Registration check
Whether and by when you must register.
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Every UAE company and free zone entity, and many individuals doing business in the UAE, must register for corporate tax with the Federal Tax Authority. We prepare and submit your corporate tax registration on EmaraTax, check whether you qualify for reliefs, and make sure you meet the deadline so the AED 10,000 late registration penalty never applies.
UAE corporate tax applies under Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 at 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above it. Many businesses assume that because they will pay little or no tax, they do not need to register. That assumption is costly: registration is a separate obligation with its own deadline and penalty.
Juridical persons, including mainland companies and free zone entities, must register with the Federal Tax Authority for corporate tax. Companies incorporated now must generally register within three months of incorporation. Natural persons, including freelancers and sole traders, must register when the turnover from their business activities in the UAE exceeds AED 1 million in a calendar year. Non-resident persons with a permanent establishment or nexus in the UAE may also need to register. Registration is completed on the FTA's EmaraTax portal and results in a corporate tax registration number.
Late registration carries a fixed penalty of AED 10,000. The FTA has offered a waiver where the first corporate tax return is filed within seven months of the end of the first tax period, but relying on that is risky, so we aim to register well within the deadline. Registration is also the point at which a business should consider reliefs and elections, such as Small Business Relief for revenue of up to AED 3 million in tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2026, and Qualifying Free Zone Person status for eligible free zone entities.
Accurate registration data matters later. The legal name, licence details, financial year, ownership and authorised signatory recorded on EmaraTax drive your first tax period and return deadline, so we check them against your trade licence, memorandum of association and passport or Emirates ID records before submitting. Where details change after registration, such as a new licence activity or a change of shareholder, the FTA record should be amended so notices and returns stay correct.
After registration, the next steps are corporate tax return filing and year-round corporate tax compliance. If your turnover also crosses the VAT threshold, see UAE VAT registration. Small businesses can start with our small business tax support.
A fixed fee per entity or individual.
Whether and by when you must register.
Licence, MoA, passports and Emirates IDs.
Account set up or access confirmed.
Registration prepared and submitted.
Financial year and first period confirmed.
Small Business Relief and free zone status.
Clarifications answered until approval.
Late registration exposure and waiver options.
These are the issues that lead to penalties and problems later.
The AED 10,000 penalty applies regardless of tax payable.
We register you.New companies must register within three months of incorporation.
We track the date.Freelancers above AED 1 million turnover often do not realise they must register.
We check turnover.An incorrect year-end changes the return deadline.
We confirm it.Small Business Relief and free zone status need attention early.
We review them.Licence or ownership changes not updated with the FTA.
We amend records.Usually completed within days once documents are ready.
We confirm whether and when you must register.
Agreed per entity.
Licence, MoA and identity documents.
Application filed on EmaraTax.
TRN received and deadlines diarised.
LLCs and other UAE companies.
Including potential Qualifying Free Zone Persons.
Individuals with business turnover over AED 1 million.
Individuals trading under a licence.
Foreign companies with UAE nexus.
UAE entities owned from Pakistan.
UAE and Pakistan tax handled by one team, which matters for owners with businesses in both.
Registration completed within the window.
ACCA and ICAP Chartered Accountant qualifications.
UAE and Pakistan obligations considered together.
Small Business Relief and free zone status reviewed.
Easy contact from the UAE or Pakistan.
Agreed per entity.
Have a question that is not here? Send it to us on WhatsApp and we will reply the same day.
Send us your trade licence and incorporation date. We will confirm your deadline and quote a fixed fee.
Book your free consultationThis page is general information about our services, not tax, legal or financial advice for your specific situation. Laws, rates and deadlines change with each Finance Act and official notification.