UAE VAT
Compliance.

The UAE introduced VAT at 5% on 1 January 2018. Despite the low headline rate, UAE VAT compliance involves significant complexity — particularly around designated zones, financial services, and FTA audit activity.

Speak with our VAT team Our capabilities

Assurance — UAE VAT

Managing VAT
in the UAE.

DeccanBridge provides comprehensive VAT compliance and advisory services for UAE businesses. From registration and return filing to voluntary disclosures and FTA audit defence, our team helps businesses navigate the UAE VAT framework with confidence and efficiency.

Our VAT professionals have extensive experience across all UAE sectors including financial services, real estate, trading, logistics, healthcare, and education. We serve clients in every emirate and free zone, from DMCC and DIFC to ADGM and JAFZA, providing practical, commercially minded VAT advice.

Contact our team

✓Hyderabad, Telangana, India — serving UAE clients globally
✓+91 94922 01497
✓connect@deccanbridge.com

What we do

VAT compliance services.

VAT Registration & Returns

Mandatory registration (AED 375,000 threshold), voluntary registration for businesses below the threshold, VAT return preparation and filing on a quarterly or monthly basis, and payment scheduling with the FTA. We ensure accurate and timely compliance across all VAT periods, managing the full FTA online portal interaction.

Voluntary Disclosure & Error Correction

FTA voluntary disclosure preparation and submission to correct errors in previously filed returns. We conduct a thorough review of the historic VAT position, quantify the exposure, prepare the disclosure submission, and advise on penalty mitigation strategies before the FTA initiates a formal audit or assessment.

FTA Desk Audit Readiness & Defence

VAT audit preparation — transaction testing, VAT account reconciliation, supporting document compilation, and FTA correspondence management. We prepare businesses for FTA desk audits and field audits, representing clients throughout the audit process and preparing tax dispute submissions.

Designated Zone & VAT Grouping

Designated zone VAT treatment for goods moved within and between designated zones, input tax recovery maximisation strategies, VAT grouping for connected entities, partial exemption calculations for businesses making both taxable and exempt supplies, and cross-border supply chain VAT structuring.

Common questions

UAE VAT FAQ.

What are the core UAE VAT obligations?

5% VAT with registration above AED 375,000 turnover, periodic returns, compliant tax invoices and record-keeping — with FTA audits and penalties enforcing the detail.

Where do UAE businesses go wrong on VAT?

Input-VAT recovery on blocked categories, free-zone and designated-zone treatment, intercompany and reverse-charge handling, and bad-debt relief mechanics — recurring audit findings, all preventable.

How do you handle FTA assessments and reconsiderations?

Reconciliation-backed responses, reconsideration requests within strict deadlines, and escalation through TDRC where warranted — documentation quality decides these.

VAT Compliance Support.

Partner-led VAT engagement within one UAE business day.