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Corporate Tax registration

Corporate Tax registration services in Dubai, UAE

Get your Tax Registration Number (TRN) for Corporate Tax right the first time and avoid the AED 10,000 late registration fine. Here’s what you get with our service:

Your Corporate Tax registration certificate
The right financial year from day one
A clear filing calendar — a complimentary extra from us

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International team based in Dubai, transparent pricing

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Avoid late Corporate Tax registration penalties in the UAE

Missing your Corporate Tax registration deadline costs a flat AED 10,000. The fine applies even if your company made no net profit, had zero revenue, or would pay 0 % tax anyway. Many business owners find out about it only when they try to file their first return.

The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) offers a way out, but a narrow one. The penalty is waived only if you submit your first Corporate Tax return within seven months of the end of your first tax period instead of the usual nine months. More than 68,600 businesses have already used this waiver, and over 22,000 more are still eligible. Miss that window, and the fine stays.

The fine is only part of the problem. Here is what we see most often when clients come to us after trying to register on their own:

✕

Rejected applications

A name or license number that doesn't match the trade license, or a missing owner, sends the application back and the clock keeps running.

✕

Wrong financial year

It shifts every filing deadline that follows and is not easy to change later.

✕

Wrong classification

A sole establishment registered as an LLC, for example, can put your business in the wrong Corporate Tax category. Different rules and registration thresholds apply to individuals and companies, so a mismatch creates compliance problems from day one.

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No plan after the TRN

Registration is only step one: from then on, you need proper books and a return every year, and late filing has its own penalties.

Nahla ArrajCorporate Tax Consultant

Expert tip

You don't need a tax agent to register, but a small mistake can be expensive. With professional assistance, Corporate Tax registration in Dubai becomes a one-time job. We will check your documents, set up your EmaraTax profile correctly, and submit your application on time. If you are late, we will tell you right away if the waiver still applies to you and how to use it.

Who must register for Corporate Tax in UAE?

Almost every business in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) must register, whether it expects to pay tax or not.

Mainland companies, regardless of revenue or profit.

Free Zone companies, including those that expect a 0 % rate as a Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP). The duty is the same in every Free Zone, including DMCC, IFZA and JAFZA.

Freelancers and sole establishments whose business turnover exceeds AED 1 million in a calendar year. Salary, personal investment income and real estate investment income don't count toward this threshold.

Foreign companies with a permanent establishment (PE) in the UAE, or managed and controlled from the UAE.

Dormant companies and companies with zero revenue.

Businesses that plan to claim Small Business Relief. Under Ministerial Decision No. 131 of 2026, the Ministry of Finance extended Small Business Relief to tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029, but you can only elect it in a return, so you need a TRN first.

A mistake we often see with freelancers: clients come to us after a previous provider registered them for Corporate Tax without first checking whether they needed to register at all. For freelancers operating as individuals, mandatory registration generally applies only when business turnover exceeds AED 1 million in a calendar year. A freelance permit alone does not automatically trigger that requirement.

Registering too early can bring forward tax return obligations and add accounting and compliance costs unnecessarily — even when no tax is due. That does not mean you can ignore your records below the threshold: you still need to track your business turnover. A professional adviser should check your legal status, turnover and registration deadline before submitting an application, not register you “just in case”.

Some exempt persons must register too. Qualifying public benefit entities, government-controlled entities, qualifying investment funds and pension funds all need a TRN, according to the FTA's list of exempt persons. Only government entities and notified extractive businesses can skip registration, as long as they don't carry on a taxable business.

For a deeper breakdown of each category, see who must register for UAE Corporate Tax.

Not sure whether your business is in scope? Send us your trade license, and we will tell you if and when you need to register.

Check it out

Expert UAE Corporate Tax registration for mainland & free zones

The EmaraTax form looks simple, but small choices made on day one decide how your Corporate Tax works for years. Here is where our Corporate Tax consultants in the UAE make the difference.

01

The right classification for your entity

Mainland LLCs, Free Zone establishments, branches of foreign companies, sole establishments and civil companies all register differently. We match your application to the exact legal form on your license, list every license the business holds, and add every owner with 25 % or more of the shares, as the FTA requires.

We flag any gaps before your first return, not after, so your tax planning starts on solid ground. Whether your license comes from ADGM in Abu Dhabi, DIFC in Dubai or another zone, the registration duty is the same. Read more about Corporate Tax for Free Zone companies.

