Corporate Tax Registration in the UAE

Key points

From day one, the steps for Corporate Tax Registration are: register on EmaraTax within the FTA deadline for your licence date, select the tax period, assess qualifying free zone person status and then file the first return within nine months of year end. GoldenKey prepares the EmaraTax application for Corporate Tax Registration, uploads the paperwork and follows up with the FTA until the certificate is issued. Penalties for late Corporate Tax Registration or late filing start at fixed amounts and grow with delay, which is why GoldenKey diarises every deadline for its clients. Keeping records for five years, issuing compliant invoices and filing on time are the ongoing obligations that follow Corporate Tax Registration.

Step by step

1. 
   Step 1

   Assessment

   We confirm whether Corporate Tax Registration is mandatory, voluntary or not yet required for your turnover and activity, and fix the right timing.

2. 
   Step 2

   EmaraTax setup

   We set up EmaraTax access and attach your licence, authorised signatory and IBAN. This is also the point at which we answer any question specific to Corporate Tax Registration in the UAE.

3. 
   Step 3

   Application

   GoldenKey fills the FTA application for Corporate Tax Registration and uploads the licence, IDs and turnover evidence.

4. 
   Step 4

   Certificate and compliance calendar

   The FTA issues your registration certificate and we add the filing and payment dates to your compliance calendar. Expect clear updates from your GoldenKey consultant while this step runs for Corporate Tax Registration in the UAE.

Documents required

Put simply, gather these documents and GoldenKey will take care of the rest of Corporate Tax Registration in the UAE.

• Customs code and import records where applicable
• Passport and Emirates ID of the authorised signatory
• Trade licence and certificate of incorporation
• Bank account letter or IBAN certificate
• Turnover evidence such as invoices, contracts or financial statements
• Memorandum of association showing shareholders

Pricing

Crucially, the figures below for Corporate Tax Registration in the UAE are updated by GoldenKey whenever the authority changes its fees, so the price you see is the current one. Pricing for Corporate Tax Registration in the UAE depends on the package you choose; every option below includes GoldenKey's service and the government fees stated.

The steps in detail

1. Register on EmaraTax within the FTA deadline for your licence date
2. Select the tax period
3. Assess qualifying free zone person status
4. File the first return within nine months of year end

Corporate Tax Registration by emirate

DubaiThe UAE's commercial capital — trade anywhere in the UAE w…Abu DhabiThe capital — government contracts, energy supply chains a…SharjahIndustrial heartland of the UAE — manufacturing, trading a…AjmanGoldenKey's home emirate — one of the most affordable main…Ras Al KhaimahThe emirate of industry and tourism — low costs, strong ma…Umm Al QuwainThe quiet emirate — one of the lowest-cost mainland licenc…FujairahThe UAE's east-coast gateway — shipping, bunkering and Ind…

Corporate Tax Registration by business type

General Tradingimport, export, re-export and wholesale of a broad range o…E-commerceselling physical or digital products online through your o…IT & Softwaresoftware development, SaaS, app development, IT consulting…Business Consultingmanagement, strategy, HR, marketing or operations consulti…Marketing & Advertising Agencydigital marketing, social media management, advertising, b…Real Estate Brokeragebrokering the sale and leasing of property on behalf of ow…Restaurant & Caféoperating a dine-in restaurant, café, cloud kitchen or foo…Retail Shopselling goods to consumers from a physical shop, kiosk or …Logistics & Freight Forwardingfreight forwarding, cargo handling, courier services and s…Import & Exportimporting goods into the UAE and exporting or re-exporting…Manufacturing & Industrialproducing, assembling, processing or packaging goods in a …Construction & Contractingbuilding, civil works, MEP and specialist contracting for …

Why the UAE

Banking, logistics, telecoms and digital government services in the UAE are among the most advanced in the region, which keeps the running costs of Corporate Tax Registration in the UAE predictable. Crucially, residence visas for owners and families come with the company, which makes Corporate Tax Registration in the UAE a route to relocation as well as a business decision.

Why GoldenKey

We will tell you plainly if Corporate Tax Registration is not the right choice for your plan and point you to a better option, even when that option costs less. Because GoldenKey works with the licensing authority, the immigration department and the banks every single week, we know exactly which documents each of them will ask for on a Corporate Tax Registration file. GoldenKey is a licensed business setup consultancy, not a reseller, which means your Corporate Tax Registration application is prepared, checked and submitted by our own team.

Frequently asked questions