Maksym Stepanenko
Managing Partner, Crystal Tax
International client projects since 2012: company structures, tax, immigration, DUNS and NCAGE. 50+ jurisdictions.
- Telegram
Accounting services in Dubai and the UAE, turnkey: we keep the books, prepare audit-ready financial statements and file corporate tax and VAT returns on time.
Since 2012 · 50+ jurisdictions · UAE accounting and the CFC report in Ukraine in one team · first consultation free
In brief
- Accounting services in Dubai and the UAE are a legal need: every UAE company, including a free zone company, must keep records, retain documents for 7 years and file a corporate tax return within 9 months of the end of its financial year.
- Corporate tax is 9% on profit above AED 375,000. VAT is 5%, and the return is filed and the tax paid by the 28th day after the end of the tax period.
- We provide IFRS bookkeeping services in the UAE, reconcile the bank, prepare financial statements and the auditor's package, handle UAE corporate tax filing through EmaraTax and prepare the CFC report for an owner who is a Ukrainian tax resident.
- Usually, in our experience, setting up the books takes 1–2 weeks, and restoring a past year takes 3–6 weeks. The timeline depends on the case, the volume of documents, the work of the authorities and force majeure.
Your situation
Pick the situation closest to yours: a short outline of the task and the first step.
The company has just been registered
We set up the books from day one and check the tax registrations. First step: we review the license, the financial year and the corporate tax registration deadline.
Example. An IT company received a free zone license a month ago. We register it for corporate tax within the three months, set up the chart of accounts, connect the bank and put the reporting deadlines in the calendar.
Discuss this case →A free zone company and the 0% rate
We check whether the qualifying person conditions are met and prepare audited financial statements. First step: we break down income by type and review substance in the zone.
Example. A DMCC trading company sells goods to buyers outside the UAE and wants to apply the 0% rate. We split revenue into qualifying and other income, calculate the non-qualifying income threshold and prepare the statements for audit.
Discuss this case →The books were not kept or contain errors
We restore the books for past periods and close open issues. First step: we collect statements, invoices and contracts and list the missed obligations.
Example. A company worked for a year and a half without an accountant, and the bank is asking for financial statements. We restore the books from the statements, prepare the financial statements, register the company with the FTA and file the overdue documents.
Discuss this case →Turnover is approaching the VAT threshold
We monitor turnover over 12 months and register the company for VAT on time. First step: we calculate taxable supplies and check which supplies are zero-rated.
Example. A Dubai agency invoices clients in the UAE and abroad. We calculate taxable turnover, register the company for VAT before the threshold is exceeded and set up VAT invoicing.
Discuss this case →The owner is a Ukrainian tax resident
The company's financial statements are also needed for the CFC report in Ukraine. First step: we align the company's financial year with the Ukrainian filing deadlines.
Example. The owner of a free zone company lives in Kyiv. We prepare the company's financial statements, calculate the adjusted CFC profit from them and file the CFC report together with the tax return.
Discuss this case →Changing accountants
We take over the books from the previous accountant and check the balances. First step: we request the database, statements and filed returns and reconcile them with the bank.
Example. The accountant left just before the corporate tax return was due. We take over the books, check the balances and adjustments and file the return on time.
Discuss this case →What our accounting services in Dubai and the UAE include
Accounting support for a UAE company covers bookkeeping, reporting and tax: you get closed periods, filed returns and a calendar of deadlines.
- Bookkeeping. We post bank transactions, invoices and expenses, track balances with clients, suppliers and owners and close the month.
- Financial statements. We prepare statements under IFRS or IFRS for SMEs and a document package for the auditor.
- Corporate tax. FTA registration, taxable income calculation, the return through EmaraTax, related party disclosures.
- VAT. Threshold monitoring, registration, quarterly or monthly returns, invoicing.
- Beneficial ownership register. We keep owner information up to date.
- Restoring the books. We close past periods and file missed documents.
- CFC in Ukraine. Based on the company's financial statements, we prepare the CFC report for the owner.
If you do not have a company yet, start with UAE company formation: we set up accounting right after the license is issued.
Send us the company's license and financial year, and we will tell you which filings and deadlines are ahead.
UAE corporate tax filing, VAT and other reporting deadlines
The key deadlines for a UAE company are the corporate tax return 9 months after the end of the financial year and VAT returns by the 28th day after each tax period.
| Obligation | Who files / Deadline |
|---|---|
| Corporate tax registration | Who files: All resident companies, free zone included Deadline: New companies: within 3 months of incorporation |
| Corporate tax return and payment | Who files: All registered companies Deadline: Within 9 months of the end of the tax period |
| VAT return and payment | Who files: VAT-registered companies Deadline: By the 28th day after the end of the tax period. The standard period is a quarter, and the FTA may assign another |
| Audited financial statements | Who files: Qualifying free zone persons and companies with revenue above AED 50 million. Zones also require an audit under their own rules, for example DMCC and JAFZA every year Deadline: For tax, with the return. In DMCC, within 6 months of the end of the financial year |
| CFC report in Ukraine | Who files: An owner who is a Ukrainian tax resident Deadline: Together with the annual tax return in Ukraine |
| Beneficial ownership register | Who files: Mainland companies and companies in commercial free zones Deadline: Changes are recorded within 15 days |
Records and supporting documents are kept for 7 years for corporate tax, 5 years for VAT and 15 years for real estate. We track all deadlines in one calendar so that the figures reported in the UAE and in Ukraine match.
