Bahrain- October 5, 2021:

The Government of Bahrain is contemplating to double its rate of value-added tax (VAT) to 10 percent, in an effort to curb its large budget deficit and boost state revenue. The Gulf’s smallest economy is seeking ways to cut spending and bring its budget back into balance by 2024, an official close to the government said.

However, it’s still isn’t very clear when the higher VAT rate will be implemented though some news sources cite with effect from January 1, 2022.

This will be the Gulf’s second highest rate after Saudi Arabia tripled its VAT rate to 15 percent last year to bolster state revenue when oil prices slumped during Covid-19. The United Arab Emirates and Oman imposed a 5 percent VAT under a common 2018 framework by the six-nation GCC Council. Kuwait and Qatar are yet to implement the tax.

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