SILVER STONE PARTNERS

Corporate Tax, Explained Simply
and Handled Completely

Navigate the UAE’s evolving tax landscape with precision. From registration to complex filing,
we ensure your business remains compliant while optimizing for growth.

Book a Free Corporate Tax Consultation

The Foundation of UAE Corporate Tax

Corporate tax is still new territory for a lot of business owners in the UAE, and the rules can feel like a lot to keep track of: registration deadlines, year-end accounts, annual returns, and — eventually — deregistration if your business closes or restructures. Missing any one step can mean fixed penalties from the Federal Tax Authority (FTA), even if you don’t actually owe any tax.

Silver Stone Partners manage the entire corporate tax journey for small and medium businesses in Dubai — in plain language, with nothing left for you to chase or guess at.

Corporate Tax Registration

Every business operating in the UAE must register for corporate tax with the FTA and obtain a Corporate Tax Registration Number —this applies even if you expect to pay zero tax.

The basics, in plain terms:

  • Corporate tax is charged at 0% on the first AED 375,000 of taxable income, and 9% on income above that
  • Free zone companies must still register, even if they qualify for the 0% rate on qualifying income
  • Individuals (freelancers, sole proprietors) whose UAE business turnover exceeds AED 1 million in a calendar year must also register
  • Registration is done online through the FTA's EmaraTax portal, and the deadline depends on your incorporation date

What we handle for you:

  • Confirm exactly when your business became liable to register, and file within the correct window
  • Prepare and submit your EmaraTax application with all required documents
  • Advise on Small Business Relief eligibility — available to qualifying businesses with revenue up to AED 3 million, letting you treat taxable income as zero for the period (currently available for tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2026)
  • Assess free zone status and whether your business can qualify as a Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP)

Why it matters:

Late registration carries a fixed AED 10,000 penalty. There is a relief route — filing your first corporate tax return within 7 months of your first tax period end can get this penalty waived or refunded — but it only works if it's handled correctly and on time.

Year-End Accounts Preparation Under IFRS

Your corporate tax return isn't a standalone form — it's built directly from your year-end financial statements. The FTA requires these to be prepared in line with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which means your bookkeeping throughout the year needs to support that standard, not just a basic ledger.

What's involved:

  • Preparing your balance sheet, profit & loss statement, and supporting schedules in IFRS format
  • Reconciling all income, expenses, and adjustments for the full financial year
  • Ensuring related-party transactions are properly documented if transfer pricing rules apply
  • Preparing audited financial statements where required (mandatory for businesses with revenue at or above AED 50 million, and often required to support QFZP claims)
  • Producing a finalised set of accounts that feeds directly and accurately into your corporate tax return — no last-minute reconciliation scramble

Why it matters:

If your year-end accounts aren’t properly prepared, your corporate tax return will inherit those errors — and correcting a return after filing is far more complicated than getting the accounts right the first time. This is also where our monthly bookkeeping and outsourced accounting services connect directly to your tax compliance, so nothing gets prepared twice.

Corporate Tax Return Filing

Once your accounts are finalised, your corporate tax return must be filed — and paid — within 9 months of your financial year-end. For most UAE businesses using a calendar year, that means a 30 September deadline each year.

Key things every SME should know:

  • Filing is mandatory even if your taxable income is within the 0% band, or you've elected Small Business Relief
  • Return and payment are treated as one combined obligation — filing without paying, or paying without filing, is still treated as non-compliant
  • There are generally no routine extensions, so planning ahead matters
  • Elections such as Small Business Relief must be made actively within the return — they are not applied automatically, and in some cases cannot be reversed once submitted

Our filing service includes:

  • Preparing and submitting your return through EmaraTax
  • Applying the correct tax treatment — standard rate, Small Business Relief, or QFZP qualifying income — based on your business's actual position
  • Reviewing allowable deductions to ensure you're not overpaying
  • Managing the filing and payment together, before your deadline, every year

Why it matters:

Late filing penalties start at AED 500 per month for the first 12 months and rise to AED 1,000 per month after that — and late payment attracts a separate 14% per annum penalty on the outstanding tax. These add up quickly and are entirely avoidable with a proper filing calendar.

Corporate Tax Deregistration

If your business closes, merges, is sold, or otherwise stops operating, corporate tax deregistration isn't automatic — you must formally apply, and there's a strict deadline to do it.

When deregistration is required:

  • Your business has ceased operations, been dissolved, or entered liquidation
  • Your company has been sold, merged, or restructured in a way that ends its status as a taxable person
  • The business has permanently stopped generating taxable income in the UAE

You must apply within 3 months of the event that triggers deregistration.

How we manage your deregistration:

  • Confirming the correct cessation date and basis for deregistration
  • Preparing and filing your final corporate tax return up to the cessation date
  • Settling any outstanding tax liabilities and administrative penalties — required before the FTA will approve deregistration
  • Submitting the deregistration application through EmaraTax with the correct supporting documentation
  • Following up until the FTA issues your tax clearance certificate

Why it matters:

Deregistration is not automatic — even if you cancel your trade license, your corporate tax registration stays active until the FTA formally closes it. Missing the 3-month window triggers penalties starting at AED 1,000 per month, up to a cap of AED 10,000, and your business remains liable for ongoing filing obligations in the meantime.

Why SMEs in Dubai Choose Silver Stone Partners for Corporate Tax

One Team, Start To Finish

Registration, year-end accounts, filing, and deregistration handled by people who already know your business, not a new advisor each time

Plain-Language Guidance

We explain what applies to your business and why, without burying you in tax jargon

Accounts & Tax Working Together

Because we also manage bookkeeping and IFRS-compliant accounts, your CT return is always built on numbers we already know are accurate

Deadline-Driven Process

A compliance calendar tracking every date that matters, so nothing is left to the last week

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Registration is mandatory for all taxable persons regardless of profit level — even businesses expecting to pay 0% tax under the AED 375,000 threshold or Small Business Relief must still register and file.
It’s a relief allowing qualifying businesses with revenue up to AED 3 million to treat their taxable income as zero for the period, simplifying compliance significantly. It must be actively elected — it doesn’t apply automatically — and isn’t available to free zone Qualifying Free Zone Persons or larger multinational group members.
Nine months after the end of your financial year. For most businesses following a calendar year ending 31 December, that’s a 30 September deadline the following year.
Your corporate tax registration stays active with the FTA even after your trade license is cancelled. You’ll continue to be expected to file returns and can accumulate penalties until you formally deregister.
Only certain businesses are required to have audited financials — generally those with revenue at or above AED 50 million, and some free zone companies claiming qualifying income status. Most SMEs need properly prepared IFRS accounts, but not necessarily an external audit.

In many cases, yes — the FTA has run a relief initiative allowing the AED 10,000 late-registration penalty to be waived or refunded if your first corporate tax return is filed within 7 months of your first tax period ending. We can check whether your business qualifies.

Ready To Secure Your Tax Position?

The UAE Corporate Tax landscape is complex. Don’t risk heavy penalties—partner with the experts who prioritize your business’s integrity.

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