Exactitude Business helps UAE mainland and free zone companies stay compliant with Federal Tax Authority (FTA) rules — from corporate tax registration and annual returns to VAT registration, tax invoices, and periodic filings. You get a clear process, a realistic filing calendar, and fewer avoidable penalties.
Whether you are registering for the first time, catching up after a missed deadline, or checking Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) treatment, our Dubai team maps obligations in plain language and supports the work through to submission.
Important: Tax outcomes depend on your facts, licence activities, and current FTA rules. This page is general information — not a substitute for formal tax advice where needed.
Get a tax compliance review or call / WhatsApp +971 52 177 1150.
Who this is for
- New companies registering for corporate tax or VAT after formation
- Growing SMEs approaching or past the AED 375,000 thresholds
- Free zone entities assessing QFZP eligibility and substance
- Foreign-owned groups needing UAE filings
- Businesses fixing late filings, invoice gaps, errors, or FTA notices
If you are still incorporating, start with business formation so licensing, banking, and tax registration stay aligned.
UAE Corporate Tax — what we handle
The UAE corporate tax framework generally applies a 9% rate on taxable income above AED 375,000, subject to FTA rules, reliefs, and exemptions. Below that threshold, taxable income is typically taxed at 0% under current rules, but registration, records, and returns can still apply. Free zone treatment is not automatic; it depends on QFZP conditions.
Exactitude supports:
- Corporate tax registration with the FTA and EmaraTax access setup
- Scope assessment — in-scope status, exemptions, and free zone / QFZP considerations
- Books and chart of accounts ready for CIT, aligned with accounting and bookkeeping
- Annual corporate tax return preparation and filing
- Transfer pricing documentation where required
- FTA queries and audit support — responses, evidence packs, and correspondence
We explain obligations in practical terms. Final liability depends on your facts and current FTA rules; we do not invent shortcuts around them.
VAT — what we handle
UAE VAT is generally 5% on taxable supplies. Mandatory registration typically applies when taxable supplies and imports exceed the FTA threshold (commonly AED 375,000). Voluntary registration may help B2B businesses reclaim input VAT.
- VAT registration and Tax Registration Number (TRN) setup
- Tax invoice templates meeting FTA content requirements
- Periodic VAT returns — monthly or quarterly as applicable
- Input tax recovery review and evidence checks
- VAT refund assistance where eligible
- Corrections and voluntary disclosures to reduce penalty risk
Clean books and invoice discipline make VAT filing faster and safer. Where we also keep your accounts, CIT and VAT draw from the same source data.
How engagement works
- Discovery: licence, activities, mainland versus free zone, ownership, existing TRNs, and current filings.
- Gap check: registration status, filing calendar, invoice compliance, and bookkeeping readiness.
- Setup: registrations, EmaraTax access, processes, and a 12-month filing calendar.
- Ongoing: VAT returns, reminders, year-end CIT preparation, and document requests.
- Support: FTA correspondence, voluntary disclosures where appropriate, and evidence packs.
A short compliance review comes first. You leave with what is due, when, and which documents we need from you or will produce under an accounting mandate.
Mainland vs free zone — what actually matters
Both mainland and free zone companies can have corporate tax and VAT obligations. A free zone licence alone does not mean “zero tax forever.”
Mainland: standard FTA rules apply to taxable income and supplies, and strong bookkeeping and invoice controls remain essential.
Free zone: possible 0% CIT on qualifying income applies only when QFZP conditions such as substance, qualifying activities, and other current FTA tests are met. Non-qualifying income, or failing QFZP tests, can fall under the standard CIT regime. VAT still follows supplies, place of supply, and registration thresholds; free zone status is not a VAT holiday.
We review licence wording, income sources, counterparties, and substance against current FTA guidance before anyone assumes a 0% outcome.
Related Exactitude services
- Business formation — mainland and free zone setup
- Accounting and bookkeeping — ledgers that feed CIT and VAT returns
- Corporate bank account opening — UAE operating accounts
Why Exactitude
- UAE-focused tax and accounting team based in Dubai
- End-to-end path: setup → books → CIT and VAT → banking → liquidation
- Practical checklists for SMEs and overseas owners
- One team keeps accounting and tax filings consistent for banks and FTA evidence packs
- Plain communication on deadlines and evidence
Office: 601, Mai Tower, Dubai
Email: sales@exactitudebusiness.com
Phone / WhatsApp: +971 52 177 1150
FAQs
Do free zone companies pay corporate tax?
It depends. Qualifying Free Zone Persons may benefit from 0% CIT on qualifying income if FTA conditions are met. Non-qualifying income, or failing substance or activity tests, can fall under the standard regime. We review your licence and income sources rather than assuming 0% from the free zone name alone.
When must I register for VAT?
When taxable supplies and imports exceed the FTA mandatory threshold (commonly AED 375,000), or earlier if voluntary registration is available and useful. We confirm from turnover, supply types, and place-of-supply profile.
Do I need corporate tax registration if my profit is low?
Often yes. Registration and returns can still apply when taxable income sits in the 0% band. We check EmaraTax status and the filing calendar rather than guessing from profit alone.
Can Exactitude file CIT and VAT returns for me?
Yes. We prepare and file based on complete books and supporting documents you provide, or that we maintain under an accounting engagement. We flag gaps early.
What if I missed a deadline or received an FTA notice?
Contact us quickly. Early correction and voluntary disclosure may reduce risk compared with ignoring notices. We help assemble evidence and respond in an orderly way.
How do corporate tax and VAT connect to bookkeeping?
Returns are only as good as the underlying records. Tax invoices, expense coding, and period cut-offs drive both VAT and CIT, which is why many clients also use accounting and bookkeeping.
Is this formal tax advice?
This page and a general compliance review explain process and typical obligations. Specific positions depend on your facts and FTA rules. Complex structures or disputes may require a separately scoped formal opinion.
Mainland vs free zone — which is better for tax?
There is no universal answer. Activity, customers, and substance usually matter more than a headline rate. We can compare compliance implications once your facts are clear, often alongside business formation.
Book a compliance review
We will map your corporate tax and VAT obligations, flag registration or filing gaps, and give you a practical filing calendar for the next 12 months.
Get A Quote | sales@exactitudebusiness.com | +971 52 177 1150
Tax advice depends on your facts and current FTA rules. This content is not a substitute for formal advice where needed.