The General Tax Authority (GTA) has officially designated Tuesday, April 30, as the deadline for the tax returns submission for the tax year 2023. It emphasizes that all entities, including individuals and companies, subject to the provisions of the Income Tax Law, promulgated by Law No. (24) of 2018 and its corresponding executive regulations and amendments, are obligated to file their tax returns. This requirement extends to entities wholly owned by Qataris or other GCC nationals, as well as to companies exempt from Income Tax or those with non-Qatari partners. The GTA further clarified that all companies possessing a commercial registry or commercial license must submit a tax return. This requirement applies irrespective of whether they have engaged in any commercial activity. Furthermore, the GTA has called on all taxpayers to promptly submit their tax returns, whether simplified or audited by accredited accounting offices, before the designated deadline through the Dhareeba tax portal (www.dhareeba.qa) or the Dhareeba Application (accessible to companies that meet the criteria for filing Simplified Tax Returns). Additionally, it is mandatory for all companies to include their final accounts when filing tax returns to avoid financial penalties and late-filing fines. Underlining its commitment to promoting tax compliance, the General Tax Authority has reaffirmed the criticality of timely tax return filing. Additionally, the GTA has mobilized its comprehensive resources to extend assistance and support to taxpayers, accessible through the call center at 16565 or via email at support@dhareeba.qa.

To commemorate the annual Qatar Family Day on April 15th, the General Tax Authority (GTA) illuminated its headquarters in green. This initiative symbolizes the GTA's deep appreciation for the essential role families play in strengthening our society's unity and promoting the value of solidarity. It also underscores the enduring value families bring to our nation's social fabric. The celebration of Qatar Family Day highlights the collective responsibility of all institutions within the country to uphold and support families, aligning with Qatar Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy's emphasis on social development. The idea of establishing a dedicated day to honor the family was introduced at the International Conference for the Family, hosted by the State of Qatar and organized by the Qatar Supreme Council for Family Affairs in 2004, marking the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family. Subsequently, in 2011, April 15th was officially designated as Qatar Family Day.

Doha, Qatar, April 4, 2024| As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance tax compliance, the General Tax Authority (GTA) has declared enforcement actions against stores found in violation of Excise Tax laws, following rigorous inspection campaigns conducted jointly with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the General Authority of Customs. Furthering its commitment to public health through robust tax enforcement, the GTA's Anti-Tax Evasion Team, in collaboration with relevant authorities, has taken actions against stores selling tobacco products and derivatives lacking the mandatory Tax Stamps (Tax Seals) as stipulated by the Excise Tax Law, which prohibits trading such products without Tax Stamps. The GTA confiscated non-compliant products and issued notices to the violating stores, initiating the process of legal action against the offenders. The General Tax Authority reaffirms its commitment to monitoring the supply chain for illicit tobacco trade, upholding the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control standards. Furthermore, the GTA affirms its ongoing campaigns against violators and pledges to take legal action against those proven to endanger public health. This crucial effort is conducted in close collaboration with all state agencies to ensure the effective enforcement of laws aimed at combatting tobacco and its derivatives. The GTA is implementing proactive measures to foster voluntary tax compliance and enhance community confidence in the tax system, with the overarching goal of cultivating an environment of greater tax adherence. The GTA urges all taxpayers to strictly comply with the provisions and procedures outlined in the tax laws to avoid any potential legal consequences. The General Tax Authority extends its gratitude to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the General Authority of Customs for their invaluable cooperation in these ongoing campaigns, affirming its commitment to continue taking all necessary measures to enforce laws and protect consumers. The Tax Stamp is a unique and easily recognizable identifier, available in the format of either a physical sticker or a digital code containing encrypted data and is affixed to Excisable Goods. The General Tax Authority initiated the first and second phases of this system in 2022, followed by the third phase at the onset of 2023 within local markets. This phase mandated that all tobacco products and derivatives in local markets must bear Tax Stamps. The GTA's endeavors to combat tobacco align with Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy 2024-2030, which prioritizes enhancing quality of life by reducing smoking prevalence. These efforts are also in harmony with the National Health Strategy, aimed at safeguarding individuals from the hazards of tobacco and its derivatives. This is achieved through imposing taxes on tobacco production and imports, contributing to the overall improvement of public health for all residents of Qatar.

In a gesture of solidarity, the General Tax Authority (GTA) illuminated its headquarters in blue on Tuesday evening, to mark the occasion of World Autism Awareness Day, celebrated annually on April 2nd. The GTA's participation in World Autism Awareness Day aims to raise awareness about the experincees of people with autism and enhancing society’s understanding of their diverse needs. It also underscores the vital role of community support and inclusion for them. This initiative embodies GTA's backing of nationwide endeavors in Qatar aimed at raising awareness and demonstrating solidarity with the campaign. Such contributions serve as a testament to the General Tax Authority's ongoing commitment to advocating equality and full participation for individuals with special needs, including those living with autism. To note, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a proposal put forth by the State of Qatar, designating April 2nd as World Autism Awareness Day, and this global observance was celebrated for the first time in 2008.

The General Tax Authority participated in the celebration of the global environmental event “Earth Hour”, by turning off the lights of its main building for one hour on Saturday evening, March 23, 2024, from 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM. The Authority's participation in this global event raises awareness in the community about the issue of climate change and the importance of preserving natural resources for future generations by reducing carbon emissions. This participation reflects our interest in the General Tax Authority to remind individuals and the community of their shared responsibility to protect the Earth from all forms of pollution. We hope this initiative inspires a collective effort towards prioritizing energy conservation, recognizing the significant impact even small steps can achieve when undertaken within a global movement. Earth Hour is a global initiative organized by the “World Wildlife Fund”, started in Sydney, Australia in 2007. During this event, all lights and electrical devices are turned off for one hour.

