Corporate Tax Consultant
Registered Tax Agent Regulated by the FTA (Federal Tax Authority)
Corporate Tax Consultancy Services in the UAE
Registered FTA Tax Agents Helping Businesses Navigate UAE Corporate Tax with Confidence
Since the introduction of the UAE’s federal Corporate Tax regime on 1 June 2023, businesses across all sectors face new compliance obligations. A corporate tax consultant does more than prepare returns — they help businesses understand their obligations, develop tax-efficient strategies, and maintain full FTA compliance. Farahat & Co. provides reliable, registered corporate tax consultancy services for mainland companies, free zone entities, and multinational businesses operating in the UAE.
Corporate Tax Rates in the UAE
| Taxable Income | Rate |
| Up to AED 375,000 | 0% |
| Above AED 375,000 | 9% |
| Qualifying Free Zone Income | 0% |
What Does a Corporate Tax Consultant Do?
A corporate tax consultant manages the full scope of a business’s tax compliance and advisory needs — working alongside finance, audit, treasury, and legal teams to ensure the business meets its obligations accurately and on time.
Core responsibilities include:
- Preparing accurate corporate tax returns in line with FTA requirements
- Monitoring changes to UAE tax laws and FTA decisions to keep the business current
- Maintaining proper documentation to support filings and withstand audit scrutiny
- Correctly determining tax liabilities, exemptions, and applicable deductions
Beyond compliance, a corporate tax consultant provides strategic tax advice — identifying legitimate deductions, exemptions, and credits available under UAE Corporate Tax Law, including the specific rules applicable to free zone businesses.
Advanced Corporate Tax Advisory Services
Body: For businesses with cross-border operations, related-party transactions, or complex ownership structures, corporate tax compliance extends well beyond standard filing. Our advanced tax advisory services ensure your business meets both UAE and international tax obligations — including the requirements introduced under OECD Pillar Two and the UAE’s domestic implementation measures.
Our advanced corporate tax services cover:
- International tax planning — structuring cross-border transactions in a tax-efficient manner that complies with UAE and applicable foreign tax rules
- Mergers and acquisitions tax structuring — advising on the tax implications of transactions, including asset and share deals, and ensuring the structure is optimised before completion
- Business restructuring — reviewing and restructuring business operations to improve tax efficiency while remaining fully compliant with FTA requirements
- Transfer pricing documentation — preparing the required documentation for related-party transactions in line with OECD guidelines, BEPS rules, and UAE transfer pricing regulations
- OECD Pillar Two compliance — assessing the impact of global minimum tax rules on your business and ensuring any applicable UAE domestic top-up measures are properly addressed
Free Zone Businesses: Qualifying Free Zone Persons can benefit from a 0% Corporate Tax rate on qualifying income — but only if strict FTA conditions are met. Proper structuring, substance requirements, and documentation are essential to maintaining this status. Our team advises free zone businesses on meeting and sustaining these requirements.
FTA Representation: Registered Tax Agents and formally authorised representatives can manage FTA communications and represent businesses in audits and disputes. Farahat & Co. is a registered FTA tax agent — authorised to represent clients directly before the FTA, ensuring your interests are properly managed at every stage of the compliance process.
What to Look for in a Corporate Tax Consultant?
Choosing the right corporate tax consultant is one of the most important decisions a business can make. The wrong choice can lead to compliance gaps, penalties, and missed tax planning opportunities. Here is what to evaluate before engaging a consultant.
Professional Qualifications and FTA Registration: A competent corporate tax consultant should hold recognised professional qualifications — such as ACCA, CPA, CTA, or CA — and ideally be registered as an FTA Tax Agent. FTA Tax Agent registration requires passing the Authority’s own examination and demonstrates a verified understanding of UAE tax law. Look for consultants who also maintain their knowledge through ongoing professional development and UAE-specific tax training.
Industry Experience: Tax advice is most effective when it is tailored to your sector. A consultant with direct experience in your industry — whether retail, real estate, manufacturing, or free zone businesses — will understand the specific tax challenges and planning opportunities relevant to your operations.
Reputation and Track Record: Client reviews and verified testimonials give a reliable indication of a consultant’s quality and professionalism. Look for consistent feedback on communication, accuracy, and compliance outcomes. Strong relationships with the FTA and a demonstrated record of delivering results for clients are also positive indicators.
Key qualities to look for include:
- Consistent positive feedback on professionalism and responsiveness
- Clear, effective communication throughout engagements
- A demonstrated record of achieving compliant and tax-efficient outcomes
- Good standing with regulatory authorities including the FTA
What are the Service Offerings and Pricing ?
Comprehensive service offerings should cover all your tax needs:
| Service Type | What It Includes |
|---|---|
| Corporate tax | Filing, planning, compliance |
| VAT | Registration, returns, refunds |
| International tax planning | Cross-border structuring |
| Transfer pricing | Documentation, benchmarking |
| Audit support | Representation, dispute resolution |
A transparent fee structure helps you budget effectively. Consultants may offer:
- Fixed fee arrangements for specific services
- Hourly rate billing for consultations
- Retainer agreements for ongoing support
- Confirm whether fees cover FTA representation, transfer-pricing work, or additional compliance deliveries.
