Audit Set for October
Syria's Ministry of Finance said on August 17, 2026, that it will begin auditing import declarations from October 1, 2026. Cases in which importers are found to have understated the value of their goods will be treated as tax evasion.
The measure applies to import declarations filed after that date, and the ministry said the tax authority will carry out the reviews using data it already collects at customs.
Under-Valued Invoices
The ministry said it had detected importers submitting reduced-value invoices in their import paperwork, which lowered the tax advance collected on their goods. It said the pattern was recurring across many importers.
Officials said customs declarations had been tracked with modern tools and international platforms, and that attempts to hide the true value of imports were fully visible to the tax administration.
A Chance to Correct
The ministry wrote to the chambers of commerce and industry, urging them to alert their members and give them what it called a further opportunity to correct their filings. It said the aim was awareness and correction rather than punishment.
An importer who voluntarily adjusts a declared turnover figure before a violation is discovered would avoid penalties; those who do not would face legal sanctions.
Names to Be Published
From October 1, 2026, declarations that are found to be inaccurate will be classed as evasion, and the ministry said it will publish a list of the names of those involved.
The finance minister framed compliance in social terms, saying a tax evader “obstructs building a school, fixing a road, or restoring a hospital.”
Part of a Tax Overhaul
The step follows a dialogue session held on July 17, 2026, in which the minister discussed tax reform and new draft tax laws with industrialists, presented as a way to support production and rebuild trust with the private sector.