VAT & Corporate Tax, Registered and Filed – On Time
The UAE’s 5% VAT and 9% corporate tax now come with real deadlines and real penalties. I handle registration, filing, and FTA correspondence through EmaraTax – so you stay compliant, penalty-free, and optimised within the law.
Book a Free ConsultationTax is now the UAE’s biggest compliance risk
For decades the UAE was effectively tax-free. That’s over – VAT and corporate tax are both in force, both need separate registration and filing, and both carry penalties. Getting them right is no longer optional.
Avoid heavy penalties
Late corporate-tax registration triggers a fixed AED 10,000 penalty, and late payment accrues interest with no cap. Compliance is far cheaper than the fines.
Keep the free-zone 0%
Qualifying Free Zone Persons can keep a 0% rate on qualifying income – but only if strict conditions are met. I help you assess and protect that status.
Never miss a deadline
VAT runs on its own return cycle; corporate-tax returns are due within nine months of your financial year-end. I track every date so nothing slips.
Two taxes, handled together
VAT and corporate tax are separate systems with separate rules. Managing both under one roof avoids the gaps that arise when they’re split.
Act before reliefs expire
Small Business Relief lets eligible companies under AED 3M revenue elect to be treated as having no taxable income – and under Ministerial Decision No. 131 of 2026 it now runs through tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029. Timing your position matters.
Peace of mind with the FTA
I handle EmaraTax filings and FTA correspondence, so a query or notice is dealt with calmly and correctly, not with panic.
Compliant by design, optimised within the law.
I map your VAT and corporate-tax obligations, register you correctly, and put every deadline on a tracked calendar. Then I make sure you claim the reliefs and rates you’re legitimately entitled to – never more, never less.
Map your tax position
A free review of your turnover, activity, and structure to determine your VAT and corporate-tax obligations and any reliefs available.
Register correctly & on time
VAT and corporate-tax registration through EmaraTax, done right so you avoid the fixed penalties for late or incorrect filing.
Assess reliefs & free-zone status
Qualifying Free Zone Person status, Small Business Relief, and other reliefs assessed and documented before they’re claimed.
Prepare & submit returns
VAT returns on their cycle and corporate-tax returns within the deadline, supported by proper working papers.
Handle the FTA & deadlines
Correspondence, notices, and future deadlines managed on a calendar, so compliance is continuous and calm.
What this actually buys you
No penalties
Registered and filed on time – no fixed fines, no interest.
Tax savings
Every relief and rate you’re genuinely entitled to, claimed correctly.
One point of contact
Me – VAT and corporate tax under one roof.
No hidden fees
Transparent, itemised pricing agreed before any work begins.
Businesses I keep tax-compliant
Every taxable person must register for corporate tax – these are the profiles where getting the position right saves the most.
UAE tax registration & filing, answered plainly
Does my company have to register for corporate tax?
Yes. Every taxable person – including free-zone companies – must register for corporate tax and obtain a Corporate Tax Registration Number. Registration is mandatory regardless of whether you end up owing any tax.
What are the corporate-tax rates?
The standard rate is 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% on the amount above that. Qualifying Free Zone Persons can access 0% on qualifying income if they meet the conditions, and different rules apply to large multinational groups.
When is the corporate-tax return due?
The return is due within nine months of the end of your financial year. For a December year-end, that means a 30 September deadline. Missing it – or missing registration first – triggers penalties, so I track these dates for you.
Who needs to register for VAT?
VAT registration is mandatory once your taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000 a year, and voluntary above AED 187,500. VAT is charged at 5% and filed on its own return cycle, separately from corporate tax.
What’s the penalty for registering late?
Late corporate-tax registration carries a fixed administrative penalty of AED 10,000, and late payment accrues interest. The FTA currently waives the AED 10,000 in qualifying cases where the first Tax Return or applicable declaration is filed within seven months of the end of the first Tax Period, rather than the usual nine. Both the penalty and the waiver route are things I plan around from the start.
Is my free-zone company automatically 0%?
No. The 0% rate for a Qualifying Free Zone Person applies only to qualifying income and only if strict substance and compliance conditions are met. I assess and document your status so the rate is claimed correctly and can be defended.
What is Small Business Relief?
It lets eligible businesses with revenue under AED 3 million elect to be treated as having no taxable income – effectively 0%. Ministerial Decision No. 131 of 2026 extended it to apply to tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029, so it is available for several more years, though timing your position around it still matters. Qualifying Free Zone Persons and members of a multinational group are excluded. I’ll advise whether you qualify.
Are VAT and corporate tax the same thing?
No – they’re independent. VAT is a 5% transaction tax on supplies; corporate tax is a 9% tax on net profit. They have separate registrations and separate returns, and a business can owe one without the other. I handle both together to close any gaps.
Can you help if I’ve missed a deadline already?
Yes – I help regularise late registrations and filings, resolve penalties where possible, and put you on a tracked calendar so it doesn’t recur. For complex disputes I coordinate with licensed tax specialists.
Let’s get your tax compliant and optimised
Book a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll map your VAT and corporate-tax obligations, register you on time, and claim every relief you’re entitled to – with transparent, itemised pricing. Note: I provide compliance support, not a substitute for licensed tax-advisory on complex matters.
Book a Free ConsultationFrequently Asked Questions
Do I need to register for UAE corporate tax?
Every UAE resident company must register for corporate tax with the Federal Tax Authority regardless of revenue, and file an annual corporate tax return. Failure to register on time triggers a penalty of AED 10,000, though the FTA currently waives it where the first Tax Return or applicable declaration is filed within seven months of the end of the first Tax Period. Registration is done through the EmaraTax portal.
UAE corporate tax registration through EmaraTax is where most of the late-penalty risk actually starts.
What is the corporate tax rate in the UAE?
The standard UAE corporate tax rate is 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% on taxable income above that threshold. A Qualifying Free Zone Person can access a 0% rate on qualifying income only – non-qualifying income is taxed at 9% with no threshold. Multinational groups above EUR 750 million consolidated revenue are subject to a 15% Domestic Minimum Top-up Tax.
When is the UAE corporate tax return due?
The corporate tax return is due within 9 months of the end of the tax period. For a calendar-year taxpayer with a period ending 31 December 2025, the return and any tax payment are due by 30 September 2026. Late filing and late payment carry separate penalties.
Do free zone companies need to file a UAE corporate tax return?
Yes. Every free zone company must register for corporate tax and file an annual return, even if it qualifies for the 0% rate as a Qualifying Free Zone Person. QFZPs claiming distribution as qualifying activity must also submit an annual Independent Agreed-Upon Procedures report from an external auditor under FTA Decision No. 6 of 2026.
What is the VAT registration threshold in the UAE?
Mandatory VAT registration applies when taxable supplies and imports exceed AED 375,000 in the past 12 months or are expected to exceed it in the next 30 days. Voluntary registration is available from AED 187,500. Standard VAT rate is 5%, with specific zero-rated and exempt categories including certain financial services, residential leases, and Designated Zone transactions.
Sources & References
Regulatory positions on this page are checked against the primary UAE government sources below. Last fact-checked 30 August 2026.
- Ministry of Finance – Ministerial Decision No. 131 of 2026 extending Small Business Relief to tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029.
- Federal Tax Authority – Corporate Tax late-registration penalty and the waiver initiative for first-return filing within seven months of the first Tax Period.
- Federal Tax Authority – Corporate Tax – registration, thresholds and Small Business Relief eligibility.