A major task force of 65 officials from the National Bureau for Revenue (NBR) has been granted judicial enforcement powers to strengthen the fight against tax evasion and violations involving Value-Added Tax (VAT), excise duty and taxes imposed on multinational enterprises.
The move will give dozens of NBR officials greater authority to investigate and oversee suspected offences as part of efforts to tighten compliance and protect government revenues.
According to a decision issued by Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Minister Nawaf Al Maawda and published in the latest edition of the Official Gazette, 39 NBR officials have been granted judicial powers to oversee crimes relating to the evasion or tampering with excise duty and VAT.
A further 26 NBR officials have been granted judicial powers to oversee crimes connected with taxes imposed on multinational enterprises (MNEs) operating in the kingdom.
The decision represents a significant expansion of the NBR’s enforcement capabilities, placing a large group of its officials in a position to exercise powers provided under the relevant legislation when dealing with suspected tax offences.
The latest move comes as the NBR continues to intensify inspections and compliance monitoring across Bahrain’s commercial sector.
The authority carried out 1,216 inspection visits during 2025 across local markets in Bahrain’s governorates, covering a wide range of economic activities.
The inspections targeted businesses operating in sectors such as construction, manufacturing, real estate, retail, plumbing, heating and air-conditioning installation, travel agencies, vehicle repair, manpower supply and jewellery trading, among others.
The NBR said its market oversight and awareness initiatives helped achieve an 86.5 per cent compliance rate across local markets during 2025.
The inspections also resulted in the reporting of 145 VAT violations, with administrative fines imposed in accordance with the law.
Among the most commonly recorded breaches were failures to comply with requirements governing the issuance of VAT invoices.
Other violations included failing to display prices inclusive of VAT, failing to place a VAT certificate in a visible location, failing to issue VAT invoices and issuing VAT invoices for goods or services that are not subject to VAT.
The NBR also reported 19 excise-related violations during its inspections.
These included the acquisition of excise goods where the relevant excise dues had not been paid, as well as the supply of excise goods without a valid and active digital stamp. Administrative fines were imposed in the relevant cases.
The granting of judicial powers to the 65 NBR officials comes against this backdrop of increased enforcement and is expected to further support the authority’s ability to detect and address violations.
The NBR has repeatedly stressed that its inspection programmes are aimed not only at identifying breaches but also at raising awareness among businesses about their legal obligations and ensuring the proper implementation of VAT and excise legislation.
The authority has also highlighted the importance of compliance in protecting consumer rights and maintaining a level playing field among businesses.
Meanwhile, the Official Gazette released yesterday stated that the Accountability Committee of the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) has been reconstituted, bringing together senior health regulatory officials, judges and representatives of the Bahrain Medical Society.
The new committee has been established under a decision issued by Health Minister Dr Jalila Al Sayyed and published in the Official Gazette.
The move is aimed at ensuring the continued functioning of the body responsible for examining accountability matters involving the regulation of health professions and services in the kingdom.
The committee has been reconstituted under Ministerial Decision No 17 of 2026.
The new composition includes two judges of the High Civil Court of Appeal, appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council.
The head of the Health Professions Regulation Department at the NHRA has been designated as the original chairman, while the registrar of Allied Medical Professions at the NHRA will serve as alternate chairman.
The committee will also include the president of the Bahrain Medical Society as an original member, with an alternate member appointed in accordance with the decision.
A member of the Bahrain Medical Society’s board of directors will serve as another original member, with the society required to nominate its representative to the committee.
The decision sets out arrangements to ensure the committee can continue its work when one of its original members is absent or unable to participate.
In the event of the absence or impediment of the chairman or an original member, the relevant alternate chairman or alternate member will take their place in attending committee sessions, deliberations and other work.
Membership of the committee will run for three years.
The reconstitution replaces the previous structure established under Decision No 30 of 2023, which has now been formally repealed.
Also issued in the Official Gazette is a decision to reconstitute the joint committee overseeing the implementation of Bahrain’s Unemployment Insurance Law.
The move was announced in a decision issued by Labour and Legal Affairs Minister Yousif Khalaf.
The committee will include officials from the Labour Ministry and the Social Insurance Organisation (SIO).
Representing the Labour Ministry will be the director of the Compensation and Unemployment Support Department, the head of the Insurance Claims Registration and Evaluation Department, the head of the Information Technology Department and the head of Case and Report Registration.
The SIO representatives will include the director of the Loans and Compensation Unit, the director of the Litigation Unit, the head of the Administrative Accounts Department and a senior systems management specialist.
The Labour Ministry’s director of Compensation and Unemployment Support Department will serve as chairman, while the director of the SIO’s Loans and Compensation Unit will be vice-chairman.
The remaining officials will serve as committee members.
The latest decision is part of efforts to strengthen co-ordination between the Labour Ministry and the SIO in administering and monitoring the unemployment insurance system.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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