Gulf Digital News, 17 August 2026: The National Bureau for Revenue (NBR) has strengthened its fight against tax evasion by granting judicial enforcement powers to 65 officials, covering VAT, excise duty and multinational enterprise taxation.
A decision issued by Justice Minister Nawaf Al Maawda and published in the Official Gazette authorises 39 NBR officials to oversee crimes related to VAT and excise duty evasion, while 26 officials will handle offences connected with taxes imposed on multinational enterprises.
The move significantly enhances the NBR’s ability to investigate suspected violations and enforce compliance with tax laws. It follows intensified inspection campaigns across Bahrain’s commercial sector, which in 2025 included 1,216 inspection visits covering industries such as construction, manufacturing, real estate, retail, travel, vehicle repair and jewellery trading.
These inspections achieved an 86.5% compliance rate but also uncovered 145 VAT violations, including failures to issue proper invoices, display VAT‑inclusive prices, or visibly place VAT certificates. Nineteen excise‑related violations were also recorded, such as supplying excise goods without valid digital stamps.
The NBR emphasised that its inspection programmes aim not only to detect breaches but also to raise awareness among businesses about their obligations, protect consumer rights and maintain fair competition.
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