RAKEZ Appreciation Certificate
Recognised for Excellence in Partner Performance
Tax Consultant
in Dubai
An FTA registered tax agency in Business Bay, Dubai.
Tax Agency Approval Number 30008692. At Bestax you get one senior point of contact, fixed fees agreed before any work starts, and filings submitted on time through EmaraTax.
Free consultation No obligation Reply within 30 Mins
- FTA Approved
Tax AgencyNo. 30008692 - Business Setup Partner
for Dubai Free Zones - 10+YEARSof Experience
You Can Count On - out of 5from 200+Google Reviews (opens in a new tab)out of 5from 75+Trustpilot Reviews (opens in a new tab)
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Tax Consultant
Tell us about your business and our tax team will get in touch with you.
Act Now
Key UAE tax deadlines you should know right now
- Corporate tax return
Businesses with a financial year that ended 31 December 2025 must file their corporate tax return and pay any tax due by 30 September 2026.
- Small Business Relief
Small Business Relief is available for tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029, extended by Ministerial Decision No. 131 of 2026. It still has to be elected in a filed return each period.
- E-invoicing provider
Businesses with annual revenue of AED 50 million or more must appoint an accredited e-invoicing service provider by 30 October 2026 and go live on 1 January 2027.
Not sure how these apply to you? Send us your trade licence and we will confirm your exact deadlines free of charge.
Book a Free 20-Minute CallRecognition, Accreditations & Partnership
The approvals and registrations behind the work.
IFZA Gold Tier Partner Recognition
Gold Tier Recognition · Elite Loyalty Programme
Accounting Software Experience
Hands-on Experience Across Leading Accounting Platforms
ICAEW Approved Employer
Supporting Professional Training and Development
KIZAD
Business Setup Partner in Abu Dhabi
Meydan Free Zone
Company Formation Partner in Dubai
SHAMS — Sharjah Media City
Business Setup Partner in Sharjah
Sharjah Publishing City
Free Zone Company Formation Partner
Payoneer
Referral Partner for International Payments
UAE Tax in 2026
Why Your Business Needs Expert Tax Support in 2026
UAE tax rules have changed more in the last three years than in the previous thirty. Corporate tax is now in its second filing cycle, and the FTA charges AED 500 per month for late returns during the first 12 months, rising to AED 1,000 per month after that. Late payment adds a further 14 percent per year on any unpaid tax.
Registering late for corporate tax carries a fixed AED 10,000 penalty. The FTA currently waives this penalty if you file your first return within seven months of the end of your first tax period, so acting quickly can still save you money.
More changes are coming. Large multinational groups with global revenue of EUR 750 million or more now pay a 15 percent minimum top-up tax on UAE profits. Sweetened drinks moved to a sugar-based excise model in 2026. Mandatory e-invoicing starts in January 2027 for large businesses and 1 July 2027 for everyone else. A good advisor keeps you ahead of each change instead of reacting after a fine arrives.
As one of the longest-serving tax consultants in the UAE, Bestax has guided clients through the introduction of VAT in 2018, excise tax, economic substance rules and corporate tax. We apply that experience so you pay exactly what the law requires and nothing more.
Penalties
AED 500
Per month for late corporate tax returns during the first 12 months, rising to AED 1,000 per month after that.
AED 10,000
Fixed penalty for registering late for corporate tax, currently waived where the first return is filed within seven months of the first tax period ending.
14%
Per year added to any unpaid tax as a late payment penalty.
Our Services
Our Tax Consultancy Services in Dubai
Every engagement is handled by our registered tax agents and reviewed by a senior manager before submission. Our business tax consulting services cover the full compliance cycle, from first registration to representing you in front of the FTA.
Corporate Tax Registration and Return Filing
We register your company on EmaraTax, prepare IFRS-compliant financial statements, calculate your taxable income and file your return within the nine-month deadline. The standard rate is 9 percent on taxable income above AED 375,000 and 0 percent below it.
Corporate Tax Planning and Advisory
We assess whether your free zone company qualifies for the 0 percent rate on qualifying income, whether Small Business Relief still makes sense while it runs, to tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029, and whether tax grouping or restructuring could lower your bill legally.
VAT Registration and Return Filing
VAT registration is mandatory once taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000 in 12 months and voluntary from AED 187,500. We register you, prepare your returns and file them within 28 days of each tax period ending, so you avoid late filing penalties.
