English text status

English translation published by the Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission. The Arabic text published in the Official Gazette remains the legal reference in the event of any discrepancy.

Practical summary

This Article lists acts treated as tax evasion, including continued registration, filing or payment failures beyond prescribed periods, improper deduction or refund, forged evidence, specified invoice conduct and failure to maintain records. Potential criminal exposure requires immediate specialist review.

Who should read this?

Taxable Persons, finance teams and advisers applying this Article to a Bahrain VAT position.

Why does it matter?

Potential evasion requires analysis of offence elements, not only an administrative penalty estimate.

Criminal exposureKnowledge or intent in some casesImmediate escalation

Current text

The following acts are considered tax evasion in the application of the provisions of this Law: Failure to apply for registration within sixty days from the expiration date of the period prescribed in Clause 2 of Paragraph A from Article 60 of this Law. Failure to submit a Tax Return or to pay the Tax due on the Supplies or imports of taxable Goods or Services within sixty days of the expiration of the period prescribed in Clause 1 of paragraph A of Article 60 of this Law. Deduction of Input Tax and the adjustment of Tax due on this basis without any right and in violation of the rules of deduction for Input Tax prescribed under the provisions of this Law. Refund of the Tax in whole or in part without any right while being aware of it. Providing forged or false documents, records or invoices with the intention of avoiding payment of Tax, in full or in part. Non-issue of Tax Invoices by the Taxable Person for Supplies or Imports of taxable Goods and Services, where such non-issue is in violation of the provisions of this Law. Issuing Tax Invoices which includes Tax on non-taxable Supplies. Failure to maintain appropriate records, Tax Invoices and accounting books in a systematic way relating to the import or Supply of Goods or Services in violation of the provisions of Article 69 of this Law.

Application steps

  1. 1

    Preserve documents and existing records.

  2. 2

    Identify the alleged act, period and any required knowledge or intent.

  3. 3

    Obtain specialised legal and tax advice.

Connected provisions

Official guides and tools

Connected Madar tools

Illustrative example by Madar

Fabricated invoices

Creating fictitious invoices to claim Input VAT is not an ordinary calculation error; it may fall within tax evasion and requires immediate specialist legal review.

Questions to help you apply it

  • Which listed act is alleged?
  • What evidence establishes the required elements?