Here are updates on the Corporate Income Tax registration procedures in the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE)!

The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) issued Cabinet Decision No. 85 of 2022 (dated 2 September 2022), setting new criteria for determining tax residency for juridical and natural persons, and this decision will be effective from 1 March 2023.

After the announcement of the introduction of Corporate Income Tax (CIT) and the publication of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on 31 January 2022, and the release of the Public Consultation Document in April 2022, the Corporate Income Tax (CIT) Law was finally released on 9 December 2022

The UAE has been considered a tax haven for many individuals and businesses, particularly due to its favourable tax regime. Aside from imposing no tax on personal income and personal assets, it only applies a 5% VAT on goods and services, and as low as 9% corporate tax—one of the lowest rates across the world! This is the reason why numerous entrepreneurs, the wealthy or high net worth individuals are drawn to this country. The government is keen to make doing business and living or retiring here as favourable as possible.

The UAE Corporate Income Tax has been introduced recently, and even though the law will be effective starting June 2023, it is crucial to get familiar with it and be ready for its implementation on time.

When we reflect on 2022, one of the defining features has been the marked increase in inflation across the globe. We have seen inflation impact all major economies in 2022, with key markets such as Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States recording their highest inflation rates in decades. Some of the key drivers have been the disruption in global supply chains of both food and energy due to the ongoing conflict in Europe, as well as the over stimulation of developed economies as a result of quantitative easing and other stimulus measures employed by governments to counteract the impact of the pandemic on global markets.

After the announcement of the introduction of Corporate Income Tax (CIT) and the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on 31 January 2022, and the release of the Public Consultation Document in April 2022, the Corporate Income Tax (CIT) Law has finally been published today (9 December 2022). The UAE CIT Law is Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 issued on 3 October 2022, and is effective 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette. The UAE CIT Law was published on 10 October 2022 in issue #737 of the UAE Official Gazette. The CIT law is applicable on business profits effective for financial years starting on or after 1 June 2023.

We are still awaiting the release of the Corporate Income Tax Law (CIT Law) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Meanwhile, there have been a slew of updates and amendments in the months of October and November 2022 in the UAE on the fronts of Income Tax, Value Added Tax (VAT) and Excise Tax. We try and cover the main amendments below.

International sports bodies typically insist on obtaining widespread tax exemptions as a precondition to awarding the hosting rights to a bidder.

As we approach 31 December 2022, the UAE and KSA will be celebrating 5 years of applying VAT. A rollercoaster ride for many in the region, authorities, advisers and in house tax managers.