Corporate Tax Services UAE — Registration Returns Planning Abdelhamid & Co CPA

Corporate Tax Services in the UAE — Registration, Returns, Planning, and FTA Representation

Quick answer: UAE Corporate Tax applies at 9% on taxable profits above AED 375,000 for financial years beginning on or after 1 June 2023, under Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022. Qualifying Free Zone Persons may benefit from a 0% rate on qualifying income if economic-substance and income-type conditions are met. Tax returns must be filed within 9 months of the financial year end. Abdelhamid & Co CPA LLC — registered Tax Agent TAN: 30003958 — handles registration, annual returns, transfer-pricing documentation, tax-group filings, and FTA audit representation across UAE mainland, free zones, DIFC, and ADGM.

Abdelhamid & Co Certified Public Accountants & Auditors LLC provides comprehensive corporate tax services backed by full regulatory authorisation: 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. We have been serving UAE businesses since the VAT era (2018) and have been advising on Corporate Tax since the law's enactment in 2022. Visit the Federal Tax Authority and Ministry of Finance for official guidance.

UAE Corporate Tax — Overview and Scope

Corporate Tax in the UAE came into effect for financial years beginning on or after 1 June 2023. It applies to juridical persons licensed in the UAE, natural persons conducting a Business or Business Activity with annual revenues above AED 1 million, and non-resident persons with a Permanent Establishment or UAE-sourced income. The standard rate is 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000; income at or below AED 375,000 is subject to a 0% rate.

Qualifying Free Zone Persons (QFZPs) may benefit from a 0% rate on qualifying income provided they satisfy the economic-substance conditions under Ministerial Decision No. 97 of 2023, their qualifying income meets the criteria in Cabinet Decision No. 100 of 2023, and they appear on the qualifying free-zones list in Cabinet Decision No. 55 of 2023. Businesses with revenue at or below AED 3 million may qualify for Small Business Relief under Cabinet Decision No. 49 of 2023. The FTA and Ministry of Finance issue implementing decisions and public clarifications on a rolling basis — ongoing professional monitoring is essential.

UAE Corporate Tax Legal Framework

  • Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 on Corporate Tax — The primary statute: defines taxable persons, taxable income, exempt income, allowable deductions, tax-group provisions, loss carry-forward rules, and anti-avoidance measures.
  • Federal Decree-Law No. 28 of 2022 on Tax Procedures — Articles 25, 30, 43, and 72 — Art. 25: FTA tax-audit authority; Art. 30: 7-year records-retention obligation; Art. 43: 40-working-day window to object to FTA assessments; Art. 72: 5-year limitation period for tax claims.
  • Cabinet Decision No. 116 of 2022 — Exempt Persons — Lists categories of persons exempt from Corporate Tax, including qualifying government entities, extractive businesses, qualifying public-benefit entities, and qualifying investment funds.
  • Cabinet Decision No. 49 of 2023 — Small Business Relief — Allows eligible taxable persons with revenue not exceeding AED 3 million per tax period to elect to be treated as having zero taxable income, subject to conditions and anti-avoidance rules.
  • Cabinet Decision No. 55 of 2023 — List of Qualifying Free Zones — Designates the free zones whose resident persons may qualify for the 0% QFZP rate.
  • Cabinet Decision No. 100 of 2023 — Qualifying Income and De Minimis — Defines qualifying income for QFZPs, sets the de minimis threshold (5% of total revenue or AED 5 million, whichever is lower) for non-qualifying income that does not disqualify QFZP status.
  • Ministerial Decision No. 97 of 2023 — Qualifying Free Zone Persons — Specifies the economic-substance requirements, adequate-nexus conditions, and outsourcing rules for QFZP status.
  • Ministerial Decision No. 221 of 2023 — Transfer Pricing — Requires arm's-length pricing on related-party and connected-person transactions, and mandates a Local File, Master File, and Country-by-Country Report (CbCR) for entities meeting the prescribed thresholds.
  • Cabinet Decision No. 129 of 2025 — Administrative Penalties (effective April 2026) — Updated penalty schedule replacing Cabinet Decision No. 49 of 2021: late registration, late filing, record-keeping failures, and inaccurate returns each carry defined penalty amounts. Early compliance verification materially reduces exposure.
  • OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines (incorporated by reference) — MD 221/2023 adopts the OECD arm's-length principle and documentation standards as the operative framework for UAE transfer pricing.

