- Monday to Saturday, 9:00 to 18:00 GST
- Business Bay, Dubai, UAE
Corporate tax services in the UAE
Corporate tax registration and yearly return filing for mainland and free zone companies, done correctly and on time so your company doesn't pick up FTA penalties.
Response within 15 minutes during working hours
What UAE corporate tax means for your company
Register once, file a return every year
Corporate tax is a federal tax on company profits, run by the Federal Tax Authority (FTA). Every UAE company has to register for it, whether it's mainland or free zone, big or small, profitable or not.
After registering, the company files a corporate tax return every year. This is required even if the result is zero tax. The return is due within nine months of the end of your financial year, so a company with a calendar year files by 30 September of the next year.
We handle both parts. We register your company with the FTA, and each year we prepare the return from your accounts, check which rate applies and file it before the deadline.
Free zone doesn't mean 0% automatically. A free zone company only gets 0% on qualifying income if it meets the FTA's conditions, and this is checked again every year. Other income is taxed at 9%. We check this for you before your return is filed.
Corporate tax rates in the UAE
What your company pays depends on profit and type
| Situation | Rate |
|---|---|
| Taxable profit up to AED 375,000 | 0% |
| Taxable profit above AED 375,000 | 9% on the part above AED 375,000 |
| Qualifying free zone company | 0% on qualifying income, 9% on other income |
Rules and conditions can change, so we check the current FTA guidance for your case every year.
Who needs corporate tax services
Any company that holds a UAE trade license
- Your company isn't registered for corporate tax yet
- Your yearly return is coming up, or it's already late
- You have a free zone company and aren't sure if you qualify for 0%
- You've received an FTA penalty and want to stop it growing
- You're closing your company and need to deregister
Documents you need for corporate tax
One list for registration, one for the yearly return
| For | Documents we need |
|---|---|
| Registration | Valid trade license, memorandum or articles of association, passport and Emirates ID of the owners and the authorised signatory, and the company's contact details. If someone other than the owner signs, proof they are authorised, such as a power of attorney. |
| Yearly return | Your bookkeeping for the full financial year, bank statements, sales and purchase invoices, and last year's return if you filed one. |
| Free zone companies | Details of your income sources and activities, so we can check whether you qualify for 0% on qualifying income. |
If your books aren't up to date, the return can't be prepared correctly. We can help you bring your bookkeeping up to date first.
How our corporate tax service works
Registration once, then the same steps every year
| Step | What happens | When |
|---|---|---|
| 1. RegistrationFTA | We register your company on the FTA portal and you receive your corporate tax registration number. | Once |
| 2. Year end records | We check that your accounts for the full year are complete. | After your year ends |
| 3. Rate check | We work out your taxable profit and, for free zone companies, whether 0% applies to your income. | Every year |
| 4. Return and approval | We prepare the return and go through it with you before anything is filed. | Before the deadline |
| 5. Filing and paymentFTA | The return is filed and any tax due is paid. | Within 9 months of year end |
For filing only, see our corporate tax return filing page. For VAT, see VAT registration.
Corporate tax penalties to avoid
Both are avoidable, and both add up
- Late registration. A fine of AED 10,000 if the company doesn't register on time.
- Late return. AED 500 for every month the return is late during the first year, then AED 1,000 a month after that.
A late return keeps adding a penalty every month until it's filed, even when the company owes no tax. If your return is already late, file it as soon as possible.
Our fee depends on your company's size and how much work your accounts need. Send us your license and we'll confirm the total in writing before we start.
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers on UAE corporate tax registration, rates, returns and penalties.
Does every UAE company need to register for corporate tax?
Yes. Mainland and free zone companies both have to register, whatever their size and even if they make no profit. Not registering on time leads to an AED 10,000 fine.
Do I have to file a return if my company made no profit?
Yes. The return has to be filed every year, even when the tax is zero. A late return costs AED 500 a month in the first year and AED 1,000 a month after that.
When is the corporate tax return due?
Within nine months of the end of your financial year. If your year ends on 31 December, the return is due by 30 September of the following year.
Is a free zone company always taxed at 0%?
No. Only a qualifying free zone company gets 0%, and only on qualifying income. It has to meet the FTA's conditions, including real substance in the free zone. Other income is taxed at 9%, and the check is repeated every year.
How much tax will my company pay?
Taxable profit up to AED 375,000 is taxed at 0%. Anything above that is taxed at 9%. For free zone companies it also depends on whether the income qualifies. We work out your exact position from your accounts.
My return is already late. What should I do?
File it as soon as you can, because the penalty is added again every month until it's filed. Send us your license and your accounts, and we'll tell you what's needed to file quickly.
Send us your trade license
We'll check whether your company is registered, when your next return is due and whether any penalty is already running, and send you the total cost in writing.
No spam. No follow up calls unless you ask. We are open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm.
