How to Avoid VAT Fines in UAE
Fines and Penalties Directory in UAE regarding Value Added Tax
As the cost of doing business increases in Gulf Region (this article focuses on United Arab Emirates) it also comes with add-ons/ top-ups of fines and penalties. Why I termed the Fines and Penalties as Top-up or add-on because when you pay fine for some mistake, non-compliance, tax theft, tax embezzlement, tax omissions, and paying such fines/ penalties does not exempt the taxpayer/ taxable person from paying the actual due tax as per tax law in United Arab Emirates.
There are 2 sections for this one is the Fees for Services provided by the Federal Tax Authority and Administrative Penalties for Violations of Tax Laws in the UAE.
Federal Tax Authority’s Service Fees | Avoid VAT Fines in UAE
Cabinet Decision No.(39) of 2017 on Fees for Services Provided by the Federal Tax Authority outlines the fees to be collected for the services provided by the FTA to its clients.
Tax registration services and the issuance of an electronic tax registration certificate will be free of charge. An attested paper registration certificate, however, will carry a AED500 fee, while registration – and renewal – fees for tax agents were set at AED3,000 for three years.
The registration and renewal fee for an accounting software provider will be AED10,000 for one year, whereas registering a Designated Zone will cost AED2,000 per year. While there is no service fees associated with registering a Warehouse Keeper or issuing an electronic Warehouse Keeper registration certificate, an official printed certificate will cost AED500.
Administrative Fines | Avoid VAT Fines in UAE
Cabinet Resolution No. (40) of 2017 on Administrative Penalties for Violations of Tax Laws in the UAE applies to all violations of Federal Law No. (7) of 2017 on Tax Procedures, Federal Decree-Law No. (7) of 2017 on Excise Tax, and Federal Decree-Law No. (8) of 2017 on Value-Added Tax (VAT).
The Decision states that a fine must be no less than AED500 and no more than triple the value of the tax on the transaction in question. Settling a fine in accordance with this decision does not exempt the taxable person from paying the due tax in accordance with the federal law no. (7) on tax procedures & the tax laws. The decision does, nonetheless, give said Person the right to appeal any Administrative penalties they’ve incurred according to the procedures in the Federal law no. (7) on Tax procedures.
The FTA’s Directory of Service fee is given below in tabular form: –
Directory of Federal Tax Authority’s Service Fees | Avoid VAT Fines in UAE
| Service Description | Fee AED |
| Issuing of an attested paper tax registration certificate by FTA (Federal Tax Authority) | (500) for each |
| Listing of a Tax Agent in the Tax Agent Register | (3,000) for 3 years |
| Renew Listing of a Tax Agent in the Tax Agent Register | (3,000) for 3 years |
| Registration of Software provider with the Federal Tax Authority | (10,000) for 1 year |
| Renew registration of Software provider with the Federal Tax Authority | (10,000) for one year |
| Registration of Designated Zone, in accordance with the provisions of Federal Decree-Law No. (7) of 2017 on Excise Tax | (2,000) for one year |
| Issuing of an attested paper Warehouse Keeper registration certificate | (500) for each certificate |
Violations and Penalties on Value Added Tax in United Arab Emirates
Violations and Administrative Penalties related to the Implementation of the Federal Decree-
Law No. (8) of 2017 on Value Added Tax
| Description of Violation | Administrative Penalty (AED) |
| Failure by the Taxable Person to display prices inclusive of Tax. | (15,000)
If a taxpayer fails to display price inclusive of tax on the vat invoice. |
| Failure by the Taxable Person to notify the
Authority of applying Tax based on the margin. |
(2,500) |
| Failure to comply with conditions and procedures related to keeping the Goods in a Designated Zone or moving them to another Designated Zone. | The penalty shall be the higher of AED (50,000) or (50%) of the tax, if any, chargeable in respect of the goods as the result of the violation. |
| Failure by the Taxable Person to issue the Tax Invoice or an alternative document when making any supply. | (5,000) for each tax invoice or alternative document.
If the taxpayer does not issue invoice, Delivery order, dispatch note or any other document at the time of transaction he will pay AED5000 as penalty to FTA. |
| Failure by the Taxable Person to issue a Tax Credit Note or an alternative document | (5,000) for each tax credit note or alternative document.
If the taxpayer does not issue credit note or any other document at the time of such transaction he will pay AED5000 as penalty to FTA. |
| Failure by the Taxable Person to comply with the conditions and procedures regarding the issuance of electronic Tax Invoices and electronic Tax Credit Notes. | (5,000) for each incorrect document. |
Violations and Administrative Penalties related to the Implementation of the Federal Law No. b(7) of 2017 on Tax Procedures
Directory of violations and the Corresponding Administrative penalties
| Description of Violation | Administrative Penalty (AED) |
| The failure of the person conducting Business to keep the required records and other information specified in Tax Procedures Law and the Tax Law | (10,000) for the first time.