VAT Health Check and Advisory
We review past returns, input tax recovery and invoice formats to catch errors before the FTA does. If we find overpaid VAT, we help you reclaim it.
Transfer Pricing
If your related-party transactions exceed AED 40 million, a disclosure form must accompany your corporate tax return. Master File and Local File documentation applies at AED 200 million revenue or if your group exceeds AED 3.15 billion. We prepare all three and benchmark your pricing.
Excise Tax
We handle excise registration and returns, including the new tiered model for sweetened drinks that links the tax per litre to sugar content per 100ml.
FTA Audit Support and Tax Agent Representation
As registered tax agents (Tax Agent Number 20052643), we can legally represent you before the FTA, respond to queries, manage audits and file penalty reconsideration requests on your behalf.
E-invoicing Readiness
We map your invoicing systems against the UAE e-invoicing framework, help you select an accredited service provider before your deadline and test your setup before go-live.
Registered tax agents — Tax Agent Number 20052643
Reference
UAE Tax Rules at a Glance
| Tax | Rate | When it applies | Key deadline | Penalty if missed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate tax | 9% above AED 375,000 profit, 0% below | All UAE businesses, including free zones | Return due 9 months after financial year end | AED 500 per month late filing, AED 10,000 late registration |
| VAT | 5% | Mandatory above AED 375,000 taxable supplies | Return due 28 days after each tax period | AED 10,000 late registration |
| Excise tax | 100% tobacco and energy drinks, tiered sugar model for sweetened drinks | Producers, importers, stockpilers | Monthly returns | Registration and filing penalties apply |
| Top-up tax (DMTT) | 15% minimum | Multinational groups with EUR 750M+ global revenue | Financial years starting 1 January 2025 onwards | Assessed per Pillar Two rules |
| Transfer pricing | Documentation duty | AED 40M related-party transactions (disclosure), AED 200M revenue (files) | Filed with corporate tax return | Compliance penalties apply |
Source: Federal Tax Authority and Ministry of Finance publications. We review this table every month and update it whenever the rules change.
Your Tax Calendar for 2026 and 2027
Missing a date is the most expensive tax mistake in the UAE, because most penalties are fixed amounts that apply automatically. These are the dates that matter for the next 18 months.
- 28 days after each VAT period ends
VAT return and payment
Every VAT registered business
Corporate tax return and payment for the year ended 31 December 2025
Most UAE companies
Deadline to appoint an accredited e-invoicing service provider
Businesses with revenue of AED 50 million or more
Last tax period end date that can use Small Business Relief
Businesses with revenue of AED 3 million or less
Mandatory e-invoicing begins
Businesses with revenue of AED 50 million or more
Corporate tax registration deadline for individuals whose 2026 business turnover passed AED 1 million, and e-invoicing provider deadline for smaller businesses
Freelancers and sole establishments, plus businesses under AED 50 million
Mandatory e-invoicing extends to remaining businesses
All other in-scope businesses
E-invoicing extends to transactions with government entities
Suppliers to government
Every Bestax client receives a personal version of this calendar matched to their licence, financial year and VAT stagger, with reminders before each date.
Corporate Tax Registration
Corporate Tax Registration: Who Must Register and When
Every company in the UAE must register for corporate tax, including free zone entities and companies that expect to pay nothing. Registration is based on carrying on a business, not on making a profit, so a loss-making company still has to register and file.
Individuals are covered too. If you are a freelancer or run a sole establishment and your business turnover passes AED 1 million in a calendar year, you fall inside corporate tax. You must register by 31 March of the following year, and missing that date triggers the AED 10,000 penalty. Salary, personal bank interest and personal real estate income do not count towards the AED 1 million.
If you have already missed a registration deadline, do not wait. Under the FTA waiver initiative, filing your first return within seven months of your first tax period ending removes the penalty, and penalties already paid can be refunded. We check your eligibility and handle the whole process on EmaraTax.
Every company
Free zone entities and loss-making companies included. Registration follows carrying on a business, not making a profit.
AED 1m
The turnover at which a freelancer or sole establishment falls inside corporate tax, measured over a calendar year.
31 March
The registration deadline for individuals, in the year after the turnover threshold is passed.
The 0% Rate
Free Zone Companies
The 0 percent corporate tax rate for free zone companies is real, but it is conditional, and losing it is costly. To be treated as a qualifying free zone person you must meet every one of these conditions in every tax period.
