Most Dubai businesses need bookkeeping, bank reconciliation, financial statements, VAT filing and Corporate Tax compliance, and all of these can be outsourced. A company without an in-house finance team can hand this work to an external firm and keep control of its decisions. Our accounting services in the UAE and bookkeeping services cover mainland and free zone companies.

Register for VAT online through the Federal Tax Authority’s EmaraTax portal. You create an account, complete the application and upload your trade licence, owner passport and Emirates ID copies, proof of authority, bank details and turnover records. The FTA may ask for more information before issuing your Tax Registration Number. Our VAT registration service prepares and submits the application for you.

No. VAT registration is mandatory only when taxable supplies and imports exceed AED 375,000 in the previous 12 months, or are expected to exceed it in the next 30 days. Businesses above AED 187,500 in taxable supplies, imports or taxable expenses may register voluntarily. The mandatory threshold does not apply to foreign businesses. Late registration carries an AED 10,000 penalty.

File your VAT return online through EmaraTax within 28 days of the end of each tax period, and pay any VAT due by the same date. Most businesses file quarterly, and the FTA sets your tax period. The return reports your sales, purchases, output tax and recoverable input tax, so reconcile your records first. Our VAT return filing service handles this each period.

VAT-registered businesses with excess recoverable tax claim a refund by submitting a refund request through EmaraTax with supporting documents. Since 1 January 2026, claims must generally be filed within five years of the end of the relevant tax period, and older balances have a transitional window until 31 December 2026. Our VAT refund service reviews your eligibility and prepares the claim.

The FTA charges no fee to register for VAT, so you pay only for professional help. Our VAT registration and Corporate Tax registration each start from AED 420. Accounting and bookkeeping are quoted as a fixed fee based on your transaction volume, bank accounts, tax profile and the state of your books. See our service packages and pricing for current fees.

UAE Corporate Tax is 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above that amount. Qualifying Free Zone Persons can pay 0% on qualifying income. Eligible businesses with revenue of AED 3 million or less can elect Small Business Relief for tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029. Our corporate tax services confirm which treatment applies to you.

UAE companies and other juridical persons must register for Corporate Tax, including free zone companies and businesses that make no profit. Individuals must register if their business turnover exceeds AED 1 million in a calendar year, and non-residents with a UAE permanent establishment or nexus are also covered. New UAE companies generally have three months from incorporation. Our corporate tax registration service can handle this.

You generally need a valid trade licence, the passport and Emirates ID of the owner or authorised signatory, proof of that person’s authority, such as a power of attorney or Memorandum of Association, and company contact details. Free zone companies may also need a certificate of incorporation. Requirements vary by entity type, and the FTA charges no registration fee. Our team can confirm what you need.

Yes. UAE free zone companies must register for Corporate Tax and file annual returns, even if they expect to pay 0%. A Qualifying Free Zone Person can pay 0% on qualifying income if it meets conditions that include adequate substance, audited financial statements and arm’s-length related-party pricing. Other income may be taxed at 9%. Read more about corporate tax for free zone companies.

A missed deadline leads to FTA penalties. A late VAT return costs AED 1,000, or AED 2,000 for a repeat within 24 months. A late Corporate Tax return costs AED 500 a month for the first 12 months, then AED 1,000 a month. Unpaid tax accrues 14% a year, calculated monthly. Late registration for either tax costs AED 10,000. Our VAT penalty support team can review your position.

E-invoicing becomes mandatory on 1 January 2027 for businesses with revenue of AED 50 million or more, and on 1 July 2027 for businesses below that level. The smaller group must appoint an Accredited Service Provider by 31 March 2027. The larger group’s appointment deadline was 30 October 2026. Our UAE e-invoicing service covers readiness checks, provider selection and system integration.

Backlog accounting brings overdue financial records up to date. It posts missing transactions, reconciles bank accounts and prepares accounts for past periods, so a business can file accurate VAT and Corporate Tax returns or prepare for an audit. Our backlog accounting service agrees the periods and deliverables upfront, and the same team can move you to monthly accounting afterwards.

Often, yes. Standalone taxpayers with revenue above AED 50 million, tax groups and businesses claiming Qualifying Free Zone Person status must keep audited financial statements for Corporate Tax. Many free zones also ask for an audit at licence renewal, and banks or shareholders may require one. Our audit and assurance services can confirm what applies to your company and licence.

VAT Accounting UAE handles accounting, bookkeeping, VAT, Corporate Tax, audit and e-invoicing for mainland and free zone companies through a single point of contact. Most clients work with us remotely using cloud accounting and secure document sharing, and our office is in Al Nasr Plaza, Oud Metha, Dubai. Every fee is agreed before work starts. Book a free consultation to review your position.