The General Authority of Customs and the General Tax Authority have announced the launch of a new package of electronic integration services between the Al Nadeeb electronic customs clearance system and the Dhareeba tax transaction management platform. The package includes 11 joint digital services and reflects the strong level of institutional integration between the two authorities, supporting the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030 in digital transformation and excellence in government services. The new package standardises procedures between the customs and tax sectors and enhances the efficiency of operational processes. The services cover registration, tax returns, the movement of goods and excise tax procedures. They are supported by the secure and automated exchange of data between the two authorities, reducing reliance on manual data entry, limiting duplication, and improving data accuracy and reliability. Speaking during the joint meeting, His Excellency Mr. Ahmad bin Abdullah Al Jamal, chairman of the General Authority of Customs , stated that the new package is the result of strong institutional cooperation between the two authorities. He noted that it reflects the shared commitment to building an interconnected digital government ecosystem that simplifies procedures, accelerates transaction processing, and enhances data quality and accuracy. This supports more effective decision-making, strengthens compliance and transparency, and positively contributes to the business environment. For his part, His Excellency Mr Khalifa bin Jassim Al Jaham Al Kuwari, President of the General Tax Authority, praised the ongoing cooperation with the General Authority of Customs in the field of institutional integration. He affirmed that it embodies the principle of interconnected government services, facilitates business procedures in the country, and improves data quality to support planning and risk governance. He added that the partnership forms part of the Authority’s strategy to strengthen coordination with national public- and private-sector institutions, enabling more efficient and effective services. The joint meeting also included a presentation on the new services and their operational mechanisms. Both authorities reaffirmed their commitment to implementing further digital initiatives and integrated projects that strengthen their partnership and contribute to building a digital government capable of delivering proactive services based on institutional integration and high-quality data.

The General Tax Authority (GTA) continues its efforts to encourage the community to adopt healthier lifestyles through awareness initiatives. In collaboration with Visit Qatar, the Authority organised the "Stay Healthy" initiative as part of the Qatar Toy Festival 2026, held under the "Hello Summer" campaign. The initiative builds on the Authority's previous participation in the festival's children's summer camp and expands its outreach to the wider festival audience. The event welcomed more than 200 children, encouraging them to embrace healthier lifestyle choices through engaging and educational activities. The initiative aimed to raise children's awareness of the risks associated with excessive sugar consumption and introduce them to sweetened drinks and their potential impact on health, concentration, and energy levels. It also explained the concept of the excise tax on sweetened drinks in a simple, age-appropriate way that children could easily understand. Children took part in a variety of interactive games, educational activities, and competitions that helped them discover the amount of sugar contained in different drinks and understand the importance of choosing healthier drinks that are low in sugar or sugar-free. The activities also highlighted the connection between the consumption of sweetened drinks and the health and social objectives of the excise tax. Through engaging educational content, children learned how tax policies can support disease prevention and encourage healthier lifestyle choices, combining learning with entertainment. The General Tax Authority's participation reflects its ongoing commitment to social responsibility and reinforces the message that taxation extends beyond its financial purpose to support important public health and social objectives. By promoting healthy habits from an early age, the Authority aims to help build a healthier, more informed generation and contribute to improving the quality of life across society. The General Tax Authority also reaffirms its commitment to strengthening collaboration with government entities and strategic partners and to continuing joint awareness initiatives that promote both tax and health awareness while fostering a stronger culture of social responsibility across the community.

The General Tax Authority (GTA), in collaboration with Visit Qatar participated in the Summer Camp held at the Qatar Toy Festival 2026 as part of Visit Qatar’s "Hala Summer" campaign. The initiative aimed to provide children with an engaging edutainment experience that combines learning with interactive activities while promoting healthy habits in an enjoyable and accessible way. As part of its participation, the Authority delivered an interactive activity highlighting the importance of reducing sugar consumption and introducing children to the concept of the excise tax on sugar-sweetened drinks. Through a range of educational games and activities tailored to different age groups, children were encouraged to make healthier dietary choices. The activity featured a variety of games and hands-on experiences that helped children distinguish between healthy and unhealthy options, while demonstrating the impact of excessive sugar consumption on energy levels and overall health. The initiative sought to reinforce the importance of adopting healthy lifestyle habits from an early age. The Qatar Toy Festival is one of Qatar's premier summer events, offering a diverse lineup of live performances, interactive experiences, and family-oriented activities. The festival provides an ideal platform for fostering collaboration between national entities and delivering community initiatives with a meaningful social impact. This participation reflects the collaboration between the General Tax Authority and Visit Qatar in supporting national initiatives that combine education with entertainment. It also underscores the Authority's commitment to promoting social responsibility, raising public health awareness, and delivering innovative educational messages that help instill healthy habits in children and encourage them to make healthier choices.

