UAE Corporate Tax Filing - All You Need To Know
If you also received this SMS and email from the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) and are wondering what to do next, this post is for you.
You’ll learn:
What you need to submit and by when
How to reduce your Corporate Tax liability
How to get your late Corporate Tax registration penalty waived
The cost of Corporate Tax filing + a special gift for my readers 🎁
Corporate Tax has officially landed in the UAE. If your company was incorporated before July 2024 and follows a January-December financial year, you’re required to file your first Corporate Tax Return by 30 September 2025, even if you had no activity.
Here’s a streamlined guide to help you file on time, avoid penalties, and reduce your tax liability.
Who Must File & When
Deadline: 30 September 2025
Applies to: All entities (mainland or free zone) established before July 2024 with a Jan-Dec financial year.
Even if you had no transactions in 2024, filing is mandatory. A nil return is still required.
When to Get Help
To ensure a smooth process, contact an accountant ideally by June 2025. Minimum: 2–3 months before the deadline.
DIY filing is possible, but since the UAE tax rules are new, I would not recommend it.
What You Need to File
Prepare the following:
FTA Portal Access
IFRS-based Financial Statements
Supporting documents for:
Tax losses
Deductions & tax credits
Other relevant financial records
Penalties: Late Filing & Registration
Late filing:
AED 500/month for the first 12 months
AED 1,000/month thereafter
Late Corporate Tax registration penalty waiver:
I know many of my founder friends got AED 10,000 fine for not registering
Possible penalty waiver if you file your return within 7 months of your financial year-end
Example: For Dec 2024 year-end, file by 31 July 2025
How & When to Pay the 9% Tax
Payment is due by 30 September 2025, same as the filing deadline.
To reduce your tax liability, consider:
Tax-loss carryforwards
Eligible deductions (expenses, depreciation, etc.)
Small Business Relief if revenue is under AED 3M
Group structuring for related entities
FTA Compliance Beyond Filing
You must also:
Maintain records for 7 years
Stay ready for audits, requests, or clarifications from the FTA
Keep company and portal information up to date (any changes in your company license & shareholder structure must be updated in the FTA portal as well)
🎁 Special Gift - 20% off🎁
You probably already know that I trust Finanshels with my finances, and they’ve been kind enough to help me with this article and offer a special Corporate Tax filing price exclusively for my readers - valid only until 1st July 2025.
Revenue < AED 3M
Up to 100 transactions:
AED 1,200→ AED 960100–500 transactions:
AED 1,500→ AED 1200
Revenue > AED 3M
Flat rate: AED
3,000→ AED 2400
👉🏻 To claim this special offer, simply fill out your details in this form - the Finanshels team will get in touch within 24 hours.
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