Corporate Tax
The tax on company profits.
- Who it affects
- Companies in general, including those in free zones.
- When it is filed
- Annual return, within 9 months of the year end.
- What to watch
- Registration, applicable regime and non-deductible expenses.
Services
Compliance and administration
You have a company in the Emirates and want the certainty that everything is in order
Corporate Tax, VAT, accounting, beneficial owner, employment and licences. I review where you stand and, with my team, take care of every filing and every deadline throughout the year.
Who it is for
- Companies already established in the UAE that want the certainty of being up to date with their legal obligations.
- Free zone companies that want to keep their preferential regime.
- Business owners tired of having a different adviser for each matter.
- Subsidiaries of foreign groups that need to report to their parent in an orderly way.
Who it is not for
- Companies looking only for the cheapest way to tick the box.
- Anyone who prefers not to review how their company really stands.
- Anyone unable to commit to providing information and documents on time.
Before you choose
Five questions to know if you are up to date
If you hesitate on any of them, it is better to review it before the authorities do.
Are you registered for everything that applies to you?
Corporate Tax, VAT and other registers have their own deadlines, and delay alone can lead to penalties.
Do your accounts reflect what really happens?
They are the basis of every return. If they are late or incomplete, everything filed afterwards is called into question.
Do you meet the conditions of your free zone regime?
Qualifying income, substance and audit. Losing the regime can affect several financial years.
Are transactions with your related companies documented?
Transfer pricing, loans and services between group companies must be capable of justification.
Are your licence, beneficial owner and staff up to date?
Renewals, changes of shareholders, visas and salaries create obligations that do not always announce themselves.
Comparison
Three fronts that never rest
An overview of the main obligations. Yours depend on your activity and your licence.
VAT
The tax on added value.
- Who it affects
- Businesses exceeding the AED 375,000 threshold of taxable supplies.
- When it is filed
- Periodic returns, usually quarterly.
- What to watch
- Invoicing, deadlines and cross-border transactions.
Corporate and employment
The legal life of the company and its team.
- Who it affects
- All licensed companies.
- When it is filed
- Annual renewals and whenever something changes.
- What to watch
- Beneficial owner, visas, salaries and contracts.
What I see go wrong
Four mistakes that end in penalties
Believing no profit means no return
A registered company must file its return even if it has lost money or had very little activity.
Taking the free zone regime for granted
Being in a free zone is not enough. You have to meet the requirements every year and be able to prove it.
Letting the accounts fall behind
Deadlines do not wait and, when the numbers arrive late, so do the decisions and the returns.
Not reporting changes
A new shareholder, another activity or a change of address means updating the licence and the registers.
From start to finish
What I do
Assessment
- Review of registrations and filings.
- Review of the accounts and the tax regime.
- Plan to regularise anything outstanding.
Day to day
- Accounting and financial statements, handled by my team.
- Corporate Tax and VAT returns.
- Employment, payroll and visas.
- Licence renewals.
Oversight
- Calendar of obligations.
- Alerts on the regulatory changes that affect you.
- Transfer pricing and substance, where applicable.
How I work
Initial consultation
You tell me about your situation, whether you are abroad or already in the Emirates. This conversation is to understand it, not to sell you a structure.
Assessment
I analyse your case and explain your options, what each one involves and which I recommend, with its legal basis.
Fixed quote
Before we start, you know what will be done, by when and what it will cost.
Execution and follow-up
I handle your matter from start to finish as your single point of contact, and I stay with you afterwards, letting you know when something that affects you changes.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to file Corporate Tax if I have made no profit?
Yes, as a general rule. A registered company must file its return even if the result is zero or negative, unless it has deregistered or an exception applies.
When must I register for VAT?
Registration is mandatory when taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000 in the last 12 months or are expected to exceed that amount in the next 30 days. Voluntary registration is possible from AED 187,500.
How do I keep the free zone regime?
By meeting the Qualifying Free Zone Person requirements each year: earning qualifying income, maintaining adequate substance in the zone, staying within the limits on non-qualifying income and having audited financial statements.
What happens if I have missed a deadline?
The first step is to find out what is missing and regularise it as soon as possible. Administrative penalties tend to grow over time, so waiting almost always costs more.
Can you take over if I already have an accountant?
Yes. I can review what is there and work with your accountant, or have my team take on the accounting. Either way, you will have a single point of contact.
Tell me what you want to do in the Emirates
I reply personally and suggest the first step.