Tax Agency Service UAE — FTA Licensed Tax Agent TAN 30003958 Abdelhamid & Co CPA

Tax Agency Service — FTA Licensed Tax Agent in UAE | Abdelhamid & Co CPA

Quick answer: Abdelhamid & Co CPA operates as both a licensed Tax Agency (TAAN: 20033908) and a registered Tax Agent (TAN: 30003958) authorised by the Federal Tax Authority — providing full legal representation of taxable persons before the FTA in all VAT, Excise Tax, and Corporate Tax matters, from registration and return filing through audit management and reconsideration requests, under Federal Decree-Law No. 28 of 2022 on Tax Procedures and Cabinet Decision No. 74 of 2023 (Executive Regulations). A licensed Tax Agent is the only party permitted by UAE law to formally represent you, sign returns on your behalf, receive official FTA notices, and present your case at reconsideration and Tax Dispute Resolution Committee hearings.

Abdelhamid & Co Certified Public Accountants & Auditors LLC is fully authorised to act before the Federal Tax Authority: Ministry of Economy licence LC0106-01 | Licensed Auditor Registry No. 956 | Tax Agent TAN: 30003958 | Tax Agency TAAN: 20033908 | EAAA Fellow No. 124 | IASCA Fellow No. 1361 | over 25 years of professional experience. See our full VAT & Excise Tax Services overview or learn about our firm.

What Is a Tax Agent and Why Does It Matter in UAE?

A Tax Agent is a natural person licensed by the FTA and registered on the official Tax Agent Register under Federal Decree-Law No. 28 of 2022, holding full legal authority to represent a taxable person before the Federal Tax Authority — signing returns, accessing the taxpayer's FTA portal, receiving official notices, attending audit meetings, and submitting reconsideration requests. UAE law distinguishes between: a Tax Agent (TAN) — a licensed individual; a Tax Agency (TAAN) — a licensed firm; and a Tax Consultant — an unlicensed advisor with no right of formal representation. Abdelhamid & Co CPA holds both TAN and TAAN credentials, providing legally authorised representation in either capacity. Every FTA statutory deadline is managed proactively, eliminating the risk of forfeited objection rights or penalty exposure under Cabinet Decision No. 129 of 2025.

Legal Framework — UAE Tax Agency Law

  • Federal Decree-Law No. 28 of 2022 on Tax Procedures — The primary statute: Article 14 establishes the Tax Agent Register and eligibility criteria; Article 15 defines Tax Agent rights and obligations; Article 43 grants taxable persons and agents 20 working days to submit reconsideration requests against FTA decisions; Article 10 provides the voluntary disclosure mechanism.
  • Cabinet Decision No. 74 of 2023 (Executive Regulations for Tax Procedures) — Prescribes procedural rules for Tax Agent registration, renewal, and conduct before the FTA, including documentation standards and authorisation requirements for the EmaraTax power of attorney.
  • Cabinet Decision No. 129 of 2025 on Administrative Penalties (effective April 2026) — Unified penalty structure: 2% immediate surcharge on unpaid tax at due date plus 4% per month on remaining balance; first late-filing penalty AED 1,000, repeat within 24 months AED 2,000; first late-registration penalty AED 10,000.
  • Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2017 on Value Added Tax — Defines VAT obligations within which the Tax Agent acts: mandatory registration threshold AED 375,000; voluntary threshold AED 187,500; return filing deadline 28th of the month following the tax period.
  • Federal Decree-Law No. 7 of 2017 on Excise Tax — Governs Excise Tax obligations of importers, producers, warehouse keepers, and stockpilers; Tax Agent represents all registered excise persons.
  • Federal Law No. 47 of 2022 on Corporate Tax — Extended Tax Agent representation scope to Corporate Tax registration, return filing, assessment challenges, and FTA correspondence under the CT regime.
  • Cabinet Decision No. 40 of 2017 on Administrative Penalties for Violations — 5-year records-retention requirement; AED 10,000 first-offence late-registration penalty; AED 50,000 on repeat.

Key Facts — Tax Agent & Tax Agency in UAE

  • Tax Agent Number (TAN): 30003958 — registered on the FTA Tax Agent Register (individual)
  • Tax Agency Number (TAAN): 20033908 — licensed Tax Agency registered with the Federal Tax Authority (firm)
  • Ministry of Economy License: LC0106-01
  • MOE Working Auditors Register: No. 956
  • EAAA Fellow: No. 124 | IASCA Fellow: No. 1361
  • Professional experience: Over 25 years, specialising in UAE tax agency since VAT implementation in January 2018
  • Reconsideration window: 20 working days from FTA decision — Article 43, Federal Decree-Law No. 28 of 2022
  • Late-filing penalty (first offence): AED 1,000 — Cabinet Decision No. 129 of 2025
  • Late-registration penalty (first offence): AED 10,000 — Cabinet Decision No. 40 of 2017
  • Records retention: 5 years — Cabinet Decision No. 40 of 2017
  • Verify our registration: Federal Tax Authority — tax.gov.ae