Breach any condition and you lose qualifying status for that tax period and the next four, which means paying 9 percent for five years. We run an annual qualifying status test for free zone clients so a small contract never quietly destroys a five-year tax benefit.
The five conditions
- Maintain adequate substance in the free zone, meaning real staff, real assets and real operating spend where your core activities happen.
- Earn qualifying income, which broadly means income from other free zone persons or from the qualifying activities listed by the Ministry of Finance. The list was most recently updated by Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025.
- Stay out of excluded activities such as banking, insurance and most dealings with mainland individuals.
- Keep non-qualifying revenue within the de minimis limit: the lower of 5 percent of total revenue or AED 5 million.
- Prepare audited financial statements and comply with transfer pricing rules.
Why Bestax
Why Businesses Choose Bestax
Many tax consulting firms in Dubai list the same services. Here is what is different when you work with us.
Registered with the FTA, and we publish the proof
Our Tax Agency Approval Number is 30008692 and our senior agents hold individual FTA licences. Many firms claim FTA approval without showing a number.
A named expert, not a call centre
A dedicated tax advisor in Dubai manages your account, knows your business and answers within one working day.
Fixed fees agreed in writing
You approve the fee before work begins. No hourly surprises.
Deadlines tracked for you
We maintain a compliance calendar for every client and remind you before each filing is due.
Proven record
10+ years in the UAE, 35+ professionals, and a 4.8 out of 5 rating from more than 200 Google reviews.
How We Work
Four steps from first call to ongoing compliance
01 Free consultation
A 30-minute call to understand your business, licence type and current tax position. No obligation.
02 Compliance review
We check your registrations, past filings and exposure, then send you a written summary of gaps and deadlines.
03 Fixed fee proposal
You receive a clear scope and price. Work starts only after you approve it.
04 Ongoing compliance
We file every return on time, monitor FTA updates that affect you and flag planning opportunities each quarter.
Who We Help
Who We Help
Our business tax consulting services are built for every stage of a company's life in the UAE, from a first trade licence to a multinational group structure. Here is what that looks like for each type of client.
Startups and New Businesses
Your first tax year sets the pattern for everything that follows. We register your company for corporate tax on time, which avoids the AED 10,000 late registration penalty, and set up bookkeeping properly from day one so your first return is clean. If your revenue is AED 3 million or below, we check whether Small Business Relief still applies to your tax period and make the election in your return, because the relief covers periods ending on or before 31 December 2029 under Ministerial Decision No. 131 of 2026 and is never applied automatically. You also get a filing calendar showing exactly when your first return is due, nine months after your financial year ends.
Freelancers and Sole Establishments
If your business turnover passes AED 1 million in a calendar year, corporate tax applies to you personally and you must register by 31 March of the following year. Salary from employment, personal bank interest and personal property income stay outside the calculation, and knowing what counts is half the battle. We monitor your position, register you at the right moment and prepare a return that claims every deduction you are entitled to.
Established Companies
Most established companies handle VAT and corporate tax as two separate chores, often with two different providers, which creates duplicated work and mismatched numbers. We run both from one set of books: VAT returns filed within 28 days of each period, the corporate tax return filed annually, and input VAT recovery reviewed so you are not leaving money with the FTA. Because one team prepares everything, your VAT figures and your corporate tax financials tell one consistent story, which is exactly what reduces questions if the FTA ever looks closely.
Free Zone Companies
The 0 percent rate on qualifying income is valuable and fragile. We run a qualifying status test every year before your year end, checking your substance in the zone, the nature of your income, and whether non-qualifying revenue is still below the de minimis limit of the lower of 5 percent of revenue or AED 5 million. Testing before year end matters because a single contract can still be structured or timed correctly while the period is open. After year end, a breach costs you the 0 percent rate for that period and the next four.
Multinational Groups and Large Businesses
Once related-party transactions cross AED 40 million, your return needs a transfer pricing disclosure, and at AED 200 million revenue or AED 3.15 billion group revenue the Master File and Local File become mandatory. Groups with global revenue of EUR 750 million or more also face the 15 percent minimum top-up tax on UAE profits. On top of that, businesses with revenue of AED 50 million or more must be ready for mandatory e-invoicing on 1 January 2027. We prepare the documentation, run the benchmarking and coordinate with your group tax team so UAE compliance fits your global position.
The Industries We Know Best
Real estate
Property VAT rules differ between residential and commercial supplies, and records connected to real estate must be kept for 15 years.
