Manama- March 19, 2022:

Since the roll-out of the law to double VAT in January 2022, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, in cooperation with the National Revenue Authority(NBR), conducted inspection campaigns on shops and commercial establishments. As many as 40 shops and commercial establishments were inspected in the Kingdom to check their compliance. The main aim of the inspections was to spread awareness of the mechanisms to be followed to apply VAT in its modified basic proportion and ensure the interest of consumers.

The inspection campaigns detected around 29 violations that require the imposition of administrative fines that may reach 10,000 Bahraini Dinars in accordance with the law and also necessitated the closure of two precautionary stores. NBR is geared to take legal measures against the violating facilities, and refer those proven of an evasion crime to the authorities. Penalties could even reach up to five years imprisonment and a fine equivalent to three times the evaded added value.

Citizens and residents who come across any violation of the VAT law can report their complaints to the authorities by dialing 80008001 24/7 or sending an email to vat@nbr.gov.bh

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