Qatar’s General Tax Authority (GTA) and General Authority of Customs (GAC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to ensure collaboration in standardizing and co-ordinating policies for enacting the provisions of excise tax law and other forms of partnerships following Qatar’s National Vision 2030.
The MoU was signed by Ahmed bin Issa al-Mohannadi, GTA’s president and Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Jamal, GAC’s Chairman. The signing ceremony was held at the GTA’s headquarters.
With the MoU, the two authorities aim to bring co-operation in several areas including the setting up of an electronic link through the GAC’s customs clearance system (Al-Nadeeb) and the GTA’s tax portal (Dhareeba) to facilitate the exchange of information and statistics instantly and offer excellent tax services to the public.
During the signing ceremony, al-Mohannadi highlighted the requirement of building co-operation with the GAC in the matter of collecting and supplying taxes imposed on selective goods and creating an electronic link between the authorities.
Ahmed bin Issa al-Mohannadi President – GTA
“Dhareeba Tax portal is a major development and a quantum leap in the tax system of Qatar, and it is a vital link by connecting the GTA with taxpayers and its partners and the relevant government entities. The Dhareeba portal manages, calculates and reviews the various types of taxes. The GTA consistently seeks to create partnerships and cooperation agreements with different partners to achieve the highest level of benefits of the system and maintains a commitment to continuous improvement.”
Commenting on the occasion Al-Jamal stated that “The GAC developed the customs clearance system (Al-Nadeeb) to harmonize the provisions related to the calculation and collection of the excise tax, which supports the speed and accuracy of customs and tax procedures that take place through the country’s ports. The GAC strives to provide the best electronic services related to customs clearance for all sectors in the country.”
As part of the agreement, GTA and GAC will form a joint venture for co-operation between the two sides, most notably the collection and supply of tax, notification of cases of tax exemption, and the implementation of procedures for tax suspension, refund and postponement. The MoU also included strengthening co-operation and prior co-ordination between the two sides regarding tax agreements, as well as relevant international and regional meetings.
Besides, the two entities agreed to continue the corporation in relation to post-audit procedures that are carried out on importers and taxpayers, and the exchange of information related to crimes of customs smuggling and tax evasion related to goods and commodities subject to the excise tax. The agreement also included knowledge exchange programs and professional training courses for employees of both entities.