The General Tax Authority (GTA) has announced the implementation of a new Excise Tax mechanism on Sweetened Drinks, effective 6 July 2026, based on a Tiered Volumetric Model under which the applicable tax is calculated according to the amount of sugar or added sweeteners contained in taxable beverages and products. The new mechanism is introduced pursuant to Law No. (2) of 2026, amending certain provisions of the Excise Tax Law, including the schedule of excise goods subject to tax. The amendments expand the scope of taxable goods to include Sugar-Sweetened Drinks, such as soft drinks and juices containing added sugar, as well as products that can be converted into beverages and contain sugar or added sweeteners, including concentrates, powders, extracts, and other similar products. The Authority emphasized that all people holding excise goods are required to submit a Transitional Declaration through the Dhareeba platform to declare their taxable inventory. Where the total inventory is less than 200,000 litres, taxpayers are required to submit the declaration only, with no Excise Tax payable. Where the total inventory is 200,000 litres or more, taxpayers must submit an audited inventory report confirming the quantity of stock held and pay any applicable Excise Tax. The GTA further clarified that the amount of Excise Tax payable is not determined solely by the volume of inventory, but by the sugar or added sweetener content of the beverages. Accordingly, the tax payable may be zero, even where the inventory exceeds the threshold, if all products fall within non-taxable categories. Excise Tax is payable only on beverages containing medium or high levels of added sugar. The Authority urges taxpayers to submit their tax return through the Dhareeba platform within 90 days from 6 July 2026, and to pay any tax due within 30 days from the date of filing the return. The Authority also clarified that the Excise Tax applies only to packaged products and does not apply to beverages prepared for immediate consumption and supplied to final consumers without sealed packaging. This initiative forms part of the State's broader efforts to reduce the consumption of high-sugar products and encourage manufacturers to reduce the sugar content of their products, contributing to improved public health and enhancing quality of life.

The General Tax Authority organized a specialized workshop for taxpayers on valuation for the calculation of Capital Gains Tax, as part of its efforts to enhance tax awareness, raise compliance levels, and clarify the requirements and procedures related to the implementation of Capital Gains Tax. The workshop aimed to enable taxpayers to better understand the regulatory frameworks and approved valuation methodologies. The workshop covered a number of technical and legislative topics, beginning with an overview of the Capital Gains Tax Law. It also addressed the methodology for calculating Capital Gains Tax and the applicable tax rates, in addition to explaining the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS 13), including its definition, purpose in the context of Capital Gains Tax, and scope of application. The workshop also featured a detailed presentation on approved valuation methodologies and the requirements for preparing valuation reports, while highlighting the most commonly used valuation approaches. This contributed to strengthening taxpayers’ understanding of the technical mechanisms adopted in calculating the tax. This workshop forms part of a series of awareness and specialized programs organized by the General Tax Authority to support tax compliance, promote transparency, and provide taxpayers with the knowledge needed to understand and apply tax legislation and procedures in line with best practices.

As part of the “Promising Leaders” program, which aims to prepare national leaders capable of keeping pace with the requirements of institutional work, the General Tax Authority celebrated the graduation of the first cohort of its employees participating in the program, in the presence of H.E. Mr. Khalifa bin Jassim Al-Jaham Al Kuwari, President of the Authority. Implemented over a period of two months, the program focused on developing participants’ leadership skills, thereby enhancing performance efficiency and supporting the achievement of the Authority’s objectives and future strategic directions. The training journey covered a range of contemporary leadership and management topics, including strategic leadership, change management, decision-making, crisis management, institutional performance improvement, and leadership in the age of artificial intelligence, in addition to influence, negotiation, and team management skills. The program also featured interactive dialogue sessions with a number of executive leaders, providing participants with valuable insights into the Authority’s strategic direction and enriching their professional development experience. Furthermore, participants worked in specialized teams to develop a series of practical projects addressing workplace-related challenges and development opportunities. The outcomes of these projects were presented at the conclusion of the program, demonstrating the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the learning journey. The “Promising Leaders” Program reflects the General Tax Authority’s commitment to investing in human capital and developing national talent by preparing qualified leaders equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate change and drive institutional excellence. Through such initiatives, the Authority seeks to foster a culture of excellence and sustainability while supporting the achievement of its strategic goals and future directions.

