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Every business that carries on activity in Qatar or earns taxable income must register with the General Tax Authority (GTA) and obtain a tax number and tax card. That includes companies whose income is fully exempt, such as many Qatari-owned businesses.
Registration takes place on Dhareeba, the GTA’s tax portal. The rules are short, but several guides give the deadline wrongly or still show the 2020 launch dates.
This guide follows the Income Tax Executive Regulations and the GTA’s Dhareeba service pages, and links to both.
- Deadline
- 60 days, earliest trigger
- Late registration
- QAR 20,000 penalty
- Changes to report
- Within 30 days
- Checked
- 16 October 2026
The short answer
In short
- Register on Dhareeba within 60 days of the earliest of: approval to start the activity, entry in the commercial register, or the first day income is earned (Executive Regulations Article 25).
- Registration applies even if the company’s income is fully exempt from tax.
- Companies licensed through the Single Window are registered automatically, but should still log in and check their profile.
- Changes such as new owners, a new address or new branches must be reported within 30 days. Breaching the registration rules carries a QAR 20,000 penalty.
What Dhareeba and the tax card are
Dhareeba is the GTA’s online platform for tax registration, returns, payments and requests, at dhareeba.gov.qa. When a registration is approved, the GTA issues a Tax Identification Number (TIN) and a tax card.
Under Article 26 of the Executive Regulations, each registered person receives a single tax card. It shows the taxpayer’s name and address, tax number, commercial registration or licence number, number of branches, the start date of the activity or income, and the issue and expiry dates of the card.
Who must register
Article 10 of the Income Tax Law requires every taxpayer carrying on business activity or earning taxable income to register with the GTA and obtain a tax number. The Dhareeba service page lists businesses registered with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Single Window, Qatar Science and Technology Park and the Qatar Free Zones Authority.
Exemption does not remove the duty. The Dhareeba FAQ states that a business must be registered even if it is 100% exempt, which covers companies wholly owned by Qatari or GCC nationals. Companies in the Qatar Financial Centre are taxed under the QFC’s own regime.
The 60-day deadline: which date starts the clock
Article 25(1) of the Executive Regulations, as amended in 2023, gives 60 days from whichever of these dates comes first:
| Event | Example |
|---|---|
| Approval by the competent authority to start the activity | Licence approved by the Ministry or a free zone authority |
| Registration in the commercial register | Commercial registration issued |
| First day income is earned | First invoice or first payment received |
If a business does not register, the GTA can register it on its own initiative. That does not remove any tax or penalties for the earlier period (Article 25(3)).
Licensed through the Single Window? What is already done
According to the GTA’s registration guide, a business that obtains its commercial registration or licence through the Single Window is registered on Dhareeba automatically, through the link between the two systems.
An older GTA user manual for this route shows a further step after automatic registration, in which the taxpayer logs in and completes a profile form with details such as the activity start date, address and owners’ shares. It is sensible to log in after receiving the commercial registration, check that the profile is complete and download the tax card.
Before you start: login and documents
Dhareeba is accessed through the National Authentication System (NAS, also called Tawtheeq). Citizens and residents create an account with their Qatar ID and mobile number; visitors and business representatives register with an email address. Only an authorised signatory linked to the company’s registration number can complete the registration.
The Dhareeba Taxpayer Registration page lists these requirements:
- Valid commercial registration
- Valid commercial licence
- Establishment ID, if available
- IDs of the partners
- Articles of association
Step by step: registering on Dhareeba
The steps below follow the GTA’s Taxpayer Registration service page, last updated on 18 May 2026.
- 1
Log in through NAS
Open dhareeba.gov.qa and log in with the authorised signatory’s NAS account.
- 2
Choose Self-Registration
Select “Self-Registration” and choose the type of registration.
- 3
Complete the sections
Enter the establishment information, business activity, address, contact person, tax information and income tax information, and upload the documents.
- 4
Review the summary
Check the summary of the information entered.
- 5
Confirm and submit
Acknowledge that the information is valid and submit. Dhareeba issues an application reference number.
