Picture used for illustrative purpose only.

The Federal Tax Authority revealed that it seized 14,610,784 packets of illegal tobacco that did not bear “digital tax stamps” registered in its electronic system during the year 2022.

The authority explained on its website, on Wednesday, that it had detected more than 22,794 types of electronic smoking devices that are not registered in the system and are being sold in the country’s markets.

The authority seized more than 114.5 million illegal packages in the free zone (while it did not disclose the type of these violations), confirming that it seized more than 2.9 million illegal packages of other selective goods (other than tobacco), which included soft drinks, energy and sweetened drinks.

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More than 22,000 types of electronic smoking devices were sold in the market

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2.9 million illegal packages include sweetened soft drinks and energy

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3,000 violations related to non-compliance with value-added tax were detected

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Issuing 668 registration notices for those not registered in the value-added system

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470 seizure reports for violations related to selective goods that did not pay tax

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The Authority said: “About 3,000 violations related to non-compliance with value-added tax legislation were detected, and 668 registration notices were issued to those not registered in the value-added system, and 470 arrest reports were issued for violations related to selective goods that did not pay the tax and did not bear distinctive marks.”

The Authority added: “The inspection teams carried out more than 21.8 thousand field visits during the year 2022 in local markets in all the emirates of the country, to protect the rights of consumers, control tax evasion, and increase the level of tax compliance. 803 requests for reconsideration related to objections to administrative fines were also studied.”