The UAE's VAT and federal Corporate Tax regimes mean most businesses now have two separate compliance calendars to manage, on top of their regular operations.
VAT registration thresholds
VAT registration becomes mandatory once your taxable turnover crosses the federal threshold, with voluntary registration available below it. Many growing businesses choose to register voluntarily to reclaim input VAT earlier.
Filing on a schedule
VAT returns are typically filed on a regular periodic basis set by the Federal Tax Authority for your business, and missing a filing window can trigger penalties regardless of whether tax was actually due.
Corporate Tax registration and filing
UAE Corporate Tax registration is a separate process from VAT, with its own timelines tied to your financial year. Filing then follows after your tax period closes.
Keeping both in sync
The practical challenge for most owners isn't understanding the rules — it's keeping both calendars straight while running the business. A compliance calendar maintained by your advisor is usually the simplest fix.
Want help setting up your VAT and Corporate Tax compliance calendar? Reach out to our team.