Qatar's General Tax Authority (GTA) has extended the deadline for submitting tax returns for the 2025 tax year. Announced on 22 April 2026, the extension moves the filing date from 30 April 2026 to 30 June 2026 for most taxpayers, giving businesses and individuals two additional months to meet their obligations on the Dhareeba tax portal. The measure is framed as taxpayer support and a way to encourage broader compliance.
Key takeaways
- The GTA has extended the 2025 tax year return deadline from 30 April 2026 to 30 June 2026.
- The extension applies to all entities and individuals within the Income Tax Law No. (24) of 2018 and its amendments.
- It expressly covers tax-exempt companies, companies owned by Qatari or GCC nationals resident in Qatar, and private associations and institutions, including charitable and public-benefit organisations.
- Petroleum and petrochemical sector entities are excluded and must still file on or before 30 April 2026.
- Filing on the Dhareeba portal, even for exempt entities, preserves business continuity and avoids penalties.
What the extension changed
The single practical change is the date. Returns for the 2025 tax year that were originally due by 30 April 2026 can now be filed up to 30 June 2026. The table below sets out the position.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tax year affected | 2025 |
| Original deadline | 30 April 2026 |
| Extended deadline | 30 June 2026 |
| Excluded from the extension | Petroleum and petrochemical sector entities (still 30 April 2026) |
| Filing channel | Dhareeba tax portal |
An extension of a filing deadline does not change the substance of any return or the amount of tax due. It changes only the time available to prepare and submit, which is useful breathing room rather than a reduction in obligation.
Who is covered — and who is not
The extension is broad. It reaches all entities and individuals subject to Qatar's Income Tax Law No. (24) of 2018 and its amendments, and the GTA has specifically confirmed that it also captures three groups that sometimes assume filing does not apply to them:
- Tax-exempt companies
- Companies owned by Qatari or GCC nationals residing in the State
- Private associations and institutions, including charitable and public-benefit organisations
Petroleum and petrochemical sector entities are the exception that runs the other way. They do not benefit from the extension and remain bound by the original 30 April 2026 deadline. Groups with mixed activities should confirm which of their entities fall into that carve-out before relying on the later date.
A filing extension is not an exemption from filing. Tax-exempt entities and nationally owned companies are still expected to submit their 2025 returns on Dhareeba — the extension simply gives them longer to do so.
Why exempt entities should still file
Exempt entities often read "tax-exempt" as "nothing to file", but the two are different. Exemption affects whether tax is payable; it does not remove the obligation to submit a return. The GTA's guidance makes the point directly: the extension is beneficial for all entities, including tax-exempt ones that have not yet filed on the Dhareeba portal, because filing preserves business continuity and avoids the penalties that non-submission would otherwise attract. In other words, the cost of ignoring the return is a penalty, regardless of whether any tax is ultimately due.
What is the Dhareeba portal?
Dhareeba is Qatar's online tax administration platform, through which registered taxpayers file returns and manage their tax affairs with the GTA. Because filing is done through the portal, the practical task before 30 June 2026 is to ensure the entity is registered, that its financial data is ready, and that the return is prepared and submitted through Dhareeba rather than left until the final days.
What businesses should do now
Businesses should confirm which entities qualify for the June date and which are locked to the April date, complete their corporate tax computations and supporting records early, and file with time to spare. Registering on Dhareeba, reconciling the financial statements to the return, and clearing any open queries with the GTA all take time, so the two extra months are best treated as preparation time rather than a reason to delay. For groups with cross-border operations, this is also a good moment to check that the Qatari filing aligns with the group's wider international tax position and reporting calendar. In practice, SBC files well before the final week, because the Dhareeba portal slows under load as 30 June approaches. General filing questions are covered in our FAQ hub.
Frequently asked questions
What is the new Qatar tax return deadline for 2025?
For most taxpayers, the deadline to file 2025 tax year returns has been extended from 30 April 2026 to 30 June 2026. The extension was announced by the General Tax Authority on 22 April 2026 and applies to filings made through the Dhareeba tax portal.
Who is excluded from the Qatar tax return extension?
Entities operating in the petroleum and petrochemical sectors are excluded. They do not benefit from the extension and must still submit their 2025 tax returns on or before the original deadline of 30 April 2026.
Do tax-exempt companies in Qatar need to file a return?
Yes. Exemption affects whether tax is payable, not whether a return must be submitted. Tax-exempt companies, along with companies owned by Qatari or GCC nationals and charitable and public-benefit organisations, are covered by the extension and are still expected to file on the Dhareeba portal.
What is the Dhareeba portal?
Dhareeba is Qatar's online tax administration platform operated by the General Tax Authority. Registered taxpayers use it to file returns and manage their tax obligations, and the 2025 return must be submitted through it by the applicable deadline.
How SBC Tax Consulting can help
SBC helps businesses in Qatar identify which entities qualify for the extended deadline, prepare 2025 returns and supporting records, and file correctly on the Dhareeba portal — including for tax-exempt and nationally owned entities that still have an obligation to submit. We also align Qatari filings with a group's wider compliance calendar. To prepare your 2025 return, contact our team.
This publication is for general information only and does not constitute professional advice. Please consult your SBC advisor before acting on any matter covered here.