Publication
UAE Tax and Financial Calendar: Deadlines and Obligations
Our Dubai office is frequently contacted by clients who, for one reason or another, have been unable to file their corporate financial statements correctly. This is happening in light of the fact that in recent years, in pursuit of global recognition as a transparent and reliable jurisdiction, the UAE has introduced a number of restrictions in the areas of financial and accounting compliance and corporate reporting, such as the introduction of a corporate tax and, in general, tightened business regulations and rules.
We observe that not all entrepreneurs are able to adapt to the new requirements or choose unscrupulous providers of such services. One of the most common causes of problems in this area for businesses is simply missing reporting deadlines, which we will discuss now. We have prepared for you a list of the main obligations of companies in the UAE and a calendar to help you navigate tax registration and reporting issues.
So, the main obligations of a business in the UAE are as follows:
1) VAT
- Mandatory for turnover over AED 375,000; voluntary for turnover between AED 187,500 and AED 375,000.
- Submitted monthly or quarterly, depending on the category, and the filing deadline is no later than 28 days after the end of the reporting period.
2) Corporate Tax (CT)
- Registered within 3 months of the company's incorporation date or reaching the taxable income threshold: for individuals, by March 31 of the following year after exceeding AED 1 million.
- Submitted within 9 months of the end of the financial year.
3) Transfer Pricing (TP) compliance (the rule regarding setting the same prices between related companies, such as those with the same owner): documentation is required for related-party income exceeding AED 40 million or total company income exceeding AED 200 million.
UAE Tax Calendar
|
Obligation |
Who submits |
Submission deadline |
Comment |
|
VAT declaration |
VAT payer companies |
Up to 28 days after the end of the period |
Monthly or quarterly, depending on the registration category |
|
Corporation Tax Registration |
Legal entities/Individuals |
Within 3 months after registration / until March 31 for individuals |
Every company is obligated, even with zero profit |
|
Corporate tax return |
All tax residents |
Up to 9 months after the end of the financial year (or 7 months with a preferential tax) |
Fine of AED10,000 for late registration |
|
TP documentation |
Companies with large turnover |
Annually |
Preparing the master file and local file |
Even the most experienced and diligent accountant can make mistakes that can result in not only fines, such as
- AED500 to AED1,000 per month for late filing of returns;
- AED10,000 for late corporate tax registration;
- up to AED20,000 for not providing accurate ESR and TP documentation;
and possible account freezes during bank audits, but also, unfortunately, in our experience, a number of other audits and unnecessary unwanted attention from regulators, including the UAE Federal Tax Authority (FTA).
If you are facing problems with filing reports, registering tax liabilities, or establishing your company in the new realities of the UAE, please contact us. Antwort Law specializes in solving complex legal, tax, and accounting issues, building effective business structures, and minimizing risks and challenges for founders. Our Dubai office is always open to entrepreneurs from around the world. Our experienced specialists will help you:
- Create a customized tax calendar for your company;
- Complete corporate tax and VAT registration;
- Prepare CT, VAT, ESR, and TP reports in accordance with FTA and free zone requirements;
- Conduct audits and provide legal support for any regulatory inquiries.
Diana Gulevskaya
Head of Office in UAE
Antwort Law
Actual Services
