VAT services · United Arab Emirates
VAT registration and filing, without the penalty letters
Registration at the right time, returns filed inside the 28-day window, and input tax claimed where you are entitled to claim it. Handled by people who file dozens of returns a quarter.
- TRN registration through EmaraTax
- Quarterly or monthly return preparation and filing
- Input VAT reviewed — most businesses under-claim
- Voluntary disclosure where errors already exist
- Deregistration when you no longer qualify
Speak to a specialist
Free 30-minute consultation. Written proposal within one business day.
The problem
The penalty regime changed in April 2026
VAT in the UAE is charged at 5%, and registration becomes mandatory once taxable supplies and imports exceed AED 375,000 over the preceding twelve months, or are expected to exceed it within the next thirty days. Voluntary registration is available from AED 187,500. Returns fall due 28 days after the end of each tax period.
What changed is the cost of getting it wrong. From 14 April 2026 late payment attracts 14% a year, non-compounding. Errors found by the Federal Tax Authority carry a penalty of 15% of the unpaid amount, while a voluntary disclosure made before the FTA finds it costs 1% a month. Late filing is AED 1,000 for a first offence and AED 2,000 for a repeat. Separately, input tax credits from the 2018–2020 periods expire on 31 December 2026 if they have not been claimed.
Deadline: the Q3 2026 VAT return is due 28 October 2026. Unclaimed input tax from the 2018–2020 periods expires on 31 December 2026.
Scope
What is included
Registration & setup
- Eligibility assessment against both thresholds
- EmaraTax registration and TRN issuance
- Tax group registration for related entities
- VAT-compliant invoice template setup
- Software configured for correct tax codes
Ongoing compliance
- Return preparation and filing every period
- Input tax review and recovery
- Reverse charge on imports and services handled
- Voluntary disclosure preparation where needed
- FTA correspondence and audit support
How it works
Four steps
Threshold check
We calculate your rolling twelve-month taxable supplies and tell you whether registration is mandatory, voluntary or unnecessary.
Registration
Documents assembled, EmaraTax application submitted, TRN obtained.
Systems set up
Tax codes, invoice format and reporting configured so the return builds itself.
Filed every period
Return prepared, reviewed with you, submitted inside the 28-day window.
Pricing
What it costs
Published, fixed, and quoted in writing before we start. All fees exclude 5% UAE VAT.
| Service | Basis | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| VAT registration (TRN) | One-off | AED 500 |
| VAT return filing | Per return, standalone | AED 750 |
| VAT health check & input tax review | Project | from AED 2,500 |
| Included in Essential package and above | Monthly | from AED 1,000/month |
Questions
VAT Consulting, Registration & Filing — frequently asked
When must I register for VAT?
Registration is mandatory once your taxable supplies and imports exceed AED 375,000 in the previous twelve months, or when you expect to exceed that figure within the next thirty days. Voluntary registration is open from AED 187,500 and is often worth taking early if you carry recoverable input tax.
Do free zone companies have to register?
Free zone status does not exempt you from VAT. Businesses in designated zones get specific treatment on certain goods movements, but the registration thresholds apply the same way. The distinction that matters is designated zone versus non-designated, and it is worth confirming before you assume either.
I registered late. What happens now?
Late registration carries an administrative penalty, and output tax may be due on supplies made in the interim. The exposure is usually smaller if you approach the FTA than if the FTA approaches you — voluntary disclosure runs at 1% a month against 15% for an FTA-discovered error. Bring us the dates and we will quantify it before you decide.
How often do I file?
Most businesses file quarterly. The FTA assigns monthly periods to larger taxpayers. Either way the return is due 28 days after the period closes — 28 April, 28 July, 28 October and 28 January for standard quarterly filers.
What input VAT can I not reclaim?
The common blocks are entertainment provided to non-employees, and motor vehicles available for personal use. Employee-related costs are more nuanced than most businesses assume, and under-claiming is at least as common as over-claiming in the files we review.
Can you deregister me?
Yes. Deregistration is required when you stop making taxable supplies, and available when supplies fall below AED 187,500 over twelve months. It carries its own deadline and its own penalty for missing it, so it is not something to leave sitting.
Next step
Thirty minutes, no obligation
Tell us where you are. We will tell you what is required, what it costs, and whether anything is already overdue — before you have paid us anything.
Prefer to see numbers first? Take the 3-minute assessment — package, indicative fee and your own filing deadlines, no contact details required.
Request a call back
A senior advisor, not a call centre.