Trading and e-commerce
Import VAT, the reverse charge mechanism and zero-rating of exports, where small errors repeat across thousands of transactions.
Healthcare and education
Careful handling of zero-rated supplies and the input VAT recovery position that follows from them.
Construction
Long project cycles where staged invoicing and retention payments complicate the timing of VAT.
Professional services
We also act for professional services firms, alongside the sectors above.
Hospitality
The new sugar-based excise rules now touch anyone selling sweetened drinks.
Whatever your size or sector, the starting point is the same. Tell us what your business does, and we will map every tax obligation that applies to it.
Book a Free 20-Minute CallWhat We See
Common Tax Mistakes We Fix Every Week
Most penalties we see were avoidable. These are the errors that appear again and again in the files new clients bring us.
Assuming free zone status means no obligations
Free zone companies must register, file returns and pass the qualifying conditions every year. The 0 percent rate is earned, not granted.
Missing the transfer pricing disclosure
Once related-party transactions cross AED 40 million, the disclosure form is mandatory with your return. Many businesses cross the line through intercompany loans without noticing.
Recovering VAT on blocked expenses
Input VAT on entertainment and on certain motor vehicles available for personal use cannot be recovered. Claiming it creates a liability that surfaces in an FTA audit years later.
Forgetting to elect Small Business Relief
The relief is not automatic. It must be elected in the tax return, and businesses that qualified but never elected have paid tax they did not owe.
Registering late because the business made a loss
Registration depends on carrying on business, not profitability. The AED 10,000 penalty applies either way.
Weak record keeping
Corporate tax records must be kept for seven years and VAT records for five years, rising to 15 years for real estate. Missing invoices mean lost deductions and lost input VAT.
A one-hour review is usually enough for us to tell you which of these risks exist in your business today.
FTA Audits
What Happens in an FTA Tax Audit
An FTA audit is manageable if your records are in order and stressful if they are not. Knowing the process removes most of the fear.
The FTA notifies you through the EmaraTax portal. Audits are either desk based, where you upload documents for review, or on site at your premises. Auditors typically ask for financial records, tax invoices issued and received, bank statements, contracts, payroll records and customs documents, then trace them line by line against your filed returns. Late filings, repeated refund claims and figures that do not match your industry pattern are the most common reasons a business gets selected.
This is where working with registered tax agents pays off. We deal with the FTA on your behalf, prepare and organise every requested document, sit in on meetings and respond to queries in the format auditors expect. If the audit ends in an assessment or penalty you believe is wrong, you have 40 business days to file a reconsideration request, and we prepare the legal grounds and evidence for it.
The best time to prepare for an audit is before one is announced. Our audit readiness check reviews your records against what the FTA actually asks for, so a notification becomes an administrative task instead of a crisis.
Before We Meet
What to Prepare Before Your Free Consultation
You do not need everything on this list to book a call, but the more you share, the more specific our advice gets in the first meeting.
- Trade licence and, for groups, a simple structure chart
- Memorandum of association or similar incorporation documents
- Latest financial statements or a trial balance
- Tax Registration Number certificates for VAT or corporate tax if you have them
- Copies of past returns and any letters or emails from the FTA
- Details of transactions with related companies or owners
Send these ahead of the call and the consultation is spent on answers instead of paperwork. Everything you share is treated as confidential.
Book a Free 20-Minute CallWhat Clients Say About Our Tax Team
We believe our work speaks for itself. Our clients say it louder. Businesses across the Emirates trust Bestax to keep their tax accurate, on time, and penalty-free.
Had my first corporate tax filing done through Bestax. They offered a tax planning session that was extremely helpful, especially because I was unsure what expenses could be deducted legally. They kinda guided me through the whole process because, as a healthcare professional, I had no clue how things work around here.
I'm very pleased with the support provided by Athira and her team in completing my Transfer Pricing report and filing the Corporate Tax returns for my company. They are highly responsive, and the quality of their work and reports is truly excellent.
Very smooth and efficient service to open a freezone company. Even while sitting in canada. They are great. Highly highly recommend.
Bestax have been managing my accounts for the past 1 year now and I must say they do an amazing job. My tax returns are always on time and I never faced any penalty.
Maham guided me through the business license renewal process. She even flagged upcoming compliance changes I had no clue about. It’s that extra attention to detail that makes Bestax stand out.
Anusha at Bestax keeps our financials in top shape. Her budgeting advice has improved our cash flow significantly. Highly reliable team!
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Frequently Asked Questions
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