Our Tax Agency Service Lines

1. Full Legal Representation Before the FTA

We act as your legally authorised representative before the Federal Tax Authority in all tax matters. A formal power of attorney is registered on EmaraTax, authorising us to receive official FTA notices on your behalf, access your FTA taxpayer account, submit and amend returns, attend audit meetings, respond to queries, and sign all FTA correspondence. All deadlines under Federal Decree-Law No. 28 of 2022 are managed proactively — eliminating the risk of missed deadlines and penalty exposure under Cabinet Decision No. 129 of 2025.

2. Tax Registration & De-registration

We manage the complete FTA registration process for VAT (mandatory: AED 375,000; voluntary: AED 187,500), Excise Tax (importers, producers, warehouse keepers, stockpilers), and Corporate Tax (all UAE-resident juridical persons). Tax Group registration — where multiple related entities elect to file as a single taxable person — is also within our scope. For de-registration, we verify all legal conditions and confirm no outstanding returns, liabilities, or audit flags exist before submission. Failure to register within 30 days of crossing the mandatory threshold incurs AED 10,000 under Cabinet Decision No. 40 of 2017.

3. Periodic Return Filing — VAT, Excise Tax & Corporate Tax

We prepare and submit quarterly VAT returns (28th of the month following the period-end), monthly or quarterly Excise Tax returns covering imports, production, designated-zone releases, and stockpiled quantities, and annual Corporate Tax returns under Federal Law No. 47 of 2022. Our filing process includes: full reconciliation against accounting ledgers and ERP data, validation of input tax claims against original tax invoices per FTA VATP036, computation of net payable or refundable positions, client sign-off, and electronic submission via EmaraTax.

4. FTA Audit Management

When the FTA issues a tax audit notification, we take over as the primary point of contact. We prepare a comprehensive audit response file — organising all required records, reconciling the periods under review, and identifying errors that should be disclosed proactively. We attend all audit meetings, present the technical and legal arguments supporting your position, and manage every interaction with the FTA audit team to minimise assessment exposure and penalty liability under Cabinet Decision No. 129 of 2025.

5. Reconsideration Requests & FTA Objections

Article 43 of Federal Decree-Law No. 28 of 2022 grants taxable persons 20 working days from the date of an FTA decision to submit a formal reconsideration request. Missing this deadline forfeits the right to object — regardless of legal merit. We draft the grounds, compile supporting evidence, and submit the reconsideration within the statutory window. If the FTA upholds its position, we advise on escalation to the Tax Dispute Resolution Committee (TDRC) and, where warranted, Federal Court proceedings.

6. Voluntary Disclosure

Where historical errors exist in filed returns — under-declared output tax, over-claimed input tax, or incorrect Excise Tax calculations — Article 10 of Federal Decree-Law No. 28 of 2022 provides the voluntary disclosure mechanism. Proactive disclosure before the FTA initiates an audit materially reduces the applicable penalty compared to the 50% first-detection rate. We quantify the corrected liability, compute accrued surcharges under Cabinet Decision No. 129 of 2025, draft the disclosure form on EmaraTax, and coordinate payment to achieve maximum penalty mitigation.

7. Ongoing Tax Advisory & Compliance Monitoring

As your retained Tax Agent, we provide continuous advisory covering: supply classification reviews (standard-rated, zero-rated, exempt), transfer pricing documentation support, assessment of VAT and Corporate Tax impact of new business structures before execution, monitoring of all FTA public clarifications and new Cabinet or Ministerial Decisions, and immediate response to ad hoc tax queries. Every legislative change is applied to your compliance programme as it takes effect — without waiting for the next filing cycle.

How We Manage the Tax Agency Relationship

  1. Power of Attorney Registration — We prepare the formal Tax Agency agreement and register it on EmaraTax, establishing our legal authority to act on your behalf before the FTA.
  2. Tax Position Assessment — We review all existing tax obligations, filed returns, open periods, and FTA correspondence to map the current compliance position and identify immediate risks.
  3. Compliance Calendar Setup — We establish a structured filing calendar covering all return due dates, payment deadlines, and registration renewal dates, with advance notification to you for required data.
  4. Proactive Communication — Every FTA notice or assessment is immediately actioned within the statutory deadline. You are informed of every development — no deadline is missed.
  5. Periodic Reporting — We provide regular compliance reports summarising filed returns, payments made, open matters, and forward-looking tax planning recommendations.

When Do You Need a Licensed Tax Agent?

