are established in Egypt and have not provided us with valid tax IDs.

Do I have to pay VAT if I am only residing in Egypt temporarily?

Yes. As long as your tax residence is set to Egypt, we're required to collect VAT. If you move, update your tax information—we'll adjust accordingly.

If I pay VAT before I enter valid tax IDs for Egypt, will you refund that money?

No, we remit that money directly to the Egyptian government and cannot refund it. You may be able to claim a credit with your tax authority for what you paid. We recommend that you consult with the Egyptian Tax Authority or your tax advisor for more information.

UIN Renewal and Expiration

Your UIN is valid for one year and must be renewed annually. When your UIN is approaching expiration, we'll send you an email notification 30 days in advance. When you renew, the Egyptian Tax Authority will issue you a completely new UIN number (not an extension of the old one).

To renew:

1. Generate a new UIN through the Egyptian Tax Authority portal
2. Return to your tax information page on Upwork
3. Enter your new UIN and revalidate both your TRN and new UIN

If your UIN expires without renewal, we'll automatically begin collecting VAT on your Upwork fees again.