What the cost of accounting services in Dubai and the UAE depends on
We price accounting in the UAE by workload: the cost depends on the number of transactions and on which reports the company needs.
- the number of bank accounts, currencies and transactions per month;
- free zone or mainland, the zone's audit requirements;
- VAT registration and filing frequency;
- whether the company applies the 0% rate as a qualifying free zone person;
- related party transactions and transfer pricing;
- employees and payroll;
- restoring the books for past periods;
- the owner's CFC report in Ukraine.
We work under a contract. Send a short description of the company, and within one business day we will send an estimate with the scope of work.
Why clients trust us with accounting for their UAE company
Accounting in the UAE ties together bookkeeping, audit, two taxes and the owner's reporting in Ukraine, and clients have trusted us with it for years for five reasons:
In business since 2012
For fourteen years we have looked after client companies in 50+ jurisdictions: registrations, bank accounts, tax and reporting. We know the requirements of tax authorities, zones and banks from our own cases.
We deal with the FTA, zones and auditors
We prepare the returns and answer requests from the FTA, the zone, the bank and the auditor. We need documents and answers to our questions from you.
We see the job through
We address comments from the tax authority, the auditor or the bank at no extra charge until the period is closed. The audit is carried out by an independent audit firm, and we handle the preparation and support.
One team for the whole structure
UAE bookkeeping, taxes, the CFC report in Ukraine and the company itself are handled by one team of Crystal Tax lawyers and accountants. The figures in both countries match.
Contract and confidentiality
The scope of work, timelines and confidentiality are set out in the contract. We disclose company information only to the extent the tax authority, the zone and the auditor require.
How we handle bookkeeping for a UAE company: step by step
Accounting support with us goes through six stages. From you we need bank access, transaction documents and answers to our questions.
- Company review. License, zone, financial year, tax registrations, past periods. The first consultation is free.
- Setting up the books. Chart of accounts, bank access, document flow.
- Monthly bookkeeping. We post transactions, reconcile the bank and close the month.
- VAT. We prepare and file returns on time if the company is registered.
- Annual financial statements. We prepare the financial statements and the auditor's package and answer the auditor's questions.
- Corporate tax and CFC. We file the return with the FTA and prepare the CFC report in Ukraine.
Documents needed for accounting in the UAE
Bookkeeping needs statements for all accounts and documents for every transaction, and to get started we need the company's corporate documents.
- license, memorandum of association, certificate of incorporation, owner details;
- corporate tax and VAT registration certificates, if any;
- bank and payment service statements;
- client and supplier invoices, contracts;
- employee and payroll documents;
- previously filed returns and financial statements, if the company is past its first year.
UAE corporate tax and VAT: reference
UAE corporate tax applies to financial years starting on or after 1 June 2023, under Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022.
| Tax | Rate and conditions |
|---|---|
| Corporate tax | 0% on taxable profit up to AED 375,000, 9% above |
| Qualifying free zone person | 0% on qualifying income if the conditions are met: substance in the UAE, audited financial statements, compliance with transfer pricing rules, non-qualifying revenue no higher than 5% of total revenue or AED 5 million, whichever is lower. If a condition is breached, the status is lost from the start of the tax period and for the four following periods |
| Small Business Relief | A resident with revenue of no more than AED 3 million in the current and all previous tax periods may elect Small Business Relief and be treated as having no taxable income. Ministerial Decision No. 131 of 2026 extended the relief to tax periods ending no later than 31 December 2029. It does not apply to qualifying free zone persons or members of large multinational groups |
| VAT | 5%. Mandatory registration when taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000 over 12 months, voluntary from AED 187,500 |
Financial statements
Financial statements for corporate tax are prepared under IFRS. Companies with revenue up to AED 50 million may use IFRS for SMEs, and those with revenue up to AED 3 million may use the cash basis. For tax periods starting on or after 1 January 2025, Ministerial Decision No. 84 of 2025 makes an audit mandatory for qualifying free zone persons and companies with revenue above AED 50 million.
Related party transactions
If related party transactions for the period exceed AED 40 million, a disclosure of them is attached to the corporate tax return. A master file and a local file are required for companies with revenue of AED 200 million or more, or in groups with revenue of AED 3.15 billion or more.
E-invoicing
The UAE is introducing mandatory e-invoicing through accredited service providers under Ministerial Decision No. 244 of 2025, as amended in 2026:
- from 1 July 2026, a pilot and voluntary adoption;
- revenue of AED 50 million or more: provider appointed by 30 October 2026, mandatory from 1 January 2027;
- revenue below AED 50 million: provider appointed by 31 March 2027, mandatory from 1 July 2027.
We prepