Quick action: Government speeds up taxation of harmful goods

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KUWAIT CITY, Nov 25, (Agencies): In a recent development, the government has formally requested the National Assembly’s prompt ratification of the Unified Agreement on the Tax of Harmful Goods within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations. This move is part of the government’s preparation for the approval of the proposed law.

In a letter submitted to the Council, the government emphasized its commitment to the legislative agenda for the current session of the seventeenth legislative term. Notably, this agenda includes the consideration of the harmful goods tax law, as indicated in the submitted letter.

The Minister of Finance, in correspondence with the National Assembly, underscored the urgency of expediting the excise tax for two key reasons. Firstly, it is crucial to fulfill the obligations of the State of Kuwait in accordance with the Unified Excise Tax Agreement. Secondly, there has been a growing concern about the smuggling of tobacco products and derivatives from Kuwait to neighboring countries due to the imposition of the excise tax.

Furthermore, the government has proposed a draft law to the National Assembly, seeking to amend certain provisions of Law No. 12 of 2011 regarding public aid. The proposed amendment involves replacing the text of Clause A of Article 3 with a new formulation. This change is aimed at expanding the scope of assistance to not only Kuwaiti families but also individuals facing compelling circumstances.

The legal memorandum accompanying the draft law elucidates that individual cases exist, necessitating public assistance, which do not fit the traditional family structure outlined in the existing law. Therefore, the proposed amendment seeks to rectify this by explicitly including the term “individual” in Article 3 of Law No. 12 of 2011.

In addition to these legislative matters, the National Assembly’s agenda for the upcoming Tuesday session includes reports from various parliamentary committees. Notably, the Housing Affairs Committee will present its report on preventing land monopoly. Additionally, the session will feature the questioning of the Prime Minister by MP Muhalhal Al-Mudhaf.

As these crucial legislative matters unfold, stakeholders eagerly anticipate the outcomes that will shape the fiscal and social landscape of Kuwait in the coming months.

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