Accounting and Corporate Tax for UAE Entities

Who this setup is built for

Owners of a free zone or mainland company in the UAE who trade actively and do not want compliance handled on the side. Typical profiles are consultants, agencies, e-commerce and SaaS with clients outside the UAE. It also fits when the company already exists and the bookkeeping has fallen behind.

What is included

Ongoing bookkeeping with a digital document flow, reconciliation of bank and payment provider accounts, and the annual accounts under the applicable standards. On top of that: corporate tax registration, preparation and submission of the annual return through the licensed partner, and a deadline calendar covering every renewal. Where VAT registration applies, we handle the periodic returns as well.

How UAE corporate tax works

Taxable profits up to the statutory threshold are charged at 0 percent, above it the rate is 9 percent. A free zone company can still reach 0 percent on qualifying income, but only as a Qualifying Free Zone Person with genuine substance and within the de minimis limits. Fail the conditions and the standard rate applies.

What we need from you

The licence, corporate and shareholder documents, access to bank statements and a complete set of receipts. The cleaner the starting position, the faster onboarding is finished. If prior years are open, we clear the backlog before switching to routine operation.

The process in four steps

First a review of licence, financial year, existing registrations and open deadlines. Then we build the bookkeeping system, including document flow and chart of accounts. Ongoing posting with reporting follows, and at year end we prepare the accounts, the return and the submission.

What is not included

No case specific tax advice and no binding representations to the authorities. Audits, opinions and representation are delivered exclusively by licensed partners under their own engagement. Your personal tax position in your country of residence is also outside this setup.

Who this is not for

Not for you if receipts stay in a shoebox or if you expect numbers to be adjusted after the fact. It also does not fit if the company exists only on paper while the business is genuinely run from somewhere else. If honest bookkeeping is not the goal, we are the wrong partner.

Your next step

The Business Freedom Score shows in minutes where your structure and your compliance stand. If deadlines are already pressing, a call is the faster route. Either way you leave with a clear order of actions.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to register for corporate tax if the company made no profit?

Yes. Registration with the Federal Tax Authority is required regardless of the result, and the return must be filed even when the tax due is zero.

Is my free zone company still tax free?

Not automatically. The 0 percent rate only applies to qualifying income of a Qualifying Free Zone Person with adequate substance in the UAE, otherwise the standard rate applies.

When is the corporate tax return due?

Within nine months after the end of the relevant financial year. Late registration or late filing triggers penalties.

Do I need a VAT registration?

That depends on your taxable supplies in the UAE. There is a mandatory threshold and a lower voluntary one, and we check both during onboarding.

Does my company need audited accounts?

It depends on the free zone, the size of the business and the tax status. Some free zones require an audit in any case, in other situations the duty follows from the corporate tax rules.

Can you catch up on several missed years?

Yes, that is the most common starting point. We work through the backlog in a structured way and then move you onto a running process.