1. You Have Received an FTA Audit Notification

A tax audit notification triggers a strict response process. Dealing directly with the FTA audit team without a licensed Tax Agent significantly increases the risk of preventable assessments and penalties. Our Tax Agent manages the complete audit — preparing the response file, attending meetings, presenting technical defences, and negotiating the outcome to minimise liability exposure.

2. You Have Received an FTA Assessment or Penalty Notice

Article 43 of Federal Decree-Law No. 28 of 2022 gives exactly 20 working days from the FTA decision to file a reconsideration request. Missing this window forfeits the right to challenge the assessment permanently. This is the single most common reason businesses lose valid objections — and a Tax Agent prevents it by immediately actioning every incoming FTA notice.

3. You Have Identified Prior-Period Errors

Errors discovered in previously filed returns — over-claimed input tax, under-declared output tax, or incorrect Excise Tax reporting — should be corrected by voluntary disclosure under Article 10 of Federal Decree-Law No. 28 of 2022 before the FTA detects them in audit. The penalty differential between proactive disclosure and FTA-initiated detection is substantial: early disclosure before an audit opens consistently produces significantly better outcomes.

4. Your Business Involves Complex Tax Positions

Tax Group registration, transactions triggering reverse-charge obligations on imported services, cross-border restructuring, Qualifying Free Zone Person status assessments, and related-party transfer pricing require a licensed Tax Agent who can engage directly with the FTA at a technical level and present written positions on complex legal questions.

5. You Lack Internal Tax Expertise

Small and medium-sized businesses without a dedicated internal tax function benefit most from a retained Tax Agent who manages all periodic VAT, Excise Tax, and Corporate Tax obligations — from registration through return filing — ensuring continuous compliance without diverting management bandwidth to complex regulatory requirements.

Costly Errors That a Licensed Tax Agent Prevents

1. Missing FTA Response Deadlines

Every FTA notice carries a statutory response window. Failing to respond within the prescribed period constitutes implicit acceptance of the FTA's position or forfeits the right to challenge. A Tax Agent monitors all incoming FTA communications via EmaraTax and acts within every statutory deadline — preventing the loss of valid objection rights through administrative inaction.

2. Late Reconsideration After Assessments

The 20-working-day window under Article 43 of Federal Decree-Law No. 28 of 2022 is absolute. Once missed, the assessment becomes final and enforceable regardless of its legal merit. Businesses without a Tax Agent commonly lose valid objections purely due to deadline failure — a recoverable situation that our proactive notice management prevents entirely.

3. Incorrect Supply Classification on Returns

Misclassifying a zero-rated supply as exempt, or a taxable supply as zero-rated, creates systematic under-declaration that the FTA identifies in audit. A Tax Agent reviews classification before each filing cycle, catching and correcting errors before they appear in a filed return — eliminating assessment risk at source.

4. Failing to Disclose Errors Before FTA Audit

Errors discovered by the FTA in an audit attract the higher 50% first-detection penalty rate. Proactive voluntary disclosure under Article 10 of Federal Decree-Law No. 28 of 2022 materially reduces the penalty — but only if filed before the FTA initiates the audit. Once an audit notification is issued, voluntary disclosure rates no longer apply.

5. Non-Compliant Records Blocking Input Tax Claims

Tax invoices missing any mandatory field under FTA VATP036 cannot support input tax recovery. Cabinet Decision No. 40 of 2017 also requires 5-year record retention — inadequate records expose the business to AED 10,000–50,000 penalties and inability to defend input tax positions in audit. A Tax Agent implements document control standards that prevent both issues.

Why Choose Abdelhamid & Co as Your Tax Agent?

  • FTA-Licensed Tax Agency and Tax Agent — TAAN: 20033908 | TAN: 30003958 — verifiable on the FTA's official tax agent register at tax.gov.ae.
  • Ministry of Economy Licensed Auditor — LC0106-01 | Licensed Auditor Registry No. 956.
  • Certified professional credentials — EAAA Fellow No. 124 | IASCA Fellow No. 1361.
  • Over 25 years of professional experience — specialising in UAE indirect and direct tax agency since VAT implementation in January 2018.
  • Full-scope representation — VAT, Excise Tax, and Corporate Tax registration, returns, audits, reconsideration, and TDRC proceedings.
  • Documented track record — in reducing penalties and successfully resolving reconsideration cases before the FTA and TDRC.
  • Proactive legislative monitoring — every FTA public clarification, new Cabinet Decision, or Ministerial Decision is applied to your compliance programme at issuance.
  • Free initial consultation — we assess your current tax position and compliance gaps at no cost before any commitment.

Frequently Asked Questions — Tax Agency Service

What is the difference between a Tax Agent and a Tax Agency in UAE?

