Corporate Tax Timeline in the UAE
Introduction
The introduction of Corporate Tax in the UAE marked a significant evolution in the country’s business regulatory framework. The law, enacted in 2022, has been implemented in phases with specific compliance timelines that businesses need to follow.
Understanding the Corporate Tax timeline in the UAE is critical for ensuring timely registration, reporting, and payment — and for avoiding penalties from the Federal Tax Authority (FTA).
Here, we walk you through the timeline of UAE Corporate Tax law from its inception to upcoming filing deadlines.
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🧾 Key Milestones in the UAE Corporate Tax Timeline
🗓️ 1. December 9, 2022 – Law Issued
• Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 on the Taxation of Corporations and Businesses was officially issued.
• This law laid the foundation for the new Corporate Tax regime in the UAE.
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🗓️ January 2023 – Awareness Campaigns Begin
• The FTA and Ministry of Finance started awareness programs and public briefings to educate businesses on Corporate Tax obligations.
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🗓️ March–April 2023 – Executive Decisions Issued
• Cabinet Decision No. 55 of 2023 and various Ministerial Decisions were issued to explain:
o Small business relief
o Transfer pricing
o Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) rules
o Registration and filing procedures
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🗓️ June 1, 2023 – Law Becomes Effective
• Corporate Tax officially came into force for financial years starting on or after 1 June 2023.
• For example:
o A company with a financial year from 1 June 2023 to 31 May 2024 falls under the CT regime starting from that date.
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🗓️ May 2024 – FTA Opens Registration Portal
• The FTA enabled Corporate Tax registration via the EmaraTax portal.
• Businesses were required to register even if they expected no tax liability.
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🗓️ June 2024 Onward – Registration Deadlines Announced
• Registration deadlines vary based on the license issuance month, not the financial year.
• Deadlines range from May 31, 2024 to December 31, 2024, based on license anniversary.
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📅 Example Registration Timeline
License Issue Month Registration Deadline
January – February May 31, 2024
March – April June 30, 2024
May – June July 31, 2024
July – August August 31, 2024
September – October September 30, 2024
November – December October 31, 2024
New entities (post-Mar 2024) Within 3 months from license issuance
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📆 Tax Return Filing Deadlines
Businesses must file their Corporate Tax returns within 9 months after the end of their relevant financial year.
Examples:
Financial Year End CT Return Due Date
31 May 2024 28 February 2025
31 December 2024 30 September 2025
31 March 2025 31 December 2025
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🧮 Payment Deadlines
• Tax payments are also due at the same time as the tax return filing — i.e., within 9 months after the financial year ends.
• No advance tax or estimated payments required (for now).
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📌 Penalty Timeline
• Late registration: AED 10,000
• Late filing: AED 500 per month (increasing if prolonged)
• Late payment: 14% annually on outstanding amount
• Failure to maintain records: AED 10,000–AED 20,000
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🧠 Tips to Stay Ahead of Deadlines
✅ Register early via EmaraTax
✅ Keep your financial statements IFRS-compliant
✅ Prepare audited accounts (mandatory for many entities)
✅ Set internal reminders for tax return dates
✅ Engage a tax agent for proper compliance
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🧾 How We Can Help
At Sheikh Anwar Accounting and Auditing LLC, we assist clients by:
• Assessing CT applicability and deadlines
• Completing timely EmaraTax registration
• Preparing and filing Corporate Tax returns
• Advising Free Zone businesses on 0% eligibility
• Handling audits, penalty appeals, and clarifications
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📞 Stay On Track with UAE Corporate Tax
🌐 www.sa-auditors.com
✉️ info@sa-auditors.com | 📱 +971-XXX-XXXX
📍 Offices: Dubai | Abu Dhabi | Sharjah
