Who we help · Construction & contracting
Audit management and tax for construction companies in Qatar
We help contractors book contract revenue correctly, deduct the right withholding tax from subcontractors and keep a clean record with the GTA, contract notifications included.
Axiom Consultants & Partners · DohaConstruction was up 5.5% year on year in Q2 2026, one of the sectors behind Qatar's non-hydrocarbon growth. As a contractor you need audited IFRS accounts and contract revenue measured properly under IFRS 15. You also deduct 5% withholding tax from payments to foreign subcontractors, and you must notify your contracts to the GTA on time.
Check withholding tax on a subcontractor payment
Enter the payment to see the 5% to deduct and when to pay it to the GTA.
Free tool · Company setup cost estimator
Answer straight away, no sign-upSetting up in Qatar, end to end
- Choose the right jurisdiction and structure
- Trade name, CR, licences and Qatar Chamber
- Tax card within 60 days, bank account, visas
Qatar sector snapshot
| Figure | Value | Published by |
|---|---|---|
| Construction growth, Q2 2026 (year on year) | +5.5% | National Planning Council, 30 Sep 2026 |
More projects means more subcontractors, more foreign specialists on site and bigger contracts. Every one of those raises audit, withholding tax and paperwork questions, and the GTA does check them.
What contractors in Qatar need to get right
How should contractors recognise revenue?
Under IFRS 15, contractors usually recognise revenue over time as the work progresses, often measured by costs incurred against total expected costs. Get the measure wrong and profit shifts from one year into another. It is one of the adjustments auditors make most often on contractors' accounts.
Do I deduct withholding tax from foreign subcontractors?
Yes, when you pay a non-resident without a permanent establishment in Qatar for services. The rate is a flat 5% of the gross payment, declared and paid on Dhareeba before the 16th day of the following month. A tax treaty can reduce it.
Do contracts have to be reported to the GTA?
Yes. Companies and government bodies must notify the GTA within 30 days of contracts with non-residents that have no permanent establishment in Qatar, whatever the value, and of local contracts worth QAR 200,000 or more for services or QAR 500,000 or more for construction and supply. A missed notification can cost a QAR 10,000 fine.
Does a project branch need its own audit and tax return?
Yes. A branch of a foreign company is taxed on the profit of its Qatar work, files a tax return within four months of year-end and attaches audited financial statements every year, whatever its size.
How Axiom helps contractors
- Statutory audits managed end to end, with audit-ready Arabic financial statements
- IFRS 15 reviews: cost to complete, variations, claims and loss-making contracts
- Withholding tax reviews of subcontractor and consultant payments, including treaty relief
- Tax card, tax returns and support during GTA tax audits
- Project branch registration and closure
- GTA contract notifications for your projects and subcontracts
- Controls over project costs and retention balances
Frequently asked questions
What is the corporate tax rate for contractors in Qatar?
10% on the share of profit owned by non-Qatari, non-GCC owners. Contractors wholly owned by Qatari or resident GCC nationals are generally exempt, but still file a return and keep proper accounts.
Do contractors need audited accounts?
Yes, every year if any owner is foreign or the contractor is a branch of a foreign company. Contractors wholly owned by Qatari or resident GCC nationals need an audit from QAR 1 million capital or QAR 5 million income.
What withholding tax applies to a foreign engineering consultancy?
5% of the gross fee, unless a tax treaty reduces it.
When is the tax return due?
Within four months of year-end, so 30 April for a December year-end.
Can Axiom help with a GTA tax audit?
Yes. We prepare the file, attend the meetings and handle any objection.
Rules on this page were last checked against official Qatar government sources on 7 October 2026.
Not sure where a project stands on tax?
Send us a short note on the project and who you are paying. We'll get back to you within one business day. Or email our tax team at tax@axiom.qa.