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Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Somaliland
Professional Orientation Guide
Corporate & Business Law · Taxation
CPA Somaliland Membership Orientation · Section 13

Quick Reference - Tax Rates & Key Dates

13. QUICK REFERENCE - TAX RATES & KEY DATES

Domestic Tax Rate Summary

Tax Base Tax % Admin % Stamp % Effective %
Payroll (PAYE) Gross employment income 5% - 1% 6%
Rental Income (Individual) Gross rental income 10% 2% 2.5% of (tax+admin) ~12.3%
Business Income Chargeable income 10% 2% 2.5% of (tax+admin) ~12.3%
GST Taxable consideration 5% - - 5%
Withholding (non-resident) Gross international payment 10% 2% 2.5% ~12.3%
Excise (tobacco) Value of tobacco products 50% - - 50%

Key Filing Dates Summary

Tax / Obligation Due Date
Business Income Tax return (Dec year-end) 30 April
Individual Rental Income Tax 30 April
Payroll Tax (PAYE) - monthly remittance 15th of following month
GST return and payment 21st of following month
Provisional Tax - Corporate (instalment 1) 30 June
Provisional Tax - Corporate (instalment 2) 31 December
Provisional Tax - Individual (quarterly) 31 Mar / 30 Jun / 30 Sep / 31 Dec
Objection to assessment Within 30 days of notice
Penalty interest on overdue tax 2% per month from due date
Record retention minimum period 5 years from end of year of income

Capital Allowance - Initial & Annual Rate Summary

Category Initial Allowance Annual Rate & Method
Eligible plant & machinery - Hargeisa 50% of cost (yr 1 only) Reducing balance on remaining WDV
Eligible plant & machinery - Outside Hargeisa 75% of cost (yr 1 only) Reducing balance on remaining WDV
Computers & data handling (Class 1) 50%/75% if eligible 40% reducing balance
Vehicles, construction (Class 2) None (transport vehicles excluded) 35% reducing balance
Buses ≥30 seats; heavy goods; farm/mining plant (Class 3) 50%/75% if eligible plant 30% reducing balance
Office furniture; aircraft; vessels; other (Class 4) 50%/75% if eligible 20% reducing balance
Industrial Buildings - Annual N/A 5% straight-line
Industrial Buildings - Initial 20% of qualifying cost Applied in year building first in use
Small equipment (< $5,000) 100% immediate deduction No capital allowance applies
REMINDER Transport vehicles (goods vehicles, buses, passenger cars) DO NOT qualify for the initial allowance - only for annual allowances.
ICPAS Professional Orientation Guide · For IFAC Qualified Accountants Applying for Direct Admission to CPA Somaliland Membership · 2026 Edition
Professional Ethics

Professional Ethics in Islam

Islam places strong emphasis on honesty, justice, trust, fairness, and accountability. These values are directly relevant to accounting, auditing, financial reporting, public finance, and all forms of professional work.

Introduction

Professional ethics in Islam is based on the idea that a person is accountable not only to employers, clients, regulators, and society, but also to Allah. Therefore, a professional accountant should not measure ethical behaviour only by asking whether an action is legal or whether it benefits the organisation.

The Islamic approach requires honesty in speech and records, fulfilment of trust, fairness in judgement, avoidance of bribery and fraud, respect for agreements, and careful documentation of financial rights and obligations.

In accounting practice, Islamic professional ethics means that financial information should be prepared, reviewed, and reported with truthfulness, fairness, and responsibility.

Qur’anic foundations of professional ethics

1. Truthfulness

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ
Meaning: O believers, be mindful of Allah and be with those who are truthful.
Professional application: Accountants should report information truthfully and avoid misleading figures, false explanations, or selective disclosure.
Qur’an 9:119

2. Trust and justice

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَنْ تُؤَدُّوا الْأَمَانَاتِ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمْتُمْ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ أَنْ تَحْكُمُوا بِالْعَدْلِ
Meaning: Allah commands that trusts be delivered to those entitled to them, and that judgement between people be made with justice.
Professional application: Accountants are entrusted with financial information, assets, records, and public confidence. This trust must be protected with fairness and care.
Qur’an 4:58

3. Justice even under pressure

وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَىٰ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا ۚ اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ
Meaning: Do not let dislike or hostility lead you away from justice. Be just; that is closer to righteousness.
Professional application: Personal relationships, pressure from managers, or dislike of others should not affect professional judgement or reporting.
Qur’an 5:8

4. Honest measurement and fair dealing

وَيْلٌ لِّلْمُطَفِّفِينَ ۝ الَّذِينَ إِذَا اكْتَالُوا عَلَى النَّاسِ يَسْتَوْفُونَ ۝ وَإِذَا كَالُوهُمْ أَو وَّزَنُوهُمْ يُخْسِرُونَ
Meaning: Warning is given against those who demand full measure for themselves but give less when measuring or weighing for others.
Professional application: In accounting, this principle applies to accurate measurement, fair valuation, honest invoicing, and avoiding manipulation of figures.
Qur’an 83:1–3

5. Avoiding unlawful wealth and bribery

وَلَا تَأْكُلُوا أَمْوَالَكُمْ بَيْنَكُمْ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَتُدْلُوا بِهَا إِلَى الْحُكَّامِ
Meaning: Do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly, and do not use it to influence authorities in order to take people’s property wrongfully.
Professional application: Bribery, false claims, inflated invoices, kickbacks, and misuse of public or private funds are inconsistent with Islamic ethics.
Qur’an 2:188

6. Documentation and evidence

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا تَدَايَنْتُم بِدَيْنٍ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى فَاكْتُبُوهُ
Meaning: When believers contract a debt for a fixed period, they are instructed to record it in writing.
Professional application: Proper documentation, evidence, records, contracts, and audit trails are part of ethical financial management.
Qur’an 2:282
Note: English meanings are simplified for teaching purposes. Learners should refer to reliable Qur’an translations and tafsir for detailed study.