(50,000) in case of repetition. Administrative penalty of AED10000 will be imposed if the taxable person fails to keep business records for 5 years or not maintained in the required manner. |
| The failure of the person conducting Business to submit the data, records and documents related to Tax in Arabic to the Authority when requested. | (20,000)
The replies/ correspondence should be in Arabic whenever FTA requires such documents/ details/ data or records. |
| The failure of the Taxable Person to submit a registration application within the timeframe specified in the Tax Law | (20,000)
If any taxpayer fails to register with FTA registration with the timeframe given then the fine is AED20,000. |
| The failure of the Registrant to submit a
deregistration application within the timeframe specified in the Tax Law |
(10,000)
If any taxpayer fails to de-register with FTA registration with the timeframe given then the fine is AED10,000. |
| The failure of the Registrant to inform the Authority of any circumstance that requires the amendment of the information pertaining to his tax record kept by Authority. | (5,000) for the first time.
(15,000) in case of repetition |
| The failure of the person appointed as a Legal Representative for the Taxable Person to inform the Authority of his appointment within the specified timeframe. The penalties will be due from the Legal Representative’s own funds. | (20,000) |
| The failure of the person appointed as a Legal Representative for the Taxable Person to file a Tax Return within the specified timeframe. The penalties will be due from the Legal Representative’s own funds. | (1,000) for the first time.
(2,000) in case of repetition within (24) months |
| The failure of the Registrant to submit the Tax Return within the timeframe specified in the Tax Law. | (1,000) for the first time.
(2,000) in case of repetition within (24) months |
| The failure of the Taxable Person to settle the Payable Tax stated in the submitted Tax Return or Tax Assessment he was notified of, within the timeframe specified in the Tax Law. | The Taxable Person shall be obligated to pay a late payment penalty consisting of:
(2%) of the unpaid tax is due immediately once the payment of Payable Tax is late; (4%) is due on the seventh day following the deadline for payment, on the amount of tax which is still unpaid. (1%) daily penalty charged on any amount that is still unpaid one calendar month following the deadline for payment with upper ceiling of (300%) |
| The submittal of an incorrect Tax Return by the Registrant.
What if the taxable submits wrong tax return / incorrect tax return you have to pay fine AED3000 and later AED5,000 and so on. |
Two penalties are applied:
1. Fixed penalty of: (3,000) for the first time. (5,000) in case of repetition 2. Percentage based penalty shall be applied on the amount unpaid to the Authority due to the error and resulting in a tax benefit as follows: (50%) if the Registrant does not make a voluntary disclosure or he made the voluntary disclosure after being notified of the tax audit and the Authority has started the tax audit process, or after being asked for information relating to the tax audit, whichever takes place first. (30%) if the Registrant makes the voluntary disclosure after being notified of the tax audit and before the Authority starts the tax audit. (5%) if the Registrant makes a voluntary disclosure before being notified of the tax audit by the Authori |
| The Voluntary Disclosure by the Person/Taxpayer of errors in the Tax Return, Tax Assessment or Refund Application pursuant to Article 10 (1) and (2) of the Tax Procedures Law. | 1. Fixed penalty of:
(3,000) for the first time. (5,000) in case of repetition 2. Percentage based penalty shall be applied on the amount unpaid to the Authority due to the error and resulting in a tax benefit as follows: 50%) if the Person/Taxpayer makes a voluntary disclosure after being notified of the tax audit and the Authority starting the tax audit or after being asked for information relating to the tax audit, whichever takes place first. (30%) if the Person/Taxpayer makes the voluntary disclosure after being notified of the tax audit but before the start of the tax audit. (5%) if the Person/Taxpayer makes voluntary disclosure before being notified of the tax audit by the Authority. |
| The failure of the Taxable Person to voluntarily disclose errors in the Tax Return, Tax Assessment or Refund Application pursuant to Article 10 (1) and (2) of this the Tax Procedures Law before being notified that he will be subject to a Tax Audit. | Two penalties are applied:
1. Fixed penalty of: (3,000) for the first time (5,000) in case of repetition 2. (50%) of the amount unpaid to the Authority due to the error resulting in a tax benefit for the Person/ Taxpayer. |
| The failure of the Person conducting Business to facilitate the work of the Tax Auditor in violation of the provisions of Article (21) of the Tax Procedures Law. | (20,000) |
| The failure of the Registrant to calculate Tax on behalf of another Person when the registered Taxable Person is obligated to do so under the Tax Law. | The Registrant shall be obligated to pay a late payment penalty consisting of:
(2%) of the unpaid tax is due immediately once the payment of Payable Tax is late; 4%) is due on the seventh day following the deadline for payment, on the amount of tax which is still unpaid. 1%) daily penalty charged on any amount that is still unpaid one calendar month following the deadline for payment with upper ceiling of (300%). |
| A Person not accounting for any tax that may be due on import of goods as required under the Tax Law. | 50%) of unpaid or undeclared tax. |
