Bahrain is scheduled to approve the implementation of a 5% VAT in November, in time for an early 2019 launch.
The government is looking to pass through parliament the legislation to introduce the consumption tax, along with other fiscal reforms including a pension overhaul. The measures are to help reduce the state deficit, which has risen sharply following the fall in oil prices over the past four years, and prop-up the dinar currency which is at an all-time low.
Bahrain and the five other members of the Gulf Cooperation Committee agreed to introduce a VAT union in 2017. However, only Saudi Arabia and the UAE went ahead this year as planned.
Latest Bahrani news
Bahrain VAT transition rules
October 13, 2018
Bahrain is to introduce a 5% VAT from 1 January 2019. The following rules will apply to supplies contracted and supplied over the introductory period. Where invoices...
Bahrain is to introduce a 5% VAT from 1 January 2019. The following rules will apply to supplies contracted and supplied over the introductory period. Where invoices...
Bahrain 1 Jan 2019 VAT Bill passes
October 7, 2018
Updated 8th Oct: the parliaments, Upper House has passed the Bill tonight. Royal Assent is now a formality within the next week. Bahrain’s parliament lower...
Updated 8th Oct: the parliaments, Upper House has passed the Bill tonight. Royal Assent is now a formality within the next week. Bahrain’s parliament lower...
Bahrain to approve VAT launch Nov 2018
September 28, 2018
Bahrain is scheduled to approve the implementation of a 5% VAT in November, in time for an early 2019 launch. The government is looking to...
Bahrain is scheduled to approve the implementation of a 5% VAT in November, in time for an early 2019 launch. The government is looking to...
VP Global Indirect Tax
Richard Asquith
Richard Asquith is VP Global Indirect Tax at Avalara, helping businesses understand their compliance obligations as they grow globally. He is part of the European leadership team which this year won International Tax Review's Tax Technology Firm of the Year. Richard qualified as an accountant with KPMG in the UK, and went on to work in Hungary, Russia and France with EY.