The Bahraini National Bureau for Revenue released updated guidance on VAT treatment of real‑estate lease incentives on 29 January 2026. The guide clarifies that rent reductions and rent‑free periods are exempt, while reimbursements for fit‑out contributions are taxable. It also provides examples of common lease incentives used by landlords.
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Docnova · 3 months ago
Bahrain’s National Bureau for Revenue released guidance version 1.5 on March 11 2026 clarifying that VAT paid as deposits during import is not immediately recoverable. Registered persons must obtain a customs declaration receipt confirming a ‘VAT confiscation’ status before they can reclaim the VAT, and the recovery must occur within five years from the end of the calendar year in which the deposit becomes recoverable.
Bloomberg Tax · 5 months ago
The Bahrain Tax Agency released an updated VAT general guide in English on Jan. 28, 2026. The guide clarifies that outsourced services are taxable, VAT is due on full consideration when third‑party providers assign roles under direct supervision, and employee salaries remain outside VAT. These updates aim to provide clearer guidance for businesses operating in Bahrain.
Rtcsuite · about 12 hours ago
Saudi Arabia’s e-invoicing regime is fully live, requiring all VAT‑registered businesses to issue invoices through a compliant Electronic Generation Solution (EGS) connected to the Fatoora platform. In 2026, two SME‑scale integration waves—Wave 23 and Wave 24—will bring additional businesses into the real‑time clearance system, with deadlines of 31 March 2026 and 30 June 2026 respectively, while the penalty‑waiver initiative expires on 30 June 2026.
VatCalc · 6 days ago
Saudi Arabia has approved amendments to the GCC Unified VAT Agreement, formalising a 5% minimum VAT rate across the Gulf and confirming Saudi Arabia's 15% and Bahrain's 10% rates. The reforms introduce a first‑port‑of‑entry model for import VAT, a VAT settlement mechanism for onward movements, and enhanced information sharing between GCC tax authorities.
Marmin AI · 7 days ago
UAE e‑invoicing will give the Federal Tax Authority real‑time, invoice‑level visibility via the Peppol network, enabling automated matching of output and input VAT. The new system requires businesses to align VAT return timing with invoice transmission, ensure credit notes reference original invoices, and depend on suppliers’ successful transmission for input VAT recovery. Firms should update supplier agreements and reconcile monthly to avoid audit triggers.
Marmin · 8 days ago
The UAE's Cabinet Resolution 106 imposes escalating penalties for e‑invoicing non‑compliance, with specific deadlines for appointing an accredited service provider and implementing the system. Phase 1 businesses (annual revenue ≥AED 50 million) must appoint an ASP by 30 Oct 2026 and have the system live by 1 Jan 2027, while Phase 2 businesses face similar obligations by 1 Jul 2027. Penalties include AED 5 000 per month for missed appointments, AED 5 000 per month for delayed implementation, AED 100 per invoice outside the system (capped at AED 5 000/month), and AED 1 000 per day for unreported system failures.
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Key Takeaways
They are treated as exempt from VAT, following the same treatment as the principal supply.
Such reimbursements are subject to VAT, unlike rent reductions or rent‑free periods.
The guide was posted on 29 January 2026.
Primary source
Read the full article at Bloomberg TaxThis summary was published on VATfaqs.com on 4 February 2026. It relates to VAT developments in Bahrain. The original source is Bloomberg Tax.
