VAT Return Filing in the UAE

Key points

The steps for VAT Return Filing are: reconcile sales and purchase invoices, calculate output and input tax, submit the return on EmaraTax and then pay any VAT due by the 28th of the following month. GoldenKey prepares the EmaraTax application for VAT Return Filing, uploads the documents and follows up with the FTA until the certificate is issued. In practice, keeping records for five years, issuing compliant invoices and filing on time are the ongoing obligations that follow VAT Return Filing. Penalties for late VAT Return Filing or late filing start at fixed amounts and grow with delay, which is why GoldenKey diarises every deadline for its clients.

Step by step

1. 
   Step 1

   Assessment

   We confirm whether VAT Return Filing is mandatory, voluntary or not yet required for your turnover and activity, and fix the right timing.

2. 
   Step 2

   EmaraTax setup

   GoldenKey opens or accesses your EmaraTax account and links the licence, signatory and bank details needed for VAT Return Filing. Your portal shows the status of this step for VAT Return Filing in the UAE in real time.

3. 
   Step 3

   Application

   GoldenKey fills the FTA application for VAT Return Filing and uploads the licence, IDs and turnover evidence.

4. 
   Step 4

   Certificate and compliance calendar

   The FTA issues your VAT Return Filing certificate and we add every filing and payment date to your compliance calendar. Your portal shows the status of this step for VAT Return Filing in the UAE in real time.

Documents required

For VAT Return Filing in the UAE the authority asks for the following documents, and we tell you exactly how each must be formatted.

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

Pricing

Pricing for VAT Return Filing in the UAE depends on the package you choose; every option below includes GoldenKey's service and the government fees stated. To be clear, the figures below for VAT Return Filing in the UAE are updated by GoldenKey whenever the registrar changes its fees, so the price you see is the current one.

The steps in detail

1. Reconcile sales and purchase invoices
2. Calculate output and input tax
3. Submit the return on EmaraTax
4. Pay any VAT due by the 28th of the following month

VAT Return Filing 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…

VAT Return Filing 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

Since 2021, most mainland activities have allowed 100% foreign ownership, and free zones have always offered it, so VAT Return Filing in the UAE no longer requires a local partner. Residence visas for owners and families come with the company, which makes VAT Return Filing in the UAE a route to relocation as well as a business decision.

Why GoldenKey

We speak the languages our clients speak, including English, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu and Malayalam, and we can arrange Russian, French and Mandarin support for VAT Return Filing in the UAE. You deal with one named consultant from the first call until your VAT Return Filing licence, visa and bank introduction are complete, and that consultant answers your WhatsApp messages personally. Crucially, our office is a short drive from the Ajman Free Zone, Ajman DED and the immigration centre, so physical submissions for VAT Return Filing in the UAE happen the same day they are ready.

Frequently asked questions