Key Facts — UAE Corporate Tax at a Glance

  • Standard rate: 9% on taxable profits above AED 375,000 per year.
  • Zero rate: 0% on taxable profits up to AED 375,000 (and on qualifying QFZP income).
  • Effective from: Financial years beginning on or after 1 June 2023.
  • Return filing deadline: 9 months from the end of the financial year.
  • Small Business Relief threshold: AED 3 million revenue per tax period (CD 49/2023).
  • QFZP de minimis: Non-qualifying income ≤ 5% of total revenue or AED 5 million (CD 100/2023).
  • Loss carry-forward: Up to 75% of taxable income in any one year; no carry-back.
  • Records-retention obligation: 7 years from end of the relevant tax period (Art. 30 FDL 28/2022).
  • Late-registration penalty: AED 10,000 (CD 129/2025).
  • Late-filing penalty: AED 500 per month for the first 12 months, AED 1,000 per month thereafter (CD 129/2025).
  • FTA objection window: 40 working days from receiving an FTA decision (Art. 43 FDL 28/2022).

Our Corporate Tax Services

Corporate Tax Registration

We assess your registration obligation under Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 — including first-period start date, financial year alignment, and free-zone QFZP eligibility — and manage the complete registration process with the FTA to obtain your Corporate Tax Registration Number (CTRN). We prepare all required documentation, coordinate with the FTA portal, and advise management on ongoing compliance obligations from registration onwards. Late registration carries an AED 10,000 penalty under Cabinet Decision No. 129 of 2025.

Annual Corporate Tax Return Preparation and Filing

Our specialist team prepares the annual Corporate Tax return in compliance with FTA requirements, covering: income classification (taxable, exempt, qualifying QFZP), allowable deduction analysis, Small Business Relief election assessment, loss carry-forward scheduling, related-party disclosure, and transfer-pricing consistency. The completed return is reviewed with management before electronic submission within the 9-month filing window. All supporting records are archived for the 7-year retention period required by Article 30 of Federal Decree-Law No. 28 of 2022.

Strategic Corporate Tax Planning

We identify lawful tax-minimisation opportunities within the Corporate Tax framework: optimising loss carry-forward scheduling (up to 75% of taxable income per year), assessing Small Business Relief eligibility under Cabinet Decision No. 49 of 2023, evaluating QFZP qualification and income-type structuring under Cabinet Decision No. 100 of 2023, and reviewing intra-group transaction structures for arm's-length compliance under Ministerial Decision No. 221 of 2023. All planning is documented and implemented within the bounds of the anti-avoidance provisions in FDL 47/2022.

Transfer Pricing Documentation and Compliance

Under Ministerial Decision No. 221 of 2023, related-party and connected-person transactions must be priced at arm's length in accordance with OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines. We prepare: Local File (entity-level related-party transaction analysis), Master File (group-level overview), and Country-by-Country Report (CbCR) where thresholds are met. Transfer-pricing positions are documented in advance of any FTA audit, providing a defensible record for the 40-working-day objection window under Article 43 of FDL 28/2022.

Tax Groups and Consolidated Filing

Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 permits UAE-resident group companies to form a Tax Group and file a single consolidated Corporate Tax return, provided the parent holds at least 95% of the shares and voting rights of each subsidiary, all members use the same financial year, and none is a QFZP or exempt person. We assess Tax Group eligibility, manage the formation application, prepare the consolidated return, and coordinate intra-group loss allocation — simplifying compliance and reducing administrative cost across the group.

