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His Excellency Khalifa bin Jassim al-Jaham al-Kuwari, President of the General Tax Authority, headed Qatar’s delegation participating in the Sixth Meeting of the Global Forum on Value Added Tax (VAT) in Paris. The forum was organised by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and held in Paris from January 26-28. The forum is considered a high-level international platform that brings together senior officials from tax administrations around the world to discuss the design and implementation of VAT/GST systems, exchange experiences in addressing challenges related to the digital economy, e-commerce, crypto-assets, and artificial intelligence, as well as to review best practices aimed at enhancing tax compliance and developing risk management mechanisms. Qatar’s participation in this meeting reaffirms its commitment to strengthening international co-operation in the field of tax policy and exchanging expertise in a manner that contributes to enhancing the efficiency of domestic tax systems, in addition to supporting international efforts to modernise and develop tax frameworks in line with evolving economic and technological changes. 

The General Tax Authority (GTA) has announced that the tax return filing period for the financial year ended Dec. 31, 2025, will commence on Jan. 1, 2026 and continue until April 30, 2026.GTA said in a statement on Wednesday that this comes in compliance with the provisions of Income Tax Law No. 24 of 2018, its Executive Regulations, and their amendments.The statement noted that the tax return filing requirements apply to all entities subject to the provisions of the Law, including tax-exempt companies, companies owned by Qatari nationals or nationals of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, as well as private associations and institutions, private charitable associations and institutions, and private public-benefit institutions established in accordance with the laws governing each of them.GTA urged all companies and institutions holding a commercial registration or trade license - including those exempt from tax, to submit their tax returns within the specified period through the electronic 'Dhareeba' platform.The Authority also affirmed its commitment to providing all forms of support and assistance to taxpayers and to facilitating the tax return filing process through its official communication channels, including the Call Center: 16565, and email: supportdhareeba.qa, to ensure compliance with the prescribed legal deadlines.This approach comes as part of GTA's commitment to establishing a fair and transparent tax environment, implementing relevant laws and legislation, and enhancing the level of tax compliance.

Qatar has participated in the 18th meeting of the ‘Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes’ held in New Delhi, gathering representatives from more than 170 countries and international organisations.The General Tax Authority president Khalifa bin Jassim al-Jaham al-Kuwari represented the country during the meeting, where the GTA’s official delegation reaffirmed Qatar's commitment to developing its legislative and regulatory framework to enhance tax compliance.Emphasis was placed particularly in the areas of Exchange of Information on Request (EOIR) and Automatic Exchange of Financial Information (AEOI). This is in addition to advancing the digital transformation of tax systems and developing tools for compliance and oversight.The delegation also participated in several discussion sessions and side events that addressed global progress in combating tax evasion, the role of transparency in improving tax collection efficiency, and increasing domestic revenues. Additionally, the events highlighted countries’ experiences in implementing international standards and developing national capacities.Qatar’s participation in the international event further underscores its active role in global forums on tax governance, its continuous efforts to promote the principles of tax transparency, and its commitment to developing information exchange mechanisms in line with international standards. Furthermore, it reflects Qatar’s ongoing dedication to collaborating with international partners to enhance a fairer and more transparent global tax system. 

The General Tax Authority (GTA) continues its ongoing efforts to facilitate taxpayers’ procedures and ensure the regularity of their tax transactions. As part of these efforts, taxpayers are now able to submit applications for the Financial Penalty Exemption Initiative at 100% directly at the authority’s tower, in addition to receiving support for a range of other tax obligations and services. The services provided during this period include submitting exemption applications, filing objections and settlements, as well as services related to collection, inquiries, sales, and clearances, in addition to technical support for resolving any issues that taxpayers may encounter in the system. Taxpayers can visit the authority’s tower on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8am to 12 noon until December 31, where dedicated teams are available to provide support and assistance, ensuring that transactions are completed easily and efficiently. Taxpayers can also apply electronically via the ‘Dhareeba’ platform to benefit from the initiative. GTA has confirmed that the 100% Financial Penalty Exemption Initiative will continue until December 31, reaffirming its commitment to promoting tax compliance and building a strong and sustainable partnership and trust with all taxpayers.

In response to the growing interest in benefiting from the 100% Financial Penalty Exemption Initiative, and in line with its commitment to supporting taxpayers and enabling them to regularise their status, the General Tax Authority has announced the extension of the submission period for the initiative until December 31, 2025.The extension aims to provide the opportunity for the largest possible number of taxpayers to benefit from the available exemptions.The GTA allows taxpayers to apply for the initiative through the Dhareeba platform, while continuing to provide support and guidance services that reinforce transparency and help instill a culture of tax compliance.The initiative has achieved significant results, with more than 7,000 taxpayers exempted from financial penalties exceeding QR1.6bn, and over 56,000 tax returns submitted — including overdue returns covering tax periods from 2014 to 2024. This has greatly contributed to raising the overall tax compliance rate.The initiative also witnessed a high participation rate among companies and business owners who were able to rectify their situations and benefit from the full exemption from financial penalties. Beneficiary companies represented various vital sectors, reflecting the inclusiveness of the initiative and its broad impact in supporting different components of the national economy.The GTA has urged taxpayers to take advantage of the initiative via the Dhareeba platform. The initiative is considered one of the Authority’s landmark measures, designed to enable taxpayers to settle their tax obligations through a 100% exemption from financial penalties incurred due to late registration, filing, or payment, subject to specific terms and conditions.The GTA has confirmed that the initiative has successfully enhanced voluntary compliance by offering a clear and practical opportunity to rectify tax status with ease and convenience. This contributes to the efficiency of the tax system and strengthens the relationship of trust and partnership between the Authority and taxpayers.