Value is not about choosing the lowest price; it is about choosing competence. Consider the potential tax savings and avoided penalties when evaluating costs. Pricing transparency ensures no surprise charges later.
Accessibility and Support
Accessibility ensures your consultant is available anytime. Tax issues can occur outside regular business hours.Tax problems are not necessarily a problem that occurs during business time. One of these initiative-taking measures is a check-in and an update on changes in the tax regulations and laws.
On-going support must involve:
- Regular tax health checks
- Updates on new regulations
- Tax planning workshops (long term).
- Fast customer service to urgent queries.
Primary screening will facilitate compatibility. This meeting can be used to determine their communication style and expertise.
Who needs corporate tax services in Dubai?
UAE corporate tax impacts businesses differently based on structure and location. Your advisory needs depend on revenue and business model.
Mainland Companies
The corporate taxes are experienced in full effect by the mainland companies. The corporate tax rate of 9 percent is imposed on all your taxable income above AED 375,000.
Tax consultants are required to help these businesses in:
- Computation of taxable profits correctly.
- Management of corporate tax filing and payment deadlines (corporate tax returns and payments are due within 9 months of the end of the tax period). Note: provisional/quarterly corporate tax instalments are not required; the FTA allows voluntary advance payments to be held on account.
- Maximizing the deductible expenses.
- Proper documentation is ensured.
Free Zone Companies
Free-zone companies can qualify for a 0% rate on qualifying income, but this depends on meeting specific FTA conditions (beneficial recipient tests, de-minimis thresholds, activity exclusions, and substance requirements).
Tax consultants help by:
- Conceptualizing qualifying and non-qualifying income.
- Being compliant with free zone rules.
- Controlling transfer pricing laws.
- Protecting tax-free status
- Small and Medium Enterprises.
Startups and SMEs often need help with tax computations, threshold monitoring, and compliance systems, so advisory support can reduce the risk of errors and penalties.
What are the Essential services for SMEs:
- Tax threshold monitoring.
- Tax planning Growth planning.
- Optimizing expenses strategies.
- Compliance system setup
- International Operations
Foreign companies in Dubai face complex tax obligations. MNEs with global revenue over €750M may face a 15% minimum UAE tax under OECD Pillar Two rules.
Specific Sectors
Industries have special tax breaks:
Banking sector:
- Regulatory specific requirements.
- Complicated tax of financial instruments.
Real estate management and building:
- Property transaction taxes
- Structuring of development projects.
Government-related entities:
- Special exemptions and obligations.
- The considerations of the public sector.
Extraction of natural resources:
- Emirate level tax together with federal tax.
- Extra royalty concessions.
Exempt Organizations
Qualifying investment funds and certain non-profits must meet FTA criteria to maintain exemption.
Social welfare organizations require advisory support to maintain status
Even exempt entities need advisors to maintain their status and prove eligibility.
The taxation is extraordinarily complex in Dubai, and professional advice can be important to all businesses. Whether it is a new business or an operation, a qualified corporate tax consultant assists in compliance as well as maximizing the tax position. UAE corporate taxation is complex. A qualified corporate tax consultant ensures compliance, maximizes tax position, and turns compliance into a strategic advantage. Contact Farahat &Co. today and get your business compliant to corporate tax laws today,
Frequently Asked Questions
What role does a consultant play in corporate tax?
A corporate tax advisor plays a crucial role, particularly for large companies whose business transactions involve multiple income sources where it may be unclear whether all or part of the income is subject to corporate tax.
In the event of a dispute with the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) in the UAE, should a company hire a specialized tax advisor or is a lawyer sufficient?
In the event of a dispute with the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) in the UAE, it is essential to hire a specialized tax advisor or tax agent. Hiring a lawyer may also be beneficial, depending on the nature of the dispute, and this decision is typically made by the company’s management.
Should a tax consultant or tax agent be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or auditor?
Yes, it is preferable for a tax consultant or tax agent to be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or an auditor.
Why is it preferable to work with a tax advisor who is also a CPA or auditor?
Corporate taxation is fundamentally based on calculating profits and losses. The outcome of these calculations determines whether a company is generating profits or incurring losses. If a company earns profits, those profits — except for income specifically exempt from tax — are generally subject to corporate tax.
A CPA or auditor possesses the accounting expertise necessary to accurately assess these financial results and ensure proper tax compliance.
What are the criteria for choosing a good tax advisor in the UAE?
A good tax advisor in the UAE should ideally:
- Be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or licensed auditor
- Be fluent in both Arabic and English
- Be affiliated with a reputable auditing firm
- Have extensive experience in tax matters and dealings with the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) in the UAE
What is the cost of hiring a tax consultant in Dubai, UAE?
The fees for a qualified tax consultant in the UAE generally range from AED 2,000 to AED 3,000 per hour.
Many tax consultants and advisory firms also offer project-based or contract-based pricing, depending on the scope and complexity of the work.
We are a medium-sized company. Would you recommend hiring a dedicated tax consultancy firm on a permanent basis?
Yes, it is generally advisable for medium-sized companies to have a permanent tax advisor to ensure ongoing compliance and proper tax planning.
Farahat & Co. is a leading accredited firm in the UAE specializing in tax services, auditing, and legal accounting.