English text status

English translation published by the NBR in its bilingual Regulations file (marked unofficial). The Arabic text published in the Official Gazette remains the legal reference in the event of any discrepancy.

Practical summary

Pre-registration Input VAT is claimed in the first Tax Return after registration. The registrant must provide a list that allows the NBR to determine deductible VAT, supported by detailed inventories of stock, raw materials and Capital Assets, purchase dates and VAT, invoice copies and customs declarations. The NBR may verify the data and inspect evidence.

Who should read this?

New registrants and first-Return, inventory, fixed-asset and review teams.

Why does it matter?

Eligibility under Article 61 is not enough without a verifiable inventory and evidence file. The first Return should be built with item-level support rather than an unsupported general-ledger total.

First ReturnStock and asset inventoriesInvoices and customs declarations

Current text

A. A Taxable Person shall deduct the deductible Input Tax in accordance with ( the provisions of Article 61 of these Regulations on his Tax Return for the first Tax Period after registration. B. For the purposes of applying Paragraph A of this Article, a Taxable Person shall provide the Bureau with a list enabling it to determine the deductible Tax value on the relevant purchases in addition to the following: 1. An inventory of the stock of the Goods and raw materials available to him at the effective date of his registration setting out the nature, quantity and value of the stock of Goods and raw materials in detail, the date of purchase of each part, and the amount of the input Tax paid thereon. 2. An inventory of all the Capital Assets in his possession on the effective date of registration setting out their detailed description, the date of purchase of each part, and the amount of the Tax paid for each transaction. 3. Copies of Tax invoices issued by the Supplier of Goods and Services acquired. 4. Customs declarations for imports. C. The Bureau may carry out appropriate supervisory procedures to verify the accuracy of the inventory and asset data, on a case by case basis, and may request the Taxable Person to provide access to the necessary documents to verify the accuracy of the information provided by him. Payment of Tax

Pre-registration deduction file

  1. 1

    Fix the registration effective date and first Tax Period.

  2. 2

    Prepare stock and raw-material inventory with type, quantity, value, purchase date and VAT.

  3. 3

    Prepare a separate Capital Asset inventory.

  4. 4

    Link each item to invoice or customs evidence.

  5. 5

    Remove ineligible Article 61 items.

  6. 6

    Reconcile the list to the first Return deduction.

  7. 7

    Keep evidence ready for NBR verification.

Connected provisions

Official guides and tools

Connected Madar tools

Illustrative example by Madar

Inventory before total

A ledger shows BHD 2,400 prior VAT: BHD 1,500 on stock still held, BHD 700 on an eligible asset and BHD 200 on a Service outside six months. Only eligible supported items are tested and linked to evidence.

Questions to help you apply it

  • Is this the first Return?
  • Are stock and asset inventories complete?
  • Does each item have evidence?
  • Were ineligible items removed?
  • Does the file match the Return?