VAT Services in the UAE
VAT registration, return filing and ongoing compliance support for UAE businesses that need more than basic submission.
My Accounting Wiz helps UAE businesses manage VAT from the underlying accounting records through to the final return. We review transaction treatment, reconcile VAT balances and prepare filings that are supported by organised and reliable financial records.
Our VAT services include:
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VAT registration and threshold assessment
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VAT return preparation and filing support
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VAT reconciliations and transaction reviews
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Ongoing VAT compliance and FTA support
Designed for established and growing UAE businesses that value accurate accounting records, controlled compliance and ongoing finance support.
Scope and fees are agreed before work begins.
• CPA Australia-led • ACCA-qualified team
• Xero Certified Advisor | QuickBooks Online Advanced Certified ProAdvisor
• Supporting UAE SMEs since 2018
What UAE VAT Means for Your Business
VAT is a consumption tax charged at each stage of the supply chain. It was introduced in the UAE on 1 January 2018, with a standard rate of 5%. A VAT-registered business charges VAT on taxable sales and may recover eligible VAT incurred on qualifying business expenses, subject to the applicable conditions.
VAT compliance involves much more than submitting a return. Your business must determine the correct tax treatment, issue compliant invoices, retain supporting records, reconcile VAT balances and file and pay within the applicable deadline.
Incorrect treatment at transaction level can flow directly into the VAT return. That is why we review both the return and the accounting records supporting it.
Strong VAT compliance helps you:
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Apply the correct VAT treatment to sales and purchases
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Recover eligible input VAT without making unsupported claims
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Reconcile VAT returns to the accounting system
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Maintain organised records for FTA enquiries
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Identify errors before filing deadlines
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Understand the expected VAT payment or refund position
Accurate VAT reporting starts with reliable accounting records.
Key UAE VAT Thresholds and Deadlines
5%
Standard VAT Rate
The standard UAE VAT rate is 5%. Some transactions may instead be zero-rated, exempt or outside the scope of UAE VAT.
AED 375,000
Mandatory Registration Threshold
A UAE-resident business must register when its taxable supplies and imports exceed AED 375,000 during the previous 12 months or are expected to exceed that threshold within the next 30 days.
AED 187,500
Voluntary Registration Threshold
A UAE-resident business may apply for voluntary VAT registration where its taxable supplies and imports, or taxable expenses, exceed AED 187,500 during the previous 12 months or are expected to exceed that amount within the next 30 days.
28 Days
VAT Filing and Payment Deadline
A VAT return and any related payment must be submitted within 28 days after the end of the Tax Period assigned by the Federal Tax Authority.
A business that becomes liable to register must submit its VAT registration application within 30 days from the date the registration obligation arises.
Sources: UAE Ministry of Finance and Federal Tax Authority
Technical content reviewed by a CPA Australia-qualified professional
Last reviewed: August 2026
Our VAT Services
From first-time registration to ongoing reviews, we provide practical VAT support built around your actual business activities, accounting system and filing obligations — not a one-size-fits-all checklist.
We assess your taxable turnover, business activities and supporting records to establish whether registration is mandatory or voluntary. Where it’s required or worthwhile, we handle the application end to end — turnover calculations, supporting documents and the correct effective registration date.
We prepare returns from your underlying records, not just a summary report: reconciling VAT control accounts and working from the actual sales, purchase, import and adjustment data. The completed return is shared for your review and approval before anything is submitted.
We reconcile the VAT return to your accounting system and investigate any differences across the general ledger, sales and purchase records, customs information and previous filings — surfacing missing transactions, duplicated entries, incorrect tax codes and unsupported balances before they become a problem.
When an error surfaces in a previous return, we assess its nature, value and impact. Depending on the circumstances, it may be corrected through a later return or require a voluntary disclosure — and we prepare the calculations, supporting schedules and explanation for your review either way.
Where your records show an excess recoverable position, we review the underlying transactions and evidence before assisting with the refund process — checking tax invoices, proof of payment, customs records, reconciliations and the business activities giving rise to the claim, so it’s ready to stand up to scrutiny.
We confirm whether the business meets the conditions for deregistration and prepare the application and supporting documents. Beforehand, we review outstanding returns, VAT balances, assets and any final adjustments required. Mandatory deregistration applications must be submitted within 20 business days after the deregistration obligation begins.
Our support doesn’t stop at the filing deadline. We advise on transaction treatment, tax invoices, cross-border supplies, import VAT, related-company transactions, input VAT recovery and any change in how your business operates — so questions are answered before they reach a return.
We help organise your accounting records, reconcile filed returns, prepare supporting schedules and respond to information requests. Where an external legal opinion, registered tax-agent representation or specialist industry advice is needed, we flag it early and coordinate with the right adviser.
