VAT Registration Services in Dubai, UAE
Registered Tax Agent Regulated by the FTA (Federal Tax Authority)
VAT Registration Services
End-to-End VAT Registration Support — Accurate, Timely, and Fully FTA Compliant
Under Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2017, businesses meeting the VAT registration threshold are required to register with the Federal Tax Authority and obtain a Tax Registration Number before charging VAT on taxable supplies.
Farahat & Co. provides professional VAT registration services — managing the full process from eligibility assessment and document preparation through to TRN issuance and first-filing readiness.
VAT Registration Requirements in the UAE
VAT registration eligibility is determined by a business’s annual taxable turnover. Before applying, businesses must identify which category applies to them.
Mandatory Registration Businesses with annual taxable supplies exceeding AED 375,000 are required to register for VAT. Registration is also mandatory if a business expects to exceed this threshold within the next 30 days.
Voluntary Registration Businesses with taxable supplies or expenses exceeding AED 187,500 — but below the mandatory threshold — may choose to register voluntarily. This can be beneficial for businesses that wish to recover input VAT on their expenses.
Key compliance points to be aware of:
- VAT is charged at 5% on standard-rated supplies — some supplies are zero-rated or exempt
- VAT returns must be filed and payments made within 28 days of the end of each tax period
- Records must be maintained for a minimum of five years
- VAT-compliant invoices must be issued to customers, including the TRN
Types of VAT Registration
Mandatory Registration: Businesses resident in the UAE whose taxable supplies have exceeded AED 375,000 in the previous 12 months are required to register. Registration is also mandatory if the threshold is expected to be exceeded within the next 30 days.
For non-resident businesses making taxable supplies in the UAE, there is no threshold — VAT registration is mandatory regardless of turnover.
Voluntary Registration: UAE-resident businesses with taxable supplies or expenses between AED 187,500 and AED 375,000 may apply for voluntary VAT registration. This applies where the threshold has been exceeded in the past 12 months or is expected to be exceeded within the next 30 days.
Which Businesses Need to Register for VAT?
VAT registration applies to businesses across all sectors that make taxable supplies above the relevant threshold. Common business types that require VAT registration include:
- Trading and manufacturing businesses
- Professional and consultancy services
- Real estate and construction companies
- Logistics and transportation providers
- E-commerce and digital services
- Importers and exporters
Before registration, we assess whether your supplies are standard-rated, zero-rated, or exempt — ensuring your registration is structured correctly from the outset.
Our VAT Registration Process
VAT registration is completed through the FTA’s EmaraTax portal. Farahat & Co. manages every step of the process on your behalf.
Step 1 — Eligibility Assessment: We review your business activities and turnover to determine whether mandatory or voluntary registration applies, and advise on the most appropriate registration structure.
Step 2 — Document Preparation: We collect and verify all required documentation before submission. Standard documents include:
- Trade licence
- Emirates ID and passport copies of the business owner and authorised signatories
- Memorandum of Association or Articles of Association
- Bank account details including IBAN and a recent bank statement
- Financial statements for the past 12 months — or a 12-month revenue forecast for new businesses
- Proof of business address — tenancy contract, Ejari, or utility bill
- Sample sales or purchase invoices
- Customs information where applicable
- Power of Attorney if a tax agent is handling the registration
Step 3 — Application Submission: We complete and submit the VAT registration application through EmaraTax — ensuring all fields are accurately completed to minimise FTA queries.
Step 4 — FTA Follow-Up and TRN Issuance: We manage all FTA communication and respond to any clarification requests promptly. Once approved, your Tax Registration Number is issued and we confirm your registration is active.
VAT Registration for Limited Companies
For limited companies, accurate turnover calculation is critical — only taxable supplies are included in the threshold assessment, and errors in this calculation are a common cause of registration delays.
Our VAT registration support for limited companies includes:
- Turnover reconciliation against taxable supplies only
- Business activity mapping to confirm the correct VAT treatment
- Tax period determination
- TRN issuance support and post-registration compliance setup
This ensures your company is correctly registered and fully compliant with FTA regulations from day one.
Important Considerations for First-Time VAT Registrants
If this is your first VAT registration, early preparation makes the process significantly smoother. Key points to address before and after registration:
- VAT can only be charged on supplies made after the TRN has been issued — not before
- All VAT invoices must comply with FTA formatting requirements from the date of registration
- Your accounting system must be VAT-enabled and capable of producing compliant records and returns
- Financial records must be retained for a minimum of five years
We guide new registrants through their obligations from the outset — ensuring they understand the requirements and are set up correctly to avoid late registration penalties and filing errors.
What are the documents required for VAT registration in the UAE?
The process of registering for value added tax in the UAE can seem a bit overwhelming, but it’s much smoother if you have all your documents in place. The exact paperwork can vary based on your business type and activities; the basic checklist for registration is clearly outlined below:
Required Documents for value added tax Registration in the UAE include the following:
Business and Ownership Details:
- The trade license certificate of the company
- The Memorandum of Association (MOA) or Articles of Association
- A copy of the passport for the business owner(s) and the Emirates ID for authorized signatories.
Financial and Operational Information:
- Your business’s bank account details, including the IBAN and a recent bank statement or letter from the bank.
- Proof of your business’s address, such as a utility bill, a tenancy contract (Ejari), or a lease agreement.
- Financial statements from the last 12 months, if applicable. If it’s a new business, you’ll need a projected revenue forecast for the next 12 months instead.
- Sample sales or purchase invoices.
- Customs information if your business imports or exports goods.
Additional Documents (If Applicable):
- A Power of Attorney if a tax agent or consultant is handling the registration for you.
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Common VAT Registration Mistakes to Avoid
Errors in the registration application can result in delays, rejections, or FTA penalties. The most common mistakes businesses make include:
- Incomplete or inaccurate documentation — missing or incorrect documents are the primary cause of application rejection. All records should be verified before submission
- Incorrect turnover declaration — overstating or understating turnover can raise concerns with the FTA and delay the application
- Using a personal bank account — the application must include a business bank account registered in the company’s name
- Late registration — businesses must register within 30 days of exceeding the AED 375,000 threshold. Missing this deadline results in significant penalties
- Application errors — small technical errors in the online form are a common cause of rejection for self-submitted applications. Working with a registered tax agent reduces this risk significantly
Why Choose Farahat & Co. for VAT Registration?
Farahat & Co. is a registered FTA tax agent with over 40 years of experience supporting businesses across the UAE with VAT compliance. We manage the full VAT registration process from initial eligibility assessment and document preparation through to application submission, FTA communication, and TRN issuance.
Our team ensures that your registration is accurate, submitted on time, and structured correctly for your business type — giving you a clean compliance record with the FTA from day one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is VAT registration mandatory in the UAE?
What is the voluntary VAT registration threshold?
What is the standard VAT rate in the UAE?
Who is exempt from VAT in the UAE?
What documents are required for VAT registration?
What happens if a business exceeds the VAT registration threshold?
Is VAT registration a one-time process?
Who pays VAT in the UAE?
Can Farahat & Co. assist with VAT registration?
+971 52 6922588 | Tel: +971 4 2500251 | E-mail: [email protected]