Corporate Tax Deadlines in the UAE (2025)

For a comprehensive overview of Corporate Tax, check out our ultimate guide. It covers everything from its purpose and rates to exemptions and key details. Here are the essential facts about UAE Corporate Tax:

• CT in the UAE is a direct tax levied on a company's taxable income.
• Companies pay 9% tax on annual taxable income exceeding AED 375,000. This is a standard rate for all companies.
• Profits below AED 375,000 are taxed at 0% to support small businesses.
• The law applies to both UAE and foreign companies conducting business in the UAE (with specific conditions).
• Anyone engaged in "entrepreneurial activities" must register for Corporate Tax. The fine for late registration is AED 10,000.
• Even if your business is not making profit, you still need to register for Corporate Tax. This is mandatory.

The bottom line is clear: registration is required regardless of your profit level. Even if you end up owing zero tax, you must register to avoid penalties. Now, let's look at the deadlines.

The UAE’s Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has introduced different timelines for different types of taxpayers. In all cases, the registration deadline depends on when your Trade License was issued. Here’s a breakdown:

Why is it so important to get your taxes in on time? Well, it's simple – if you do, you'll avoid a lot of hassle and save yourself from having to pay hefty fines.

• AED 10,000 fine for missing the registration deadline.
• AED 10,000–20,000 for failure to maintain required accounting records.
• AED 20,000 if you not provide the required documents during a tax audit.
• AED 1,000—5,000 for failure to report tax record changes (for each case).
• Failure to file a tax return: AED 500 per month for the first 12 months, increasing to AED 1,000 per month afterward.
• Late payment penalty: 14% of the unpaid Corporate Tax liability.
• Incorrect tax return: AED 500 penalty for submitting inaccurate information.

Here are the consequences:

• You may be fined AED 10,000.
• You could face delays in getting approvals for business activities.
• You may lose access to your bank account or payment services since many banks require tax registration.

The FTA may grant deadline extensions in exceptional cases. You must:

• Contact the FTA directly
• Provide a valid reason and supporting documents
• Submit your request before the deadline or immediately after missing it

While there are no guarantees, it's worth trying if you have a legitimate emergency, such as hospitalization or technical system failures.

Businesses typically face these key obstacles:

• Unclear business structure: Confusion about juridical vs natural person status.
• Wrong financial year setup: Misalignment with license periods.
• Missing documents: Particularly challenging for foreign shareholders and small business owners.
• No tax consultant: Attempting to navigate the process without expert guidance.

The sooner you start your registration, the smoother it will go! Starting early helps you avoid those last-minute rush headaches and technical hiccups.😊

Not sure where to begin? No worries! Our experts are here to guide you through every step of the process. We will handle the whole registration for you, making sure everything's done right and on time.