Sayings of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ relevant to professional ethics

The Sunnah reinforces the same ethical values: sincere intention, truthfulness, transparency, responsibility, fair dealing, and avoidance of deception.

1. Intention behind professional work

إِنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ
Meaning: Actions are judged by intentions.
Professional application: Ethical work is not only about the outward action. The accountant’s intention should be honest, responsible, and free from hidden personal gain.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1

2. No deception

مَنْ غَشَّنَا فَلَيْسَ مِنَّا
Meaning: Whoever deceives us is not one of us.
Professional application: Misleading reports, hidden defects, false invoices, inflated claims, and manipulated records are forms of deception.
Sahih Muslim 102

3. Truthfulness in transactions

فَإِنْ صَدَقَا وَبَيَّنَا بُورِكَ لَهُمَا فِي بَيْعِهِمَا
Meaning: If both parties are truthful and clear, their transaction is blessed.
Professional application: Financial information should be clear, complete, and truthful. Important risks, liabilities, defects, and uncertainties should not be hidden.
Sahih al-Bukhari 2079

4. Responsibility and accountability

كُلُّكُمْ رَاعٍ وَكُلُّكُمْ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ
Meaning: Every one of you is a guardian and is responsible for what is under their care.
Professional application: Accountants are responsible for records, reports, controls, assets, and decisions placed under their care.
Sahih al-Bukhari 7138; Sahih Muslim 1829a

5. Sincere advice and public interest

الدِّينُ النَّصِيحَةُ
Meaning: Religion is sincere counsel.
Professional application: Accountants should give honest professional advice, not advice designed only to please managers, clients, or powerful individuals.
Sahih Muslim 55a

6. Taking people’s money responsibly

مَنْ أَخَذَ أَمْوَالَ النَّاسِ يُرِيدُ أَدَاءَهَا أَدَّى اللَّهُ عَنْهُ
Meaning: Whoever takes people’s money intending to repay it, Allah will repay it on their behalf.
Professional application: Borrowing, advances, public funds, client money, supplier balances, and employee funds must be handled with serious responsibility.
Sahih al-Bukhari 2387

7. Fairness and leniency in dealings

رَحِمَ اللَّهُ رَجُلًا سَمْحًا إِذَا بَاعَ، وَإِذَا اشْتَرَى، وَإِذَا اقْتَضَى
Meaning: May Allah have mercy on a person who is lenient when selling, buying, and seeking repayment.
Professional application: Professional conduct requires fairness, respect, and moderation when dealing with clients, suppliers, taxpayers, debtors, and colleagues.
Sahih al-Bukhari 2076

Islamic values applied to accounting practice

The Qur’anic values and Prophetic guidance above can be translated into practical professional behaviour for accountants, auditors, finance officers, tax practitioners, and public sector officials.

  • Prepare financial records honestly and avoid false or misleading entries.
  • Do not manipulate revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, or performance reports.
  • Avoid conflicts of interest and disclose them where they exist.
  • Reject bribery, kickbacks, inflated invoices, and improper personal benefits.
  • Protect confidential information and do not misuse it for personal gain.
  • Maintain proper documentation for transactions, contracts, approvals, and payments.
  • Be fair to all stakeholders, including employers, clients, creditors, regulators, taxpayers, and the public.
  • Speak up when asked to support reporting that is false, unfair, or unsupported by evidence.

Key principles for professional accountants

Amanah

Protecting the trust placed in the accountant.

Sidq

Being truthful in records, reports, and explanations.

Adl

Applying fairness and justice in professional judgement.

Ihsan

Doing work carefully, responsibly, and with excellence.

Mas’uliyyah

Accepting accountability for professional decisions.

Taqwa

Being conscious of Allah when making ethical choices.

Why this matters

Professional accountants may face pressure to adjust figures, hide weaknesses, approve unsupported payments, ignore conflicts of interest, or remain silent about unethical conduct. Islam teaches that such decisions are not only technical or administrative. They are moral decisions involving trust, justice, and accountability.

A Muslim professional accountant should ask: Is this truthful? Is it fair? Does it protect trust? Would I be comfortable being accountable for this before Allah and before people?

References

  1. Qur’an 9:119 — truthfulness.
  2. Qur’an 4:58 — trust and justice.
  3. Qur’an 5:8 — justice even when under pressure or bias.
  4. Qur’an 83:1–3 — honest measurement and fair dealing.
  5. Qur’an 2:188 — prohibition of unjust wealth and bribery.
  6. Qur’an 2:282 — documentation of financial obligations.
  7. Sahih al-Bukhari 1 — intention behind actions.
  8. Sahih Muslim 102 — prohibition of deception.
  9. Sahih al-Bukhari 2079 — truthfulness and clarity in transactions.
  10. Sahih al-Bukhari 7138 and Sahih Muslim 1829a — responsibility and accountability.
  11. Sahih Muslim 55a — sincere counsel.
  12. Sahih al-Bukhari 2387 — responsibility when taking people’s money.
  13. Sahih al-Bukhari 2076 — leniency in buying, selling, and seeking repayment.

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