What is Transportation Allowance?
A transportation allowance is a fixed monetary amount that a Saudi employer pays an employee on top of the basic wage to cover the cost of commuting between home and the workplace. It is one of the standard components of the salary structure.
How It Works
- Set the allowance as a fixed monthly amount in the employment contract.
- Pay it together with the basic salary through the WPS payroll file.
- Decide whether it is included in the GOSI contributory wage based on the GOSI rules and employer policy.
- Recognise it as a payroll expense in the period in which the service is rendered.
- Disclose it separately in the payslip and the HR system.
Saudi Context
Per current GOSI guidance, transportation allowance is typically excluded from the contributory wage for social insurance unless it is fixed and recurring without conditions. The treatment must be documented to avoid GOSI audit findings.
Example
A Riyadh-based employee earns SAR 12,000 basic plus SAR 800 transportation. Monthly GOSI is calculated only on the housing-inclusive wage, while the transportation allowance is paid as a non-contributory line.