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Penalties

Penalties

  • Failure to comply with legal tax obligations exposes a taxable person to a range of financial penalties.
  • For a single violation, the highest applicable penalty among those imposed under Article 48 of the law is applied.
  • The offender remains subject to the general laws in all matters that do not conflict with the Value Added Tax Law, including the Penal Code, the Code of Civil Procedure, and the rules governing the collection of indirect taxes.

Types of Violations and Applicable Penalties

Type of Violation Applicable Penalty
1. Late submission or failure to submit a registration application
  • LBP 2,000,000 for joint-stock companies.
  • LBP 1,000,000 for partnerships, limited liability companies, and institutions exempt from tax.
  • LBP 300,000 for individuals and all other taxpayers.
2. Failure to notify the administration of a change in the taxpayer's name, address, activity, or legal form
  • LBP 200,000 for joint-stock companies.
  • LBP 100,000 for partnerships, limited liability companies, and institutions exempt from tax.
  • LBP 50,000 for individuals and all other taxpayers.
3. Late notification or failure to notify the administration of the permanent cessation of business
  • LBP 2,000,000 for joint-stock companies.
  • LBP 1,000,000 for partnerships, limited liability companies, and institutions exempt from tax.
  • LBP 300,000 for individuals and all other taxpayers.
4. Late filing or failure to file the periodic return

A penalty of 5% of the tax due according to the return, or of the profit determined by the tax administration, for each month or part of a month of delay. The penalty may not exceed 100% of the tax due for each return and may not be less than:

  • LBP 750,000 for joint-stock companies.
  • LBP 500,000 for partnerships, limited liability companies, and institutions exempt from tax.
  • LBP 100,000 for individuals and all other taxpayers.
5. Filing an incorrect return

A penalty of 20% of the difference between the net tax due and the net tax declared, provided that the penalty is not less than:

  • LBP 750,000 for joint-stock companies.
  • LBP 500,000 for partnerships, limited liability companies, and institutions exempt from tax.
  • LBP 100,000 for individuals and all other taxpayers.
6. Filing an amended periodic return
  • When the amendment is filed within the original filing deadline, no assessment penalty is due.
  • When the amendment is filed within 30 days after the original filing deadline, no assessment penalty is due provided that the amendment does not result in additional tax exceeding 10% of the tax due.
  • When the amendment results in additional tax exceeding 10% of the tax due, a penalty equal to 20% of the difference in the net tax due is imposed.
7. Omission of information from a return

When the omission does not result in additional tax, the following penalties apply:

  • LBP 200,000 for joint-stock companies.
  • LBP 100,000 for partnerships, limited liability companies, and institutions exempt from tax.
  • LBP 50,000 for individuals and all other taxpayers.
8. Failure to issue an invoice when issuance is mandatory 2% of the value of the transaction covered by the invoice.
9. Failure to display the tax number or other required formal information on an invoice 0.5% of the value of the transaction covered by the invoice.
10. Failure to maintain accounting records and documents

A penalty equal to 50% of the declared non-net tax, provided that the penalty is not less than:

  • LBP 750,000 for joint-stock companies.
  • LBP 500,000 for partnerships, limited liability companies, and institutions exempt from tax.
  • LBP 100,000 for individuals and all other taxpayers.
11. Obstruction of tax-control procedures

A penalty equal to 50% of the unpaid tax due, provided that the penalty is not less than:

  • LBP 750,000 for joint-stock companies.
  • LBP 500,000 for partnerships, limited liability companies, and institutions exempt from tax.
  • LBP 100,000 for individuals and all other taxpayers.
12. Obstruction of compulsory collection procedures

A penalty of 5% per month of the tax subject to compulsory collection. The penalty may not exceed the amount of tax to be collected and may not be less than:

  • LBP 750,000 for joint-stock companies.
  • LBP 500,000 for partnerships, limited liability companies, and institutions exempt from tax.
  • LBP 100,000 for individuals and all other taxpayers.
13. Issuing an invoice without legal entitlement Three times the tax shown on the invoice. This penalty applies to persons who are not registered for VAT.
14. Issuing an invoice that does not comply with Article 38 of the law 25% of the tax due on the transaction covered by the invoice.
15. Failure to remit an amount shown as tax on an invoice or similar document 1.5% of the tax amount for each month of delay.

Reference: Law No. 44 dated 11 November 2008 (Tax Procedures Law) .