FTA Tax Audit Representation and Dispute Resolution

As a registered Tax Agent (TAN: 30003958), we represent your business before the FTA in tax audit proceedings initiated under Article 25 of Federal Decree-Law No. 28 of 2022. We prepare technical responses to FTA queries, compile supporting documentation, and manage the audit timeline. If an FTA assessment is issued, we advise on and file a formal objection within the 40-working-day window under Article 43, and — where the objection is unsuccessful — support applications to the Tax Disputes Resolution Committee (TDRC) and the Federal Courts.

Our Six-Step Corporate Tax Engagement Approach

  1. Initial Assessment: We analyse your legal structure, financial year, revenue streams, and free-zone status to determine registration obligations, applicable rate, QFZP or Small Business Relief eligibility, and transfer-pricing exposure.
  2. Registration and Policy Setup: We register the entity with the FTA, establish an internal tax-accounting policy aligned with FDL 47/2022, and set up records-management procedures meeting the 7-year retention requirement of Art. 30 FDL 28/2022.
  3. Quarterly Financial Review: We review financial records quarterly to verify income classification, deduction eligibility, and related-party transaction documentation — catching issues before year-end rather than at filing time.
  4. Annual Return Preparation: We prepare the Corporate Tax return, including all required disclosures, related-party schedules, and transfer-pricing consistency checks, and present it to management for review before filing.
  5. Filing and Archiving: We submit the return electronically within the 9-month deadline and archive all supporting documents in a retrievable format for the mandatory 7-year period.
  6. Ongoing Advisory and Legislative Monitoring: We monitor FTA public clarifications, Cabinet Decisions, and Ministerial Decisions on a continuing basis and notify clients of changes that affect their tax position.

Why Choose Abdelhamid & Co for Corporate Tax?

  • Registered Tax Agent — TAN: 30003958 / TAAN: 20033908 — authorised to represent clients before the FTA
  • Ministry of Economy Licensed — LC0106-01 | Licensed Auditor Registry No. 956
  • EAAA Fellow No. 124 | IASCA Fellow No. 1361
  • Continuous UAE tax experience since VAT implementation in 2018 and Corporate Tax since 2022
  • Full-spectrum service: registration, returns, planning, transfer pricing, tax groups, and FTA dispute representation — all in-house
  • QFZP and free-zone specialist: Sharjah, JAFZA, DAFZA, RAKEZ, SAIF Zone, DIFC, ADGM, and other designated free zones
  • Transfer-pricing documentation to MD 221/2023 and OECD standards, defensible in FTA audit and TDRC proceedings

Frequently Asked Questions — UAE Corporate Tax

Who must register for UAE Corporate Tax?

Every juridical person (company or establishment) licensed in the UAE must register, regardless of profit level. Natural persons conducting a Business or Business Activity with annual revenue above AED 1 million must also register. Non-resident persons with a Permanent Establishment in the UAE, or with UAE-sourced income subject to withholding tax, are equally required to register. Free-zone companies that do not satisfy QFZP conditions must register under the standard regime. Late registration carries an AED 10,000 penalty under Cabinet Decision No. 129 of 2025.

Are free-zone companies exempt from UAE Corporate Tax?

Free-zone companies are not automatically exempt. A Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) — as defined in Ministerial Decision No. 97 of 2023 and operating in a designated free zone listed in Cabinet Decision No. 55 of 2023 — benefits from a 0% rate on qualifying income only. Qualifying income is defined in Cabinet Decision No. 100 of 2023. Income derived from transactions with UAE mainland customers, or non-qualifying income exceeding the 5%/AED 5M de minimis, is taxed at the standard 9% rate. QFZP status also requires meeting economic-substance conditions under MD 97/2023.

What is the deadline for filing the Corporate Tax return?

The Corporate Tax return must be filed within 9 months of the end of the financial year. For a financial year ending 31 December 2023, the deadline is 30 September 2024. Late filing attracts a penalty of AED 500 per month for the first 12 months and AED 1,000 per month thereafter under Cabinet Decision No. 129 of 2025, up to a maximum defined in the Decision.

