Dubai: UAE businesses that missed the corporate tax registration deadline now have just over 30 days to meet a crucial deadline and avoid a Dh10,000 penalty.
These businesses must file their corporate tax returns for the January–December 2024 financial period by the end of July 2025. Timely filing will make them eligible for a penalty waiver, even if their corporate tax registration was delayed.
Who Needs to File by July?
Only businesses that registered late—but still fall within the Federal Tax Authority’s (FTA) special waiver provision—must file within 7 months of the end of their financial year, not the standard 9 months.
For businesses whose financial year runs January to December, the standard tax return deadline is September 2025. But for late registrants hoping to avoid penalties, July 31 is the cut-off date.
For companies with April to March financial years, the return deadline will be October 2025.
Penalty Waiver Conditions
According to tax consultants, many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) misunderstood corporate tax (CT) registration rules, confusing them with VAT registration thresholds.
“For VAT, registration is based on a Dh375,000 revenue threshold. But with corporate tax, even a business with zero revenue must register,” said Mustaq Khatri, CEO of mkACE Management Consultants.
To assist businesses, the FTA has been conducting awareness workshops, including a recent session in Ras Al Khaimah, to clarify how to determine taxable income and the importance of timely filing.
The FTA emphasized:
“To qualify for the penalty waiver, tax returns must be submitted within seven months from the end of the first tax period.”
Key Takeaway
The next 30 days are critical. Businesses that registered late should act now, ensure all tax processes are complete, and file their returns by July 31 to avoid costly fines and stay compliant with UAE tax regulations.