The General Tax Authority and the General Authority of Customs organized a Suhoor banquet in the presence of His Excellency Mr. Ahmed bin Eisa Al-Mohannadi, President of the General Tax Authority, and His Excellency Mr. Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Jamal, Chairman of the General Authority of Customs, alongside employees from both authorities. This Ramadan evening epitomizes the commitment of the General Tax Authority and the General Authority of Customs to strengthen communication and cohesion among their employees, creating a positive and supportive work environment. This gathering also serves as an opportunity to express appreciation and gratitude for the efforts of the employees and to encourage them to contribute further. Additionally, the evening included religious and cultural segments, which received positive interaction from the attendees.

The General Tax Authority has been awarded the ISO 9001:2015 certificate for global quality from the International Organization for Standardization after achieving all the international standards for the quality management system. This certificate is a testament to the Authority's continuous efforts to develop its services, improve the level of performance, and enhance the confidence of its customers in its services. Mr. Ismail Mohammed Alsayed Almansouri, Assistant President for Support Services at the Authority, and Head of the Institutional Quality Committee, stated, “The General Tax Authority receiving the ISO certificate is part of its commitment in the development of its services, as this certificate is an international standard of practice in this field. This underscores that the Authority has updated its services to conform to the application of the best international standards. In addition, the ISO 9001 quality management system assists in controlling quality and managing operations in the Authority. This standard illustrates ways in which the services provided by the Authority can be upgraded to the highest levels.” On a related note, Mr. Nasser Ali Alhijji, Assistant Director of the Public Relations and Communication Department at the Authority stated, “Obtaining the ISO certificate for global quality is an important achievement that reflects [our] keenness to provide the best services to our clients. This certificate will contribute to enhancing the confidence of our clients in the Authority's services and motivating it to continue its efforts in development and performance improvement." This certification signifies a major step forward for the General Tax Authority, demonstrating its unwavering commitment to delivering top-tier services that align with the best practices in global taxation. The ISO standards encompass a wide range of areas, including processes and services, customer satisfaction, performance improvement, and compliance with laws and regulations. The Authority made extensive efforts to achieve this certificate by restructuring its operational processes, simplifying procedures, and evolving service channels to offer greater accessibility and efficiency for clients. Additionally, the Authority strengthened its outreach and awareness-raising efforts with taxpayers and society, with the aim of promoting tax culture and enhancing awareness of tax importance and its role indevelopment. It is worth noting that the Authority had previously succeeded in meeting all the conditions related to information security management and risk assessment according to international standards. Thanks to this success, it obtained the ISO27001:2013 certificate from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which is awarded to organisations and companies that meet the required standards based on the assessment of independent experts. The Authority has also completed the development and improvement of information security by comply with the updated requirements of ISO 27001:2022. The Authority affirms that obtaining the ISO certificate for global quality is an incentive to continue its efforts to develop its services and improve the level of performance and calls on all its clients to benefit from its electronic services that facilitate the completion of their tax transactions with efficiency and effectiveness.

The State of Qatar and the Republic of Estonia have signed a landmark agreement that clarifies tax relations and eliminates double taxation between the two nations. The agreement was signed by His Excellency Mr. Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, the Qatari Minister of Finance, and His Excellency Mr. Tiit Riisalo, the Estonian Minister of Economic Affairs and Information Technology, and will enhance the tax cooperation between the two friendly countries. By determining tax relations, eliminating double taxation, and preventing tax evasion,the agreement between Qatar and Estonia aims to support economic relations and bilateral trade cooperation. This, in turn, will encourage and facilitate investments and trade exchange. It will also foster international transparency standards by adopting frameworks for documented financial information exchange. The agreement’s aim to sign tax treaties to end all forms of double taxation between the two countries is to achieve tax justice and ensure equal opportunities in the treatment of individuals, promote trade cooperation, and increase investment opportunities between governments and individuals.

H.E. Ahmed bin Eisa Al-Mohannadi, President of the General Tax Authority, welcomed On March 6th, a delegation from the Royal Danish Embassy at the GTA's premises. Leading the delegation was H.E. Ambassador Mr. Anders Bjorn, alongside Mr. Christian Frost, the Digital Advisor at the Danish Consulate. During the meeting, attendees reviewed the outcomes of previous productive discussions, emphasizing the ongoing cooperation with the General Tax Authority. They underscored the importance of enhancing partnerships.

His Excellency, Mr. Ahmed bin Eisa Al-Mohannadi, President of the General Tax Authority, accompanied by GTA employees, visited the International Horticultural Expo 2023 Doha. This landmark event marks the first international horticultural exhibition held in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Engineer Mohammed Ali Al Khori, Secretary-General of Expo 2023 Doha, welcomed His Excellency and his accompanying team. He guided them through captivating displays from participating nations, showcasing advancements in modern agriculture, cutting-edge technology, innovation, environmental awareness, and sustainability. During the visit, the GTA President praised the efforts taken to organize this global event. He emphasized the importance of the Horticulture Expo in inspiring the international community to explore and innovate new solutions to reduce the effects of desertification, raise awareness on the importance of agriculture and environmental protection, and support sustainability through innovative solutions. Expressing his delight with the Expo, H.E. also hailed it as a catalyst for international cooperation in the crucial fields of agriculture, horticulture, and sustainability. The International Horticultural Expo, aims to promote innovative sustainable solutions and combat desertification and its damaging effects.