Question 1

Can you prepare and file our Corporate Tax return?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We review your accounting records, prepare the tax computation, explain the adjustments and submit the return after your approval. For ongoing clients, this work is coordinated with the year-end timetable. Return preparation and filing are included only where specified in the agreed engagement scope and fees.

Question 2

What if our bookkeeping is behind?

Accepted Answer

We start with a clean-up: reconciling accounts, correcting historical errors and completing missing records before any tax work begins. An accurate return cannot be built on inaccurate books, and filing from bad records creates risk that outlasts the deadline.

Question 3

Can you provide ongoing Corporate Tax support?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Most of our clients retain us year-round. We monitor accounting records monthly, flag the tax implications of decisions before they are made, and keep the business ready for filing. For many SMEs, outsourced Corporate Tax support provides access to experienced accounting and tax expertise without the cost and complexity of building the same capability internally.

Question 4

Do you support QuickBooks Online and Xero?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our team includes a Certified Xero Advisor and a QuickBooks Online Advanced Certified ProAdvisor. We maintain client records in these systems so that tax computations trace directly back to the books.

Question 5

When is a Corporate Tax return due?

Accepted Answer

Your Corporate Tax return must be filed, and any tax paid, within nine months of the end of your financial year. A business with a 31 December year end, for example, must file by 30 September of the following year.

Question 6

What records do we need to keep for Corporate Tax?

Accepted Answer

Businesses must keep records and documents supporting their Corporate Tax returns for at least seven years after the end of the relevant tax period. This includes financial statements, ledgers, invoices, contracts and related-party documentation.

Question 7

Do all UAE businesses need to register for Corporate Tax?

Accepted Answer

Most businesses operating in the UAE must register for Corporate Tax with the Federal Tax Authority, even if they expect to pay no tax. This includes Free Zone companies and businesses eligible for Small Business Relief; certain Exempt Persons may be treated differently. Natural persons must register if their business turnover exceeds AED 1 million in a calendar year - wages, personal investment income and real estate investment income are excluded from this calculation.

Question 8

When must a UAE company register for Corporate Tax?

Accepted Answer

UAE juridical persons incorporated, established or recognised on or after 1 March 2024 are generally required to register for Corporate Tax within three months of incorporation, establishment or recognition. There is no revenue threshold for incorporated taxable persons, so registration is required regardless of profit or turnover. Businesses incorporated before that date fall under separate Federal Tax Authority registration deadlines that depend on when the trade licence was issued. Registration is required even where the business expects to pay no Corporate Tax.

Question 9

What is the penalty for late Corporate Tax registration?

Accepted Answer

An administrative penalty of AED 10,000 applies where a Corporate Tax registration application is not submitted within the required period. Because the penalty is for registering late rather than for owing tax, it can apply even to a business with no taxable profit, including one claiming Small Business Relief. If you are unsure whether your registration deadline has already passed, it is worth checking your position promptly. The FTA also operates a waiver initiative under which this penalty can be waived where the first Corporate Tax return is filed within seven months from the end of the first Tax Period, subject to the conditions of that initiative.

Question 10

What is a Tax Period for UAE Corporate Tax?

Accepted Answer

A Tax Period is normally the 12-month period for which the business prepares its financial statements. For many UAE businesses this is the Gregorian calendar year, but it can be any 12-month financial year the business has adopted. The Tax Period matters because the Corporate Tax return and any tax payable are generally due within 9 months from the end of it, so a business with a December year end has a different filing date from one with a June year end. A Tax Period is not always 12 months: a first Tax Period can run between 6 and 18 months, and other exceptions can apply, so it is worth confirming your own year end before relying on a filing date.

Question 11

How much is Corporate Tax in the UAE?

Accepted Answer

The standard rate is 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000. Taxable income up to AED 375,000 is taxed at 0%. Qualifying Free Zone Persons pay 0% on qualifying income and 9% on other taxable income.

Question 12

How is taxable income calculated for UAE Corporate Tax?

Accepted Answer

Taxable income starts from the accounting profit in your financial statements, which is then adjusted under the Corporate Tax Law. Typical adjustments include exempt income, non-deductible expenses, related-party pricing corrections, reliefs and elections. Because the calculation starts from your accounts, the accuracy of your bookkeeping directly determines the accuracy of your return.

Question 13

What is Small Business Relief?

Accepted Answer

Small Business Relief allows businesses with revenue of AED 3 million or below (in the current and all previous tax periods) to elect to be treated as having no taxable income for the period. It must be actively elected in the return, and it is not available to Qualifying Free Zone Persons or members of large multinational groups. Following Ministerial Decision No. 131, the relief applies to eligible Tax Periods ending on or before 31 December 2029, subject to the applicable conditions.

Question 14

Do Free Zone companies pay Corporate Tax?

Accepted Answer

Free Zone companies are within the Corporate Tax regime and must register and file returns. A Qualifying Free Zone Person can benefit from 0% on qualifying income, but only while meeting all conditions — including adequate substance in the Free Zone, audited financial statements, and limits on non-qualifying revenue. Each entity needs an individual assessment; assuming 0% applies is one of the most expensive mistakes we see.

Corporate Tax Services in the UAE

Our Corporate Tax Services

Why Businesses Choose My Accounting Wiz

How Our Corporate Tax Process Works

Understand Your Business

Review Your Records

Prepare Your Tax Position

Approve and File

Key UAE Corporate Tax Rates, Reliefs and Deadlines

Company Registration Deadline

Small Business Relief

Free Zone (QFZP)

Natural Person Revenue Threshold

Corporate Tax Rate

Free Zone (Other)

Late Registration Penalty

Tax-Free Threshold

Return and Payment Deadline

How UAE Corporate Taxable Income Is Determined

Connected Persons, Related Parties & Transfer Pricing

Corporate Tax Support Across UAE Industries

Retail and E-Commerce

Real Estate and Property

Marketing, Media and Events

Trading, Manufacturing and Distribution

Hospitality and Lifestyle

Construction and Contracting

Professional Services

Healthcare and Medical

Technology and IT Services

Corporate Tax Services Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)