Egypt has enacted three laws introducing a 100 departure levy, a 35 per tonne cement levy, new bookkeeping and temporary tax card rules, and profit transfer requirements for certain state-owned companies.
Egypt has enacted three laws introducing changes to state revenue collection, taxpayer bookkeeping requirements, temporary tax cards and the transfer of profits from state-owned companies to the General Treasury.
Law No. 148 of 2026, Law No. 150 of 2026 and Law No. 154 of 2026 were issued by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on 28 July 2026 and published in the Official Gazette on the same day. The measures generally took effect on 29 July 2026.
Law No. 154 of 2026: Transfer of corporate net profits
Law No. 154 of 2026 regulates the transfer of part of the corporate net profits of fully and partially state-owned companies to the state’s General Treasury.
Companies whose capital is completely owned by the state or public legal entities must set aside 5% of their distributable net profits.
The requirement applies regardless of the company’s legal regime. Companies established under international agreements are exempt from this requirement.
For companies in which the state or public legal entities hold more than 50% of the capital, the board must collect an amount equivalent to 4% of the distributable net profits after the general assembly approves the financial statements.
For both fully and partially state-owned companies, the allocation must be made after covering carried-forward losses and before setting aside any reserves.
In partially state-owned companies, the 4% deduction cannot exceed the share of the state or public legal entities in those profits. The amount must be deducted entirely from the state’s or public entity’s share of the net profits.
Transfer to the General Treasury
The percentages allocated under the law are classified as tax revenues and must be transferred directly to the state’s General Treasury.
The transfer must take place within four months from the close of the financial year.
The Cabinet (Council of Ministers) may temporarily exempt certain companies from the provisions of the law where social or economic necessities required by the public interest apply. Such exemptions may be granted upon the proposal of the Minister of Finance.
Law No. 150 of 2026: Amendments to bookkeeping obligations, temporary tax cards
Law No. 150 of 2026 amends certain provisions of the Unified Tax Procedures Law No. 206 of 2020, introducing changes to bookkeeping obligations and temporary tax cards
The law replaces the first paragraph of Article 38 of the Unified Tax Procedures Law.
The provision applies to all taxpayers practising commercial, industrial, craft or professional activities. These taxpayers must maintain regular accounting books and registers, which may be kept manually or electronically in accordance with Commerce Law No. 17 of 1999.
The bookkeeping requirements must take account of the tax incentives and facilitations established under Law No. 6 of 2025 for projects with an annual business volume not exceeding EGP 20 million.
The requirements are also subject to the Joint Stock Companies, Partnerships Limited by Shares, Limited Liability Companies, and Single Person Companies Law (Law No. 159 of 1981).
Temporary tax cards
Law No. 150 of 2026 adds a new Article 27 bis to the Unified Tax Procedures Law.
Under the new provision, the Tax Authority may issue a temporary tax card at the request of a taxpayer.
The card is valid for eight months and is intended to allow the taxpayer to complete establishment procedures and obtain their activity licence.
If the taxpayer incurs financial liabilities or dues to the Tax Authority during the eight-month validity period, those dues must be settled starting from the day after the temporary tax card expires.
The Head of the Tax Authority will issue a decision setting out the card’s template, required data, validity dates and procedures for its use. These procedures must not conflict with the Tax Authority’s electronic systems.
The temporary tax card cannot be used to issue electronic receipts or electronic invoices.
Law No. 150 of 2026 was issued and published on 28 July 2026 and entered into force on 29 July 2026.
Law No. 148 of 2026: Levy to develop State’s financial resources
Law No. 148 of 2026 amends certain provisions of Law No. 147 of 1984, which originally imposed a levy to develop the state’s financial resources.
The amendment replaces Item (5) and Item (19) under the first article of the 1984 law.
Under Item (5), a fee of EGP 100 is imposed on individuals leaving the territory of the Republic.
The measure exempts Egyptians, foreigners, workers operating on public passenger and cargo lines, and trucks that habitually cross the borders of Egypt.
Item (19) introduces a levy of EGP 35 per ton on all types of cement produced.
Cement factories are required to remit the collected levy directly to the Egyptian Tax Authority based on their production volumes.
The law was passed by the House of Representatives and issued by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on 28 July 2026, corresponding to Safar 14, 1448 AH.
It entered into force on the day following its publication in the Official Gazette.
