A grocery store in Beirut, March 28, 2026. (Credit: Ségolène Ragu/L’Orient-Le Jour)
The little dekken (the neighborhood minimarket) could soon find itself encouraged by its customers to issue properly declared invoices. That is one of the expected outcomes of Article 61 of the 2027 draft budget law, submitted to the Cabinet on Aug. 31 by Finance Minister Yassine Jaber and under review since last Wednesday before being sent to Parliament.The mechanism would take the form of a clause added to the 2008 law on fiscal procedures. Under the provision, the Public Finance Directorate could, through the National Lottery, organize a “ya nassib [lottery] of receipts.” Meaning, individuals and businesses would submit their receipts or purchase invoices to the ministry through a platform or app, entering free draws for cash or in-kind prizes.The text leaves several questions unanswered, particularly regarding its budget and expected...
The little dekken (the neighborhood minimarket) could soon find itself encouraged by its customers to issue properly declared invoices. That is one of the expected outcomes of Article 61 of the 2027 draft budget law, submitted to the Cabinet on Aug. 31 by Finance Minister Yassine Jaber and under review since last Wednesday before being sent to Parliament.The mechanism would take the form of a clause added to the 2008 law on fiscal procedures. Under the provision, the Public Finance Directorate could, through the National Lottery, organize a “ya nassib [lottery] of receipts.” Meaning, individuals and businesses would submit their receipts or purchase invoices to the ministry through a platform or app, entering free draws for cash or in-kind prizes.The text leaves several questions unanswered, particularly regarding its budget and...
