Will all the Branches of a Business Be Required to File for Business Tax in UAE?

The UAE Corporate Tax is set to be effected as an entirely new phenomenon to business conduct in the UAE. Thus, corporations are advised to outsource Corporate Tax consultation from Tax consultation in UAE. Primarily, the chief determinant for the taxable income that will be subject to Corporate Tax is the net profit of the businesses.

What is the Criteria for Filing Corporate Tax for an Entity’s Branches in the UAE?

Branches and Subsidiaries of UAE firms are not distinct regulatory individuals; thus an entity’s branches will not be subject to unique Corporate Income Tax returns from their respective parent companies. Entities are expected to submit a single Corporate Tax return that entirely covers all the UAE branches of an entity. In the case of the UAE Value Added Tax, branches are perceived to be extensions of a parent corporation and do not require separate registration. 

How Will Branches of Foreign Entities Be Treated Under the UAE Corporate Tax?

Branches associated with foreign entities are regarded as taxpayers under the UAE Corporate Tax Regime. Thus, they are subject to the UAE Corporate Tax unless there are specified exemptions under distinct scenarios. International branch gains will either be excluded (exemption approach) or foreign taxation on branch earnings may be applied toward the head office taxable income to avoid double taxation (credit method).

Jurisdictions (like the U.K.) offer an international branch-exempt status, which exempts foreign business units from paying corporate income tax in the country where the headquarters is located. In such circumstances, the UAE branches would only be eligible for the UAE Corporate Tax credits that are accessible within the UAE.

Read More : Corporate Tax Compliance and Planning Services

Who is Liable for the UAE Business Taxes? 

Primarily, the Corporate Tax will be levied on earnings made by organizations and legal persons who conduct business, this includes commercial, or any other type of economic activities that require a permit or authorization, subject to certain exclusions and restrictions.

The UAE Ministry of Finance conferred that the Corporate Tax will be imposed at 9% rate on all economic businesses, with the exception of those involved in the extraction of natural resources. Still more, the applications uniformly extend to every type of revenue as well as other net earnings disclosed in financial records. However, for start-ups and small-scale companies, the rate of income tax would be 0% for net earnings not exceeding the 375,000 AED mark.

Further, gains and dividends earned by a UAE company out of its eligible shareholders remain exempt from corporate income taxation. Moreover, the UAE Corporate Tax will not be applied on successful consolidations and transactions between groups.

How Can UAE Companies Prepare for Business Tax Incorporation?

Businesses that fall under the cognizance of Corporate Tax are highly urged to outset formal auditing and accounting procedures to establish their financial credentials for tax calculation and filing tax returns. Further, companies are required to outsource approved accounting mechanisms and issue annual financial audit reports, as the primary basis of effecting Corporate Tax. Further, it is essential for companies to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of business operations and prepare an effective tax methodology that the company will employ.

Read More : Who Would Be Exempted From Corporate Tax in the UAE