What is transfer pricing and how does it apply to UAE Corporate Tax?

Transfer pricing rules under Ministerial Decision No. 221 of 2023 require that transactions between related parties and connected persons — including loans, services, royalties, and tangible-goods transactions — be priced at arm's length in accordance with OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines. Entities meeting the prescribed thresholds must prepare a Local File, Master File, and CbCR. The FTA can adjust taxable income to reflect arm's-length prices if documentation is absent or inadequate, with resulting assessments subject to the 40-working-day objection window under Article 43 of FDL 28/2022.

Can tax losses be carried forward to future years?

Yes. Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 permits tax losses to be carried forward indefinitely and offset against future taxable income, subject to a cap of 75% of taxable income in any one tax period. Carry-back of losses to prior periods is not permitted. Tax-group members may transfer losses between group companies under conditions set out in FDL 47/2022. Small Business Relief electors cannot carry forward losses during relief periods.

What qualifies for Small Business Relief under UAE Corporate Tax?

Under Cabinet Decision No. 49 of 2023, a UAE-resident taxable person may elect Small Business Relief if their revenue in the tax period — and in each preceding tax period since 1 June 2023 — does not exceed AED 3 million. The election treats the person as having zero taxable income for the period, subject to anti-avoidance provisions that deny relief where artificial arrangements are used to reduce revenue below the threshold. The AED 3 million limit applies until 31 December 2026 unless extended by further Cabinet Decision.

How is the financial year determined for Corporate Tax purposes?

The financial year follows the entity's constitutional documents or licence, and need not align with the calendar year. The first tax period may be shorter or longer than 12 months if the entity was incorporated or commenced business mid-year. The FTA must be notified of the financial year at registration. Changing the financial year after registration requires FTA approval. We advise on the optimal financial-year choice at registration stage to maximise any transition-period advantages.

What happens if the FTA disagrees with our Corporate Tax return?

If the FTA issues an amended assessment following a tax audit under Article 25 of FDL 28/2022, you have 40 working days from receipt of the decision to file a formal objection under Article 43. If the objection is rejected, the matter may be referred to the Tax Disputes Resolution Committee (TDRC) and, ultimately, to the Federal Courts. As a registered Tax Agent, we represent clients throughout this process — from preparing the objection file to appearing before the TDRC — and advise on penalty abatement under Cabinet Decision No. 129 of 2025.

Contact Our Corporate Tax Team

For a free consultation and corporate tax obligation assessment, contact us today:

  • WhatsApp & Mobile: +971 50 794 8028
  • Direct Line: +971 6 528 9414
  • Address: Sharjah — Al Qasimia — Imran Tower — Office 302

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

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About Our Firm

Abdelhamid M. Abdelhamid — Certified Public Accountant and Registered Tax Agent, Abdelhamid & Co CPA LLC, licensed by the Ministry of Economy (LC0106-01) and the Federal Tax Authority (TAN: 30003958). Credentials: EAAA Fellow No. 124 | IASCA Fellow No. 1361 | Licensed Auditor No. 956. Advising UAE businesses on VAT since 2018 and Corporate Tax since 2022.

Last updated: 28 April 2026 — Reflects Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 (Corporate Tax), Federal Decree-Law No. 28 of 2022 (Tax Procedures), Cabinet Decision No. 116 of 2022 (Exempt Persons), Cabinet Decision No. 49 of 2023 (Small Business Relief), Cabinet Decision No. 55 of 2023 (Qualifying Free Zones), Cabinet Decision No. 100 of 2023 (Qualifying Income), Ministerial Decision No. 97 of 2023 (QFZP), Ministerial Decision No. 221 of 2023 (Transfer Pricing), and Cabinet Decision No. 129 of 2025 (Administrative Penalties).

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Mobile\WhatsApp: 0507948028

Phone: 065610040

Email: info@abdelhamidcpa.com

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