Doha Information has presented a brand new Excise Tax mechanism for sweetened beverages, with companies required to conform from July 6 below a device that calculates tax in keeping with the sugar content material of drinks fairly than just their quantity.
The Common Tax Authority (GTA) mentioned the brand new framework is according to a Tiered Volumetric Style and follows amendments presented below Legislation No. (2) of 2026, increasing the variety of goods matter to Excise Tax.
The Authority mentioned the brand new Excise Tax mechanism on Sweetened Beverages took impact on July 6, 2026, with the acceptable tax calculated in keeping with the quantity of sugar or added sweeteners contained in taxable drinks and merchandise.
The adjustments had been presented pursuant to Legislation No. (2) of 2026, which amends sure provisions of the Excise Tax Legislation, together with the time table of excise items matter to tax.
Doha Information sugar tax introduced
Underneath the amended regulation, the scope of taxable items has been expanded to incorporate:
Sugar-Sweetened Beverages, together with comfortable beverages and juices containing added sugar
Merchandise that may be transformed into drinks and comprise sugar or added sweeteners
Concentrates
Powders
Extracts
Different identical merchandise
The Common Tax Authority mentioned all folks retaining excise items are required to put up a Transitional Declaration during the Dhareeba platform mentioning their taxable stock.
The Authority mentioned other necessities observe relying at the amount of inventory held:
Stock under 200,000 litres: Companies will have to put up the declaration handiest, with out a Excise Tax payable
Stock of 200,000 litres or extra: Companies will have to put up an audited stock record confirming the amount of inventory held and pay any acceptable Excise Tax
How new Doha Information tax is calculated
The GTA mentioned Excise Tax legal responsibility is decided through the sugar or added sweetener content material of drinks fairly than stock quantity on my own.
Because of this, companies retaining stock above the 200,000-litre threshold might nonetheless haven’t any Excise Tax to pay if all merchandise fall inside non-taxable classes.
In step with the Doha Information Authority, Excise Tax is payable handiest on drinks containing medium or excessive ranges of added sugar.
The Authority steered taxpayers to:
Put up their tax go back during the Dhareeba platform inside 90 days from July 6, 2026
Pay any Excise Tax due inside 30 days from the date the go back is filed
The GTA clarified that the Excise Tax applies handiest to packaged merchandise.
It does no longer observe to drinks ready for fast intake and equipped at once to ultimate shoppers with out sealed packaging.
Doha Information ariel view: Symbol / Unsplash
Public well being targets in Doha Information
The Authority mentioned the brand new Excise Tax mechanism paperwork a part of the state’s broader efforts to cut back intake of high-sugar merchandise whilst encouraging producers to decrease the sugar content material in their merchandise, contributing to stepped forward public well being and embellishing high quality of existence.
