As part of its ongoing commitment to raising tax awareness and addressing the tax and legal aspects of sweetened beverage production and marketing, the General Tax Authority (GTA), in partnership with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, organized an introductory workshop for producers in the sector.

The workshop was held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Doha, with the esteemed presence of H.E. Mr. Khalifa bin Jassim Al-Jaham Al-Kuwari, President of the General Tax Authority, and Mr. Saleh bin Majid Al-Khulaifi, Assistant Undersecretary for Industrial Affairs and Business Development at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The event also gathered representatives from several sweetened beverage producers and manufacturers, alongside officials from the General Tax Authority and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

During the workshop, Mr. Badar Mohammed Al-Dosari, Head of Medium and Small Taxpayers Section at the General Tax Authority, delivered a comprehensive presentation on "Excise Tax for Producers of Sweetened Beverages". He explained the tax calculation process and outlined the legal obligations imposed on producers to ensure full compliance with tax regulations.

The workshop concluded with an open dialogue session, during which all participants' inquiries concerning the Excise Tax on sweetened products were addressed, and further clarifications were provided on the regulatory aspects related to production and marketing.

The Excise Tax was imposed in January 2019 as part of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) agreement concluded in November 2016. In July 2019, the GCC agreed to extend the scope of the Excise Tax to include sweetened beverages. This was part of the GCC’s initiative to reduce the consumption of products harmful to public health, including sweetened beverages.

The workshop underscores the GTA's commitment to establishing a transparent tax environment and supporting producers in complying with Excise Tax regulations.