02

The right financial year

Your tax period follows your financial year. It sets your filing deadline (nine months after year-end), your penalty waiver window (seven months after your first year-end) and your audit timeline.

We check that the year-end you enter in EmaraTax matches your Memorandum of Association (MOA) and your accounting records, and that your books follow the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) or another accounting standard the law accepts. Changing it later needs an application to the FTA, so it's worth getting it right from the start.

03

Clean data, no back-and-forth

Common EmaraTax mistakes we fix before they reach the FTA:

A trade name or license number that doesn't match the license;
The wrong license issue date or a missing branch license;
An authorised signatory without proof of authority;
Duplicate taxable person profiles for VAT and Corporate Tax.

How to register for Corporate Tax in UAE

With movingo, Corporate Tax registration in Dubai takes a few messages on your side. We do the rest.

01
Initial check

You send your trade license, and we run a quick assessment: we confirm whether you must register, which deadline applies, and whether the penalty waiver is relevant to you.
02
Document checklist

We send a short list tailored to your entity. Usually it's the trade license, Memorandum of Association, Emirates ID and passport of the owners and signatory, and proof of authorisation. Here is the full list of documents for Corporate Tax registration.
03
EmaraTax application

We prepare the application, set the correct financial year and classification, and submit it through your EmaraTax account.
04
FTA follow-up

If the FTA asks for more information, we reply on your behalf and within the deadline.
05
TRN issued

The FTA's official processing time is 20 business days from a complete application. We send you your TRN and a personal calendar with your filing and payment dates.
06
After registration

If you want, we take care of record keeping and file your returns, so the next deadline doesn't catch you off guard.

Ready to register with us? Send us your trade license — we’ll check what you need and take it from there.

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Cost of Corporate Tax registration services in Dubai

The FTA does not charge a fee for Corporate Tax registration. What you pay for is getting it done correctly and on time. Our prices are fixed and published, with no hidden fees.

Service	Price	What's included
Corporate Tax registration	AED 1,000	Eligibility check, document review, EmaraTax application, FTA follow-up, TRN
Corporate Tax registration with an accounting package	Included	Part of every accounting package, from AED 500 per month
Corporate Tax return filing (one-time)	AED 1,000	Return preparation and submission in EmaraTax
FTA registration fee	AED 0	The government charges nothing for registration

To put it in perspective, our registration fee is one-tenth of the AED 10,000 late registration penalty.

Want a quote for your situation, including a Tax Group or a backlog of missed filings? We will give you a fixed price before any work starts.

Take a look

UAE Corporate Tax registration deadlines for 2026–2027

Most deadlines for businesses that existed before 1 March 2024 passed in 2024. The table below covers the deadlines that apply to businesses starting or growing now.

If you are in the middle of business setup, your three-month clock starts on the incorporation date.

Who	Registration deadline	Example
UAE company, Mainland or Free Zone, incorporated on or after 1 March 2024	Three months from incorporation	License issued 15 October 2026: apply by 15 January 2027
Foreign company managed and controlled in the UAE	Three months from the end of its financial year	Year ends 31 December 2026: apply by 31 March 2027
Non-resident company with a PE in the UAE	Six months from the date the PE exists	PE exists from 1 September 2026: apply by 1 March 2027
Non-resident company with a nexus in the UAE (for example, income from UAE real estate)	Three months from the date the nexus exists	Nexus from 1 November 2026: apply by 1 February 2027
Resident individual with turnover above AED 1 million in 2026	31 March 2027	—
Resident individual with turnover above AED 1 million in 2027	31 March 2028	—
Non-resident individual	Three months from meeting the conditions	—
Late registrant using the penalty waiver	No registration deadline to meet; file the first return within seven months from the end of the first tax period	First tax period ends 31 December 2026: file by 31 July 2027

Source: FTA Decision No. 3 of 2024. For worked examples and older timelines, see our article on the Corporate Tax registration deadline.

After registration: nine months to file and pay

Your Corporate Tax return and payment are due nine months after the end of each tax period. For a financial year ending 31 December 2026, that's 30 September 2027.

Why choose movingo for Corporate Tax registration?

We are an accounting firm people actually want to talk to, and our team keeps things simple. No 40-page engagement letters, no vague quotes.

Proven experience

More than 400 companies run their finances with our help, and our team has over 30 years of combined experience.

Qualified specialists

Our team includes ACCA- and CPA-qualified accountants who have worked with EmaraTax and the FTA every day for more than five years.

