UAE accounting & tax knowledge hub.

Free calculators, generators, guides and key figures to help you stay on top of VAT, corporate tax, payroll and compliance in the UAE.

VAT 5%
CT on AED 600,000
20,250.00
789% 456× 123+ 0.AED=
CT: 9% above AED 375k
4 free tools
UAE tax at a glance

Key rates & thresholds.

The numbers every UAE business should know — general guidance as of October 2026. Always confirm against current FTA publications.

01
VAT standard rate
5%
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VAT standard rate

Applies to most goods and services; some supplies are zero-rated or exempt.

Tip: Check whether each sale is standard-rated, zero-rated or exempt before invoicing.

01
02
VAT registration
AED 375k
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VAT registration

Mandatory above this in taxable supplies over 12 months. Voluntary from AED 187.5k.

Tip: Track your rolling 12-month turnover; you have 30 days to apply once you cross it.

02
03
Corporate tax
0% / 9%
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Corporate tax

0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% on the amount above.

Tip: Profit up to AED 375,000 is taxed at 0%, so smaller businesses may pay little or nothing.

03
04
Small Business Relief
AED 3m
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Small Business Relief

Revenue limit for relief, for tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2026.

Tip: Relief must be elected in the return; it is not applied automatically.

04
05
VAT returns
28 days
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VAT returns

Filing and payment due after each tax period ends — usually quarterly, on EmaraTax.

Tip: Late filing and late payment attract separate penalties, so diarise every due date.

05
06
Late payment
14% p.a.
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Late payment

Charged monthly on unpaid tax, under rules effective from 14 April 2026.

Tip: Paying on time — even before filing is final — keeps interest from building up.

06
07
Qualifying Free Zone
0%
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Qualifying Free Zone

On qualifying income where FTA conditions are met; other income at 9%.

Tip: Substance, audited accounts and de minimis limits all need to be met each year.

07
08
Record keeping
5+ years
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Record keeping

Minimum retention for accounting and tax records; longer for some records.

Tip: Keep invoices, contracts and ledgers organised so an FTA audit is painless.

08
Free tools

Calculate, generate, plan.

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Corporate tax calculator

Estimate your UAE corporate tax from revenue and profit — including Small Business Relief and tax losses.

Losses can reduce taxable income by up to 75% each year; any excess is carried forward.
Small Business Relief
Eligible on revenue (AED 3m or less). Relief applies to tax periods ending on or before 31 Dec 2026; losses in relief years cannot be carried forward.
HOW YOUR TAXABLE INCOME IS TAXED
● 0% band: AED 375,000● 9% band: AED 225,000
ESTIMATED CORPORATE TAX
AED 20,250.00
Accounting profit / (loss)AED 600,000.00
Adjusted taxable incomeAED 600,000.00
Losses used (lower of the two)AED 0.00
Taxable income after lossesAED 600,000.00
0% band (first AED 375,000)AED 375,000
9% on AED 225,000AED 20,250.00
Effective rate on profit3.38%
Losses carried forwardAED 0.00
Small Business ReliefNot elected
These results are estimates only.
For an exact calculation and a tailored quotation, speak to an Aequora expert.
Get an exact quote

Tools provide estimates for general guidance only and are not tax, legal or financial advice. Speak to our team before acting on any result.

Free downloads

Guides, checklists & templates.

Practical, up-to-date resources written by our team. Free to download and share.

VATPDF guide

UAE VAT Registration Guide

Thresholds, deadlines, documents and a step-by-step walkthrough of FTA registration on EmaraTax.

PDF · 2 pages
Download
Corporate TaxChecklist

Corporate Tax Compliance Checklist

Registration, elections, record-keeping, filing and payment — everything to tick off each tax period.

PDF · 2 pages
Download
AuditChecklist

Statutory Audit Readiness Checklist

Documents, reconciliations and controls to prepare before your auditor arrives.

PDF · 2 pages
Download
VATPDF guide

VAT Return Filing Guide (EmaraTax)

How to prepare and submit a VAT return, plus the most common errors and how to fix them.

PDF · 2 pages
Download
VATQuick reference

VAT: Exempt vs Zero-Rated Supplies

A one-glance reference of which supplies are zero-rated, which are exempt and why it matters.

PDF · 2 pages
Download
Corporate TaxChecklist

Small Business Relief Eligibility

Check whether your business can elect for corporate tax Small Business Relief.

PDF · 1 page
Download
PayrollChecklist

WPS Payroll Compliance Checklist

Key steps to stay compliant with the UAE Wage Protection System each month.

PDF · 1 page
Download
E-InvoicingChecklist

E-Invoicing Readiness Checklist

Prepare your data, systems and service provider for the UAE e-invoicing mandate.

PDF · 1 page
Download
TemplatesSpreadsheet template

Monthly Bookkeeping Template

Income, expenses, bank reconciliation and VAT summary tabs with formulas ready to use.

Excel (.xlsx) or CSV
Download
TemplatesSpreadsheet template

Chart of Accounts — Trading Company

A ready-made chart of accounts structured for UAE trading businesses.

Excel (.xlsx) or CSV
Download
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Read online or download any article as a PDF to keep or share.

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FAQs

Quick answers on UAE tax & compliance.

Ask our team
When must a business register for VAT?

Registration is mandatory when taxable supplies and imports exceed AED 375,000 over the previous 12 months, or are expected to in the next 30 days. You may register voluntarily above AED 187,500.

How often are VAT returns filed?

Usually quarterly (some businesses monthly). Returns and payment are due within 28 days of the end of each tax period, through the EmaraTax portal.

Who qualifies for Small Business Relief?

Resident businesses with revenue of AED 3 million or less in the relevant and previous tax periods can elect to be treated as having no taxable income, for tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2026. Some entities, such as Qualifying Free Zone Persons and members of large groups, are excluded.

What documents are needed for a statutory audit?

Typically: prior-year audited financial statements, trial balance, bank statements and reconciliations, sales and purchase registers, VAT returns, fixed asset register, payroll records and board resolutions.

How long must records be kept?

At least five years for most accounting and tax records, with longer periods for certain real estate records. Keep invoices, contracts and working papers in an organised, retrievable form.

Need more than an estimate?

Our team can review your figures, file your returns and keep you compliant all year round.