The UAE Corporate Tax Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022) requires all eligible businesses to file annual corporate tax returns. Essence Accounting's FTA-approved team ensures accurate, deadline-driven filing — handling financial preparation, taxable income calculation, and EmaraTax portal submission on your behalf.
The UAE introduced corporate tax effective June 1, 2023, governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022. This landmark legislation requires all eligible UAE businesses to calculate their taxable income, file annual corporate tax returns, and pay any tax due to the Federal Tax Authority (FTA).
Corporate tax applies to juridical persons incorporated in the UAE, foreign entities effectively managed from the UAE, and natural persons conducting business with annual turnover exceeding AED 1 million. The standard rate is 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000, with a 0% rate for income at or below this threshold.
Filing a corporate tax return is mandatory even if your taxable income is zero, if you qualify for Small Business Relief, or if you are a Qualifying Free Zone Person. Non-filing carries significant monthly penalties.
| Taxable Income / Entity Type | Applicable Tax Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Taxable income up to AED 375,000 | 0% | Applies to all taxable persons |
| Taxable income above AED 375,000 | 9% | Standard corporate tax rate |
| Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) — Qualifying Income | 0% | Must meet substance requirements; still must file |
| Qualifying Free Zone Person — Non-Qualifying Income | 9% | Applied to income not meeting qualifying criteria |
| Small Business Relief (SBR) Eligible | 0% (elected) | Revenue below AED 3M; must elect; still must file |
| Large Multinationals (Pillar Two — OECD) | 15% (minimum) | Groups with global revenue > EUR 750M |
The filing deadline is calculated from your financial year end. Here are common examples:
Failing to file on time attracts escalating monthly penalties:
We review your trial balance, general ledger, and chart of accounts to prepare IFRS-compliant financial statements (mandatory for revenue exceeding AED 50M). For smaller businesses, we prepare management accounts as the basis for your CT return.
We calculate your taxable income by making mandatory CT adjustments: adding back non-deductible expenses, applying exempt income exclusions, calculating interest limitation deductions, and assessing transfer pricing adjustments for related-party transactions.
We identify all applicable deductions and elections: Small Business Relief eligibility, qualifying donations, depreciation allowances, brought-forward tax losses, and transitional relief provisions that can reduce your effective tax burden.
We file your corporate tax return directly through the FTA's EmaraTax portal with all supporting schedules, related-party disclosures, and transfer pricing documentation where required.
We confirm the tax payable amount and facilitate payment by the deadline. We handle any FTA assessment notices, queries, or audit correspondence on your behalf throughout the year.
Prepare these documents to ensure smooth and timely filing:
If your total revenue for the tax period is below AED 3 million, you may be eligible for Small Business Relief, which treats your taxable income as zero.
Officially registered FTA tax agency authorised to prepare and file corporate tax returns on behalf of UAE businesses.
We track every client's filing deadline and guarantee submission before the statutory due date — zero late penalties.
We identify every eligible deduction, relief, and election to minimise your effective tax rate within the legal framework.
If the FTA selects your return for review or audit, our team provides full representation and correspondence management.
Our FTA-approved team handles your entire corporate tax filing from financial preparation to EmaraTax submission — guaranteed on time, 100% compliant.
