Kuwait meeting charts strategic path for unified Gulf tax policies
The participants agreed to form a technical team for a unified electronic tax system, redefine energy drink classifications, and review VAT, excise implementation, and tourist tax refund mechanisms across member states.
• “We look forward to signing the annex amending the Unified Excise Tax Agreement during the 124th meeting of the Financial and Economic Cooperation Committee, scheduled to be held in Kuwait next October with the participation of GCC finance ministers,” said Finance Ministry Undersecretary Aseel Al-Munifi.
Kuwait hosted the 15th meeting of Gulf tax department heads, chaired by Finance Ministry Undersecretary Aseel Al-Munifi. The session was attended by Khaled Al-Sunaidi, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic and Development Affairs at the GCC General Secretariat, along with senior tax officials from across the region, Al Rai newspaper reported.
Discussions focused on recent developments in excise and value-added tax policies, as well as strategies to advance tax systems in line with international standards.
The participants agreed to form a technical team to develop a comprehensive electronic system covering all types of indirect taxes. They also decided to redefine the scope of energy drinks included in the Unified Excise Tax Agreement, ensuring that all beverages are classified in line with international definitions and standards. In addition, the meeting reviewed methods for implementing value-added and excise taxes, as well as the mechanism for refunding taxes to tourists after their visit to member states.
In her opening remarks, Undersecretary of the Al-Munifi said, “This meeting is part of a series held by the Gulf countries to coordinate between tax authorities and establish mechanisms that contribute to developing and unifying common tax policies in the interest of the GCC countries and their peoples.”
She added, “We look forward to signing the annex amending the Unified Excise Tax Agreement during the 124th meeting of the Financial and Economic Cooperation Committee, scheduled to be held in Kuwait next October with the participation of GCC finance ministers.”
Al-Munifi further noted, “We also look forward to reaching an agreement to sign the annex amending the Unified Value Added Tax Agreement at the same meeting, once the member states adopting the amendments complete their responses.”
Echoing this, Al-Sunaidi said, “This meeting continues the joint cooperation between the Gulf states on tax policies. It will review the work of the Unified Tax System Working Group on redefining energy drink products, reducing the use of harmful goods, and establishing a comprehensive electronic tax system that covers all types of indirect taxes.”
