VAT in the UAE runs at 5%, and once your taxable supplies cross AED 375,000 over a rolling 12-month period, registering isn't optional you have 30 days to apply once you hit that threshold. Miss it, and the FTA doesn't just fine you AED 10,000, they also back-charge VAT on everything you should have been collecting since the day you crossed the line. Filing on time after that matters just as much, since the penalty structure changed in April 2026 and now moves faster than it used to.

Probiz handles VAT registration and filing for businesses across Dubai and the UAE, working from our office in Al Barsha. We register you correctly the first time, file your returns before the deadline every period, and keep your input and output tax reconciled so there are no surprises when the FTA looks at your account.

What's Included in Our VAT Service

• VAT registration through EmaraTax, including threshold assessment to confirm whether you're mandatory or eligible for voluntary registration
• Tax Registration Number (TRN) application and setup
• Quarterly or monthly VAT return filing, depending on what the FTA assigns your business
• Input and output tax reconciliation against your accounting records
• Reverse charge mechanism handling for imported services and qualifying transactions
• VAT refund claims where input tax exceeds output tax
• Voluntary disclosure filing if an error is found in a previous return
• VAT deregistration, if your business stops trading or falls below the threshold
• VAT health checks for businesses that registered themselves and want a second opinion before an audit

Who Needs to Register for VAT

Registration becomes mandatory once your taxable supplies and imports go over AED 375,000 in any rolling 12-month period. If you're below that but above AED 187,500, you can register voluntarily which some businesses do to reclaim input tax on setup costs or major purchases. Below AED 187,500, registration isn't required either way. Getting this assessment right matters, because registering too early ties you into filing obligations you didn't need yet, and registering late brings a fixed penalty plus retroactive tax liability.

How VAT Registration Works

1. Threshold check — we review your revenue and transaction history to confirm whether registration is mandatory, voluntary, or not yet required.
2. Document preparation — trade license, Emirates ID, financial statements or projected turnover, and business activity details.
3. EmaraTax application — the registration is submitted through the FTA's EmaraTax portal.
4. TRN issuance — once approved, you receive your Tax Registration Number and can start charging VAT on taxable supplies.
5. Filing setup — we confirm your tax period (monthly or quarterly) and set up a filing schedule so returns go in on time, every time.

VAT Filing Deadlines You Can't Miss

VAT returns are due 28 days after the end of your tax period, and the payment is due on the same date filing without paying doesn't clear the deadline. Most businesses file quarterly; larger businesses, generally those with annual taxable supplies above AED 150 million, are assigned monthly filing by the FTA. Your exact tax period and due date are shown in your EmaraTax account, and it's worth checking that directly rather than assuming the FTA assigns the frequency, and it isn't something you can switch on your own.

What Happens If You File or Pay Late

The penalty structure changed as of 14 April 2026, and it's worth understanding both the old and new rules if you're catching up on a late filing:

• Late registration: a flat AED 10,000 penalty, on top of retroactive VAT owed from the date the threshold was crossed
• Late filing: AED 1,000 for the first late return, rising to AED 2,000 if it happens again within 24 months — this applies even if the return shows zero VAT due
• Late payment: 14% per annum, calculated monthly on the unpaid balance, from the day after the due date until it's settled — this replaced the older, steeper compounding penalty structure
• Incorrect returns: as of April 2026, the penalty is AED 500 per instance, with no penalty at all if you correct it within the filing deadline or through a voluntary disclosure that doesn't increase the tax owed

If you've found an error yourself, filing a voluntary disclosure before the FTA catches it is treated far more favourably than having it flagged in an audit — the penalty for self-disclosure is a fraction of what it costs if the FTA finds it first.

VAT Registration and Filing in Al Barsha

We're based in Al Barsha, working directly with businesses in and around the area on VAT registration, quarterly filing, and audit preparation. Being local means we can sit down with you in person when you're registering for the first time or when a filing deadline is close and something needs sorting quickly. For businesses elsewhere in Dubai or across the UAE, the same service runs just as smoothly online.

FAQs

When do I need to register for VAT in the UAE?

Once your taxable supplies and imports exceed AED 375,000 in any rolling 12-month period, you have 30 days to register. Below that, down to AED 187,500, registration is optional.

What happens if I register for VAT late?

A flat AED 10,000 penalty applies, plus you'll owe VAT retroactively on all taxable supplies made since the date you crossed the threshold even if you weren't charging it at the time.

How often do I need to file VAT returns?

Most businesses file quarterly. Larger businesses generally those with annual taxable supplies above AED 150 million are assigned monthly filing by the FTA. Your assigned frequency is shown in your EmaraTax account.

What's the deadline for filing and paying VAT?

Both the return and the payment are due 28 days after the end of your tax period. Filing without paying doesn't satisfy the deadline.

What's the penalty for filing a VAT return late?

AED 1,000 for the first late return, and AED 2,000 if it happens again within 24 months even if the return shows zero VAT owed.

What's the current penalty for late VAT payment?

14% per annum, calculated monthly on the outstanding amount, starting from the day after the due date. This took effect from 14 April 2026, replacing the previous compounding penalty structure.

Can I fix a mistake in a VAT return I already filed?

Yes, through a voluntary disclosure on EmaraTax. Correcting it yourself before the FTA finds it carries a much smaller penalty than having the error discovered in an audit.

Do you provide VAT services outside Al Barsha?

Yes. Our office is in Al Barsha, but we register and file VAT for businesses across Dubai and the wider UAE, in person or remotely.