A form saved but not submitted within 14 days of the last save is cancelled automatically. According to the Dhareeba FAQ, registrations are approved automatically unless the company asks for an accounting period other than the standard one, in which case a tax officer reviews it. The GTA can also return an application for more information. The service page gives a service time of two working days.
Once approved, the tax card can be downloaded from the certificates section of the taxpayer’s account. The company can also register employees to work on Dhareeba, or appoint a GTA-registered tax agent with its own tax number.
The tax card’s expiry date
The tax card shows an expiry date (Article 26). The regulations and the GTA’s published guidance do not state a standard validity period or a separate renewal service. Check the date on your card in good time, and if it is close to expiring, confirm the next step with the GTA through Dhareeba or its call centre on 16565.
Keeping the registration up to date
Under Article 27, any change that may affect tax obligations must be reported within 30 days. The regulations list changes in ownership, the nature of the activity, the number of branches, the address, participation in tax-exempt projects and registration in a special tax regime. A change takes effect for tax purposes only from the date the GTA is notified.
Changes are made through the Taxpayer Registration Amendment service. Information that Dhareeba receives from another authority, such as commercial registration details held by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is updated with that authority rather than on Dhareeba.
Closing down: cessation, tax clearance and cancellation
When a business stops all or part of its activity, Article 28 requires notice to the GTA within 30 days. The usual order, based on the Dhareeba services, is:
- 1
Notify cessation
File the cessation or disposal notice within 30 days, with the income tax return up to the cessation date.
- 2
Obtain tax clearance
Request the non-objection certificate (tax clearance). All returns must be filed and all dues paid.
- 3
Cancel the commercial registration
Cancel the commercial registration with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- 4
Cancel the tax registration
Use the Cancellation of Registration service, with the cancelled commercial registration and the tax clearance certificate.
Our company liquidation and closure page covers the wider process.
Penalties, and why clients ask for your tax card
Breaching the registration and notification rules carries a penalty of QAR 20,000 under Article 24 of the Income Tax Law, and the Dhareeba service page repeats this figure. Penalties are doubled for a repeat within five years.
Clients often ask suppliers for their tax card. Under Article 23 of the Executive Regulations, no tax is withheld on payments to persons issued a tax card, so the card shows that the supplier is registered. See withholding tax in Qatar for when withholding applies.
What to do next
Diary the 60-day deadline from the date of your licence or commercial registration, set up the authorised signatory’s NAS account, and gather the five documents above. Registration is also the first step before filing a corporate income tax return.
Our Dhareeba registration and tax card service helps you prepare the information and documents, and check your profile after registration. To discuss your position, request a proposal.
Frequently asked questions
What is Dhareeba?
Dhareeba is the General Tax Authority’s online platform for tax registration, returns, payments and requests in Qatar, at dhareeba.gov.qa.
When must a company register on Dhareeba?
Within 60 days of the earliest of: approval to start the activity, registration in the commercial register, or the first day income is earned (Executive Regulations Article 25(1)).
Does a Qatari-owned company need a tax card?
Yes. Registration applies even if the company’s income is fully exempt. The Dhareeba FAQ states that a business must be registered even if it is 100% exempt.
What documents are needed for Dhareeba registration?
The Dhareeba service page lists a valid commercial registration, a valid commercial licence, the establishment ID if available, the partners’ IDs and the articles of association.
How long does Dhareeba registration take?
The GTA’s service page gives a service time of two working days. Registrations are approved automatically unless a non-standard accounting period is requested, which is reviewed by a tax officer.
Does the tax card expire?
The tax card shows an expiry date. The regulations do not state a standard validity period, so check the date on your card and confirm the next step with the GTA before it expires.
What is the penalty for not registering?
QAR 20,000 for breaching the registration and notification rules (Income Tax Law Article 24), doubled for a repeat within five years.
What if my company’s address or owners change?
Report the change within 30 days through the Taxpayer Registration Amendment service on Dhareeba (Executive Regulations Article 27).
Sources
Law and guidance
Dhareeba services
This article is general information, not tax advice for your situation. The regulations and Dhareeba service pages cited were checked on 16 October 2026; portal steps and menu names can change. Penalties are set by the Income Tax Law.