Under Federal Decree-Law No. 28 of 2022, a Tax Agent (TAN) is a natural person licensed by the FTA and registered on the Tax Agent Register — authorised to represent taxable persons in their individual capacity. A Tax Agency (TAAN) is a legal entity licensed by the FTA to perform the same representation functions at the firm level. Abdelhamid & Co CPA holds both: TAN 30003958 (individual Tax Agent) and TAAN 20033908 (Tax Agency), enabling legal representation in either capacity before the FTA.

What is the difference between a Tax Agent and a Tax Consultant?

A Tax Agent is licensed by the Federal Tax Authority, registered on the official Tax Agent Register, and holds full legal authority to represent a taxable person before the FTA — signing returns, receiving notices, attending audits, and submitting reconsideration requests. A Tax Consultant provides advisory opinions but holds no legal standing to formally represent a client before the FTA in assessments, reconsideration hearings, or TDRC proceedings. Where formal FTA representation is required, only a licensed Tax Agent or Tax Agency can act.

What are the legal powers of a Tax Agent under UAE law?

Under Federal Decree-Law No. 28 of 2022 and Cabinet Decision No. 74 of 2023, a Tax Agent holds authority to: submit and amend VAT, Excise Tax, and Corporate Tax returns; apply for registration and de-registration; access the taxable person's full FTA taxpayer account; receive all official FTA notices; submit reconsideration requests under Article 43; attend FTA audit meetings and respond to audit queries; and request tax refunds. The specific powers granted are defined in the formal power of attorney registered on EmaraTax.

Is it legally required to appoint a Tax Agent to file VAT returns?

No. Taxable persons may file VAT returns directly via EmaraTax without a Tax Agent. However, a licensed Tax Agent is the only party legally authorised to formally represent you before the FTA in assessments, reconsideration hearings, Tax Dispute Resolution Committee proceedings, and Federal Court tax litigation. For businesses facing FTA audits, disputed assessments, or penalty challenges, Tax Agent representation is practically essential and, in formal proceedings, legally required.

What is the deadline to challenge an FTA tax assessment or penalty?

Article 43 of Federal Decree-Law No. 28 of 2022 sets a strict 20-working-day window from the date of the FTA decision to submit a formal reconsideration request. This deadline is absolute — missing it forfeits the right to challenge regardless of legal merit. If the FTA upholds the decision, escalation to the Tax Dispute Resolution Committee is available within a further 20 business days. Engaging a Tax Agent immediately upon receipt of any FTA notice is essential to meeting this window.

Can we switch Tax Agents if we are already represented?

Yes. A taxable person may terminate an existing Tax Agency agreement and appoint a new Tax Agent at any time. The process requires submitting an update request through EmaraTax to revoke the existing agent's authorisation and register the new agent's power of attorney. We manage the complete transfer — including reviewing open FTA matters, pending deadlines, and outstanding correspondence from the prior representation — to ensure no continuity gap in statutory deadline coverage.

How does a Tax Agent add value when we already have an internal accounting team?

A Tax Agent complements rather than replaces an internal team. The internal team handles day-to-day bookkeeping and data preparation; the Tax Agent provides: pre-filing review of every return to catch classification errors before submission; legal representation in all FTA-facing matters; immediate response to FTA notices within statutory deadlines; proactive voluntary disclosure advice when errors are identified; and continuous legislative monitoring. This division reduces legal risk without duplicating routine accounting work.

What does the Tax Agency service cost?

Fees are structured based on the number of annual returns across all tax types (VAT, Excise Tax, Corporate Tax), the complexity of transactions, and the scope of representation required. We provide a tailored fee proposal after a complimentary initial consultation. In most engagements, the penalties avoided through timely filing, correct classification, and proactive voluntary disclosure — together with the surcharges prevented under Cabinet Decision No. 129 of 2025 — significantly exceed the service cost.

Contact Our Tax Agency Team

For a free initial consultation and to activate Tax Agent representation for your business, contact us:

Abdelhamid & Co Certified Public Accountants & Auditors LLC — UAE Ministry of Economy Licence LC0106-01 | Federal Tax Authority Tax Agent TAN: 30003958 | Tax Agency TAAN: 20033908 | EAAA Fellow No. 124 | IASCA Fellow No. 1361

Abdelhamid M. Abdelhamid — Partner & Managing Director
Abdelhamid & Co Certified Public Accountants & Auditors LLC
EAAA Fellow No. 124 | IASCA Fellow No. 1361
UAE Ministry of Economy — Local Auditor Registry LC0106-01 | Licensed Auditor No. 956
Federal Tax Authority — Tax Agent TAN: 30003958 | Tax Agency TAAN: 20033908
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Last reviewed: 28 April 2026 — updated to reflect Federal Decree-Law No. 28 of 2022 on Tax Procedures, Cabinet Decision No. 74 of 2023 (Executive Regulations), and Cabinet Decision No. 129 of 2025 penalty schedule (effective April 2026).

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Email: info@abdelhamidcpa.com

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