UAE

For now, it has been made clear that the regime of Corporate Tax in UAE will follow best global practices and is expected to be implemented with easy corporate tax compliance requirements.

The corporate tax in UAE will be payable on the profits of UAE businesses as reported in their financial statements prepared in accordance with internationally accepted accounting standards. There will be minimal exceptions and adjustments. This clearly means that financial statements must now be without exception audited on time.

The extraction of natural resources, likely to remain subject to emirate-level corporate taxation (for example, a different corporate tax in Dubai from one in Abu Dhabi or any other emirate) is to be the only business activity with tax exception, the announcement says. Exemptions, subject to some conditions, will also apply to entities operating in Free Zones.

With this introduction of conditions, concerns about the global minimum 15% income tax are also likely to be addressed. No withholding taxes will be imposed, and with the Foreign Tax credit in the UAE, there will be no payment of additional taxes to the extent of credit allowed.

There is to be no corporate tax in UAE on capital gains and dividends which will continue to boost the holding company structure. The new tax regime allows group tax registrations or taxability at a group level. Hence, inter-company losses shall be allowed in computing taxable profits. Transfer pricing and documentation requirements will apply to UAE businesses in reference to the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines.

Corporate Tax Implementation in the UAE

In the UAE’s rapidly evolving legal and compliance environment, this new UAE Corporate Tax ( Dubai/UAE CT) and its administrative corporate tax compliance framework will be widely discussed. The wider regional and global economy will watch the rollout closely and factor in the corporate tax rate in UAE into their calculations. While it merits reiterating that the UAE corporate tax rate would still be amongst the lowest anywhere, it is still a quantum leap from the old tax regime. Its introduction affects the entire gamut of business operations from prices, marketing, and accounting procedures to documentation and IT infrastructure. Businesses with activities in the UAE ( from Offshore and Onshore) will need to consider the implications of Company Tax on their transactions including cross-border transactions and entity structure and ensure compliance with the new Corporate Tax requirements. Effective Corporate Tax planning rolled out early in the game will be crucial for all businesses operating in the UAE.

Make a Smooth and Seamless Transition to the New Era with Masterkey’s UAE CT Offerings

Most top businesses in the country have already begun their UAE CT readiness assessments. Early preparation for corporate tax compliance is critical to avoiding higher implementation costs as well as reducing the pressure on internal teams to complete these preparations within a tight last-minute deadline. At Masterkey Corporate Services, our expertise and experience will help you navigate this new landscape and ensure your organization makes a smooth and seamless transition to the Corporate Tax era.

Key advantages to working with MBG Corporate Services

1. The team has extensive experience and expertise in handling tax transactions of fortune 500 conglomerates, domestic corporates comprising large, medium, and small enterprises, and family business offices;

2. The team has advised several businesses in planning and structuring their transactions based on global tax practices, corporate tax doctrines, and the country’s local tax laws;

3. The team possesses acumen and a proven track record in successfully completing client engagements in a range of cross-border transactions and is competent to advise on the whole range of international tax practices based on concepts of double taxation avoidance agreements, OECD framework (including Transfer Pricing Guidelines) and BEPS principles;

4. The team has expertise in the structuring of transactions for consortiums for turnkey projects and Engineering, procurement, and construction contracts having obligations of “off-shore” and “on-shore” supplies and services of designing, engineering, and drawings;

5. The team has managed several transactions of business restructuring involving mergers, spin-offs, and other corporate restructuring transactions and is well-versed with tax implications arising in such arrangements;