An excise tax levied on select categories of consumables deemed harmful to health and the environment takes effect today (June15) across Oman.
Supermarkets and retail stores in Muscat, and indeed other cities around witnessed an increase, in the sales of certain types of excisable merchandise over the weekend, ahead of levy which came into force at midnight.
The new levy applies to tobacco and tobacco derivatives (100 per cent tax), carbonated drinks (50 per cent), energy drinks (100 per cent), special purpose goods - alcohol and pork products- (100 per cent).
A royal decree was issued on March 13, stipulating the enforcement of the sin tax as from the 15th of June under the National Excise Tax Law.
Consumers have scrambled to stock up on their personal supplies of mainly tobacco, energy drinks and special purpose goods.
Four GCC member states — UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar — have implemented the new levy in their respective jurisdictions.
Excise tax is one of several fiscal initiatives adopted by the GCC countries to help bolster revenues and diversify sources of income into the national treasury.
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