41 VAT Violations Detected in Bahrain During July Inspections

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

The National Bureau for Revenue (NBR) has reported in a statement detecting 41 violations of Value Added Tax (VAT) regulations during 183 inspection visits conducted across various governorates in the Kingdom of Bahrain during July. These inspections were part of the NBR's ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with all regulations and legislation related to VAT and Excise, including the Digital Stamps system.

The violations identified included failure to comply with the conditions and procedures for issuing VAT invoices, failure to display the VAT certificate in a prominent location, displaying prices for goods or services that did not include VAT, and failure to issue a VAT invoice. These violations resulted in administrative fines for the offending establishments.

Furthermore, the NBR identified several cases suspected of VAT or Excise evasion, which are currently undergoing legal proceedings. The penalties for such violations can include imprisonment for up to five years and a fine equivalent to three times the evaded VAT amount, or imprisonment for one year and a fine equivalent to twice the evaded Excise amount.

The NBR emphasised that the success of these inspection campaigns relies heavily on the cooperation of both business owners and consumers to achieve the highest standards of compliance. The agency urged in the statement all stakeholders to report any violations or breaches of the VAT or Excise laws by contacting a specialist at the Contact Centre on 80008001, available 24/7, or through the National Suggestions and Complaints System (Tawasul). Inquiries or observations regarding VAT can be sent to vat@nbr.gov.bh, and those related to the Digital Stamps system can be sent to ds@nbr.gov.bh.