Taxation in the United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates, with autonomous emirate and local governments. The United Arab Emirates does not have any federal income tax. An income tax decree has been enacted by each Emirate, but in practice, the enforcement of these decrees is restricted to foreign banks and to oil companies.

Taxation
An aspect of fiscal policy

The UAE government implemented value added tax (VAT) in the country from January 1, 2018 at a standard rate of 5%.[1][2]

History

Most of the revenues have been generated from oil sales to other countries. UAE is looking to diversify from this source and other hydrocarbons and therefore introducing other forms of revenue such as VAT.[3]

Registration Criteria

A business must register for VAT if their taxable supplies and imports exceed the mandatory registration threshold of AED 375,000. Furthermore, a business may choose to register for VAT voluntarily if their supplies and imports are less than the mandatory registration threshold, but exceed the voluntary registration threshold of AED 187,500. Similarly, a business may register voluntarily if their expenses exceed the voluntary registration threshold. This latter opportunity to register voluntarily is designed to enable start-up businesses with no turnover to register for VAT.[4]

De-registration Criteria

•If annual turnover in 12 consecutive months is less than the voluntary registration threshold of Dh187, 500, the company or person may apply for de-registration in 20 days. •Failing to submit de-registration application lead to the imposition of a fine AED 10000.[5]

Zero-Rated Items of VAT

VAT will be charged at 0% in respect of the following main categories of supplies:[6]

  • Exports of goods and services to outside the GCC;
  • International transportation, and related supplies;
  • Supplies of certain sea, air and land means of transportation (such as aircraft and ships);
  • Certain investment grade precious metals (e.g. gold, silver, of 99% purity);
  • Newly constructed residential properties, that are supplied for the first time within 3 years of their construction;
  • Supply of certain education services, and supply of relevant goods and services;
  • Supply of certain Healthcare services, and supply of relevant goods and services

Exemptions of VAT

The following categories of supplies will be exempt from VAT:[7]

  • The supply of some financial services (clarified in VAT legislation);
  • Residential properties;
  • Bare land; and Local passenger transport

VAT Audit

According to the federal law, it's necessary for the FTA to conduct regular VAT audits[8] to ascertain the compliance of various businesses to the tax laws. These audits are often conducted at the workplace or at the other place of business of the involved party, as per the selection of the FTA. The notice of a similar should be issued to the person/business by the FTA a minimum of 5 days before.

Below are the elaborated procedures of VAT Audit.

The involved party/business/person can file their tax returns on the FTA portal as per the schedule.

The FTA authorities can check the returns and alternative details. There should not be a selected reason for the FTA to conduct an audit of a business/taxpayer. They will conduct it for any reason or whenever they are required.

A notice is going to be issued to the involved party, a minimum of 5 days before the regular audit date. It will contain details, like the audit schedule, place, concerned parties, reason (if something particular), etc.

The auditor/s and also the taxpayer can meet at the scheduled place at the scheduled time and the process can begin. The auditor might ask for business records, in original and/or copies, and take samples of products and alternative assets as obtainable at the place at the time.

Note: The audited party has the right to ask for the credentials, like professional identification cards, from the tax auditors so as to see their authority.

The tax audit is to be conducted during the official FTA operating hours, unless the Director-General decides to conduct the audit of a business outside regular hours, in an exceptional case.

The taxpayer or the other person subject to a tax audit, in conjunction with his legal representatives and tax agents, are advised to participate and help the auditors performing their task.

If something suspicious is found within the results of the audit which may impact the tax return, the authority might order a re-audit for more analysis.

The audited person has the right to ask for the notification copy and connected documents and be present throughout the auditing procedures that are conducted outside of the official places.

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References
  1. "VAT in UAE 2018". Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  2. "VAT". www.mof.gov.ae. Retrieved 2017-09-14.
  3. "VAT". www.mof.gov.ae. Retrieved 2017-09-14.
  4. "New UAE VAT And Tax Procedures Laws - Tax - United Arab Emirates". www.mondaq.com. Retrieved 2017-09-14.
  5. VAT De-registration in UAE
  6. "New VAT law: housing exempt and education at 0%". The National. Retrieved 2017-09-14.
  7. Fichte; Heaver, Co-Irina; Corrie, Priyasha. "Summary of the new VAT Law in the UAE | Lexology". Retrieved 2017-09-14.
  8. "Worried About VAT Audit? Here's Everything You Need To Know". Retrieved 2019-03-19.
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