The General Tax Authority was awarded first place in the second edition of the “Government Services Redesign Challenge 2026,” organized by the Civil Service and Government Development Bureau with the participation of several government entities, for its Excise Tax Product Registration service. The provision of this service comes as part of the comprehensive development and transformation plan that the authority is working to achieve, which it continues to advance through the ongoing enhancement of services, simplification of procedures, and strengthening of digitalization. These efforts contribute to improving the taxpayer experience and raising the efficiency of the services provided to them. The service met the approved excellence standards for the design and development of government services by presenting an integrated model focused on improving the clarity and ease of the process for registering products subject to excise tax, reflecting the Authority’s direction toward more efficient and innovative services. This achievement followed the participation of the Authority’s team in the innovation event accompanying the challenge, which included intensive interactive workshops focused on understanding the current state of the service, exploring related challenges, envisioning future solutions, and developing applicable prototypes to be presented before the judging panel. The challenge phases were carried out through a collaborative approach that began with identifying challenges and development opportunities, followed by idea generation and solution design, and concluded with the presentation of an enhanced model that reflects a smoother and more efficient user experience. The Authority’s presentation was distinguished by its clarity and comprehensive approach in addressing challenges and solutions, while highlighting the impact of service development on improving the taxpayer experience and enhancing procedural efficiency. This recognition reflects the General Tax Authority’s commitment to continuing the development of its digital services, promoting innovation in the design of government services, and adopting practical solutions that contribute to raising the quality of services provided to taxpayers and enhancing the efficiency of the tax system.

The General Tax Authority (GTA) organised a workshop for companies titled “Implementation of Excise Tax under the Tiered Volumetric Model”, as part of a series of awareness workshops conducted in preparation for the implementation of Excise Tax on Sweetened Drinks, effective 6 July 2026. The workshop forms part of the Authority’s ongoing efforts to enhance tax awareness and improve companies’ readiness by introducing the relevant requirements and procedures, while clarifying compliance mechanisms under the applicable tax regulations. The workshop covered the key components of the Tiered Volumetric Model for Sweetened Drinks, including the Excise Tax implementation mechanism, procedures for registering companies and taxable goods, entities obligated to pay the tax, product registration requirements and the data needed to complete the registration process, as well as the transitional provisions associated with the implementation of the new system. The workshop also featured an interactive discussion session during which participants’ questions were addressed, and various regulatory and practical aspects of Excise Tax implementation were discussed, contributing to greater awareness of regulatory requirements and tax compliance mechanisms. This workshop is part of a broader series of awareness initiatives organised by the General Tax Authority to increase understanding of tax regulations and familiarise companies with the implementation mechanism for Excise Tax on Sweetened Drinks, thereby supporting tax compliance and promoting transparency and clarity among taxpayers.

The General Tax Authority (GTA) has announced the launch of the nationally recognised Certified Tax Specialist Programme, aimed at developing national competencies and strengthening the capabilities of tax professionals, thereby supporting the advancement and transformation of Qatar’s tax sector. The programme is designed to enhance technical expertise in key areas, including income tax, value-added tax and excise tax, in line with internationally recognised standards and best practices. Delivered through intensive in-person sessions, the programme combines technical knowledge with practical application. It concludes with a proctored electronic examination to assess participants’ competencies and acquired knowledge. The curriculum covers a range of specialised topics, including tax fundamentals, tax compliance frameworks, global tax developments, tax reporting and transfer pricing, alongside practical applications relevant to professional practice. The programme is internationally accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), enhancing the credibility of the certification and confirming its alignment with global professional standards. It also contributes to improving the capabilities and competitiveness of national talent within the tax sector. The Tax Certification Programme forms part of the General Tax Authority’s ongoing efforts to develop national competencies and support the long-term sustainability of Qatar’s tax sector. It aligns with the Authority’s agenda to enhance professional skills, strengthen institutional knowledge and adopt global best practices, contributing to the development of a flexible and highly efficient tax system. The programme also supports the qualification and certification of specialised professionals to provide tax services and consultancy in accordance with the regulations and instructions of the General Tax Authority, thereby enhancing transparency and efficiency across the tax sector. The programme will be introduced gradually, beginning with employees of the General Tax Authority, followed by tax professionals. Coordination will also take place with local training centres to enhance tax knowledge and awareness among specialists and relevant entities.

As part of the Emerging Leaders Development Program, the General Tax Authority organized an interactive session titled “The Inspiring Leader” to strengthen internal engagement and foster the exchange of leadership insights and experiences with the next generation of emerging leaders. The session featured H.E. Mr. Khalifa bin Jassim Al-Jaham Al-Kuwari, President of the General Tax Authority, who shared key insights from his leadership journey and professional experience with attendees. He also highlighted his perspective on the importance of developing institutional capabilities and investing in national talent. The discussion included a series of questions about his career path, along with reflections on the leadership lessons and real-world experiences that shaped significant milestones throughout his journey. The session provided participants with a valuable opportunity to benefit from his expertise and experiences, contributing to the development and empowerment of future leaders. The event also featured an open discussion and exchange of ideas with a group of General Tax Authority employees on leadership principles, workplace challenges, the importance of continuous development, and building national capabilities. This engagement reflects the Authority’s commitment to investing in national talent, fostering a culture of inspirational leadership, and empowering employees to acquire the knowledge and experience needed to support their professional growth and contribute to achieving the Authority’s future objectives.