Real savings

Our clients have avoided more than AED 5 million in penalties.

Transparent pricing

One fixed price, published upfront. No hidden fees.

From legalese to human

We explain what the law means for your business in plain words, with links to official sources.

One team for everything

Registration, tax consultancy, bookkeeping, VAT and Corporate Tax returns stay in one place.

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Trusted by clients

A 4.9 rating from more than 1,000 clients.

Related tax and accounting services in the UAE

Corporate Tax services Corporate Tax returns, planning and compliance Tax advice Tax consulting for UAE businesses Accounting services Accounting packages from AED 500 per month Bookkeeping services Ongoing bookkeeping and record keeping Backlog accounting Catch up on missed periods before you file Company incorporation Mainland and Free Zone company setup

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Government agencies
we work with

Federal Tax Authority (FTA)

The government agency that's in charge of collecting and enforcing federal taxes.

Department of Economic Development (DED)

The government agency that's in charge of boosting economic growth, creating jobs, and helping businesses develop.

Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED)

It's the main economic development authority in Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi Residency Office (ADRO)

The government agency that handles the issuing of visas, ID cards, and driver's licenses for expats living and working in Abu Dhabi.

Department of Dubai Economic Development (DED)

The main authority for planning, supervising, and regulating commercial, financial, and industrial activities in Dubai.

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Everything you need to know about UAE CT registration

How much does it cost to register for Corporate Tax in the UAE?

The FTA charges nothing for registration. movingo charges AED 1,000 for the full service, or nothing if you have one of our accounting packages.

Which company should register for Corporate Tax in the UAE?

Every Mainland and Free Zone company, including dormant ones and those with zero revenue. Freelancers and sole establishments register once their business turnover exceeds AED 1 million a year.

How to do Corporate Tax group registration in UAE?

The parent company and each subsidiary apply together in EmaraTax, before the end of the tax period the group should start from. Each member needs its own TRN first, and the parent must hold at least 95 % of each subsidiary's shares, voting rights, profits and net assets. Exempt persons and Qualifying Free Zone Persons can't join.

What is the deadline for Corporate Tax registration in UAE?

A company incorporated in the UAE has three months from its incorporation date. A resident individual has until 31 March of the year after their turnover passes AED 1 million.

What is the minimum corporate income tax rate?

The rate is 0 % on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9 % above that. From 1 January 2025, multinational groups with global revenue of EUR 750 million or more pay an effective rate of at least 15 % through the Domestic Minimum Top-up Tax; our guide to Corporate Tax in the UAE explains every rate.

What is the payment method for Corporate Tax?

You pay through EmaraTax, either by bank transfer with your GIBAN payment reference or by card through MagnatiPay. EmaraTax no longer accepts eDirham.

How to register for Corporate Tax in Dubai?

Corporate Tax registration in Dubai is fully online: log in to EmaraTax with UAE PASS, create a taxable person profile, select "Register" under Corporate Tax and complete the application. Or send us your trade license, and we will handle it for you.

How to de-register Corporate Tax in UAE?

Apply in EmaraTax within three months of the business ceasing, after filing all returns and paying all tax and penalties. A late application costs AED 1,000 per month, up to AED 10,000.

Is it mandatory to register for Corporate Tax?

Yes, for almost every business in the UAE, even if it pays 0 % tax. Only government entities and certain notified extractive businesses are fully outside the system.

How much is the penalty for late Corporate Tax registration in UAE?

AED 10,000. It is waived if you file your first return within seven months from the end of your first tax period.

What documents are required for registration?

Your trade license, Memorandum of Association or certificate of incorporation, Emirates ID and passport of owners with 25 % or more and of the authorised signatory, and proof of the signatory's authority.

How long does it take to get a TRN in Dubai?

The FTA's official processing time is 20 business days from receiving a complete application. Incomplete applications take longer, which is why we check everything before submitting.

What types of entities qualify for Corporate Tax exemptions in UAE?

Government entities, government-controlled entities, extractive and natural resource businesses, qualifying public benefit entities, qualifying investment funds and pension funds. Most of them still need to register and meet conditions to keep the exemption.

What are the conditions for Corporate Tax registration under UAE law?

Every taxable person must register under Article 51 of Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022, within the deadlines set by FTA Decision No. 3 of 2024. Individuals register only once their business turnover exceeds AED 1 million in a calendar year.