Who we help · Trading & retail
Accounting, audit management and tax for trading companies in Qatar
Stock and margin figures you can trust, audited accounts, and the right tax on the goods you bring in and the money you pay abroad.
Axiom Consultants & Partners · DohaWholesale and retail trade grew 6.9% year on year in Q2 2026. In a trading company the numbers that matter most are stock and margins, and they have to hold up at audit. On tax, watch excise tax on taxable goods and 5% withholding tax on commissions paid abroad. Agency and distribution deals need the right structure from the start.
Estimate your corporate tax
Most trading companies with a foreign owner pay 10% on the foreign share of profit. Try your own numbers.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wholesale and retail trade, Q2 2026 (year on year) | +6.9% | National Planning Council, 30 Sep 2026 |
What trading companies in Qatar need to get right
Which goods carry excise tax?
Tobacco, energy drinks and special-purpose goods at 100%. Since 6 July 2026, sweetened drinks are taxed by sugar content: QAR 0.77 a litre for 5 to 7.99 g of sugar per 100 ml and QAR 1.06 a litre for 8 g or more. Importers and producers of excise goods register with the GTA before they start and file excise returns every quarter, within 15 days of the quarter end.
Is a commission paid to an overseas agent subject to withholding tax?
Generally yes, at 5% of the gross amount, when it is paid to a non-resident without a permanent establishment in Qatar. A tax treaty may reduce it.
What structure suits a foreign brand selling in Qatar?
The usual routes are a company registered with MOCI, a distribution agreement, or a commercial agency with a Qatari agent. Commercial agencies are excluded from foreign ownership, so the choice affects ownership, tax and audit duties.
How Axiom helps trading companies
- Statutory audits managed end to end, including stock count support and stock valuation
- Margin, costing and pricing analysis
- Excise tax registration and returns
- Withholding tax on agency and service payments abroad
- Company formation and agency structuring
- Outsourced accounting and monthly management accounts in the system you already use
Frequently asked questions
Do trading companies pay corporate tax?
Yes, 10% on the foreign-owned share of profit. Companies wholly owned by Qatari or resident GCC nationals are generally exempt.
Does Qatar have VAT or sales tax?
No. Qatar has not introduced VAT. Excise tax applies only to specific goods.
Do we need a stock count for the audit?
Yes. The auditor attends or observes the year-end count.
Which accounting system should we use?
We work in the system you already have and make sure it produces the reports your audit and tax return need.
When is the tax return due?
Within four months of year-end.
Rules on this page were last checked against official Qatar government sources on 7 October 2026.
Get in touch about your trading business
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