Corporate tax registration in the UAE. Fast, FTA-compliant, done for you.

Almost every business with a UAE trade licence must register for corporate tax with the Federal Tax Authority — mainland entities and free zone companies alike — even where profits sit below the taxable threshold. UAE corporate tax applies to each taxable person carrying on business activities in the country, and registration is mandatory even where no tax is payable, including for businesses claiming Small Business Relief. Exempt entities may not pay tax if they meet the legal conditions, but registration can still be required depending on their status.

It depends on when your entity came into existence. A juridical person incorporated on or after 1 March 2024 must submit its corporate tax registration application within three months of incorporation. Entities that existed before that date were given deadlines based on the month their trade licence was issued. A non-resident with a permanent establishment in the UAE created on or after 1 March 2024 has six months from the date it came into existence. Send us your licence and we will confirm your exact date.

The FTA imposes a fixed AED 10,000 administrative penalty for late corporate tax registration, in force since 1 March 2024. Continued non-compliance can also draw audits and wider enforcement, and it complicates every filing that follows. If you are already past your deadline, tell us at the outset — we register you and help you prepare a penalty waiver application where the circumstances support one.

AED 249, fixed. You know the cost before we start — no hourly billing and no surprise invoices later. Our fee is for professional services only and is separate from any government charge.

Typically your valid trade licence including any branch licences, the certificate of incorporation, Memorandum of Association or partnership agreement, Emirates ID and passport copies for owners holding more than 25% ownership and for the authorised signatory, proof of authorisation for that signatory, and your registered address and official email. Supporting documents are uploaded to EmaraTax as PDFs, up to 15 MB per file. Gathering your legal and financial records before you start is what keeps the registration process to a single pass.

The FTA estimates around 25 minutes to complete the online corporate tax registration application when your records are ready, and states a processing time of up to 20 business days from the date a completed application is received. We prepare and submit yours within one working day of receiving your documents.

Yes. Free zone entities register on the same basis as mainland companies. A Qualifying Free Zone Person can still hold a 0% rate on qualifying income, but only while every condition is met for the relevant tax period — fail them and the 9% rate applies to the income concerned.

You receive your Tax Registration Number (TRN) and move into ongoing corporate tax compliance: maintaining accurate financial records, and filing a corporate tax return within nine months of your financial year end, even where no tax is payable. Corporate tax return filing.