VAT Support Across UAE Industries
We work with businesses across a wide range of UAE sectors, applying the same disciplined approach to VAT registration, filing and compliance regardless of industry.
Retail and E-Commerce
Real Estate and Property
Marketing, Media and Events
Trading, Import and Distribution
Hospitality and Lifestyle
Construction and Manufacturing
Professional Services
Healthcare and Medical
Technology and IT Services
Input VAT Recovery and Supporting Documents
Input VAT recovery is not automatic simply because a supplier charged VAT. The expense must satisfy the relevant recovery conditions, relate to the business's taxable activities and be supported by appropriate documentation.
VAT linked to exempt or non-business activities may be restricted, and certain categories — such as some entertainment expenditure or vehicles available for personal use — may be non-recoverable. Businesses making both taxable and exempt supplies may also need to apportion input VAT.
Getting this right calls for a careful, transaction-by-transaction review — not a blanket assumption either way.
We review input VAT by considering:
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The nature and purpose of the expense
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The supplier's tax invoice
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The VAT treatment applied
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The business activity supported by the cost
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Whether payment conditions are satisfied
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Whether full, partial or no recovery is appropriate
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Whether the expense relates to taxable, exempt or non-business activity
A valid-looking invoice does not, by itself, guarantee that the VAT is recoverable.
Want us to review your input VAT claims? Request a VAT Consultation →
No obligation.
VAT Invoices, Records and Audit Readiness
VAT-registered businesses should maintain accounting records and documents that allow the FTA to verify their tax position.
Tax invoices must be issued within 14 days from the date of supply, subject to the specific exceptions contained in the VAT legislation.
Accounting records for a taxable person must be retained for five years following the Tax Period to which they relate. Real-estate records are retained for seven years from the end of the calendar year in which the relevant document was created. Longer periods may apply where there is an audit, dispute, voluntary disclosure or unresolved refund application.
These records may include:
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Sales and purchase records
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Tax invoices and tax credit notes
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Bank statements and reconciliations
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Import and customs records
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Contracts and agreements
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Payroll and fixed-asset records where relevant
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VAT return workings and reconciliation schedules
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Documents supporting zero-rated or cross-border treatment
Well-organised records today mean a straightforward response if the FTA ever asks
How Our VAT Process Works
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Understand Your Business
We review your activities, customers, suppliers, revenue streams, imports, expenses, accounting system and existing VAT position — pinpointing the areas that need closer attention.
Review the Records and VAT Controls
We review transaction coding, tax invoices, customs information, prior returns and the VAT control accounts in QuickBooks Online or Xero.
Reconcile and Prepare
We reconcile sales, purchases, imports, adjustments and input VAT to the accounting records, then prepare the return and supporting schedules for your review.
Review, Approve and File
We explain the return position, highlight anything significant and obtain your approval before submission.
A return supported by reconciled records — not figures entered at the last minute.
Who Our VAT Services Are For
Our VAT services are suitable for businesses that require accurate accounting records, reliable VAT reconciliations and practical support throughout the filing cycle.
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Businesses approaching the mandatory VAT-registration threshold
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Newly VAT-registered businesses requiring a proper accounting setup
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Businesses filing monthly or quarterly VAT returns
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Companies using QuickBooks Online or Xero
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Importers, exporters and cross-border service providers
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Retail and e-commerce businesses using multiple sales channels
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Businesses with incomplete or unreconciled VAT records
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Companies needing to correct previous VAT returns
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Businesses applying for VAT refunds or deregistration
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Groups requiring more structured VAT oversight
Whether the requirement is one-off support or ongoing VAT compliance, the scope is agreed around the actual work required.
UAE E-Invoicing and VAT Readiness
UAE e-invoicing will change how invoices are issued, exchanged and reported, making the quality and structure of accounting data increasingly important.
For businesses with annual revenue of AED 50 million or more, an Accredited Service Provider must currently be appointed by 30 October 2026, with mandatory implementation from 1 January 2027. Other businesses follow the later implementation phase.
We help clients review the accounting and VAT processes behind invoicing so that records, tax treatment and system workflows are prepared for the transition.
Source: UAE Ministry of Finance. Technical content reviewed by a CPA Australia-qualified professional. Last reviewed: August 2026.
Why Businesses Choose My Accounting Wiz
CPA Australia and ACCA-Qualified Team
Technical work is completed and reviewed by a professionally qualified accounting team.
Certified Xero and QuickBooks Expertise
Our team includes a Certified Xero Advisor and QuickBooks Online Advanced Certified ProAdvisor.
VAT Returns Reconciled to Your Records
VAT returns are prepared from transaction records and reconciled back to the accounting ledgers—not unsupported summaries.
Integrated Bookkeeping, VAT and Corporate Tax
One outsourced finance team can support the accounting records, VAT filings and Corporate Tax readiness together.
UAE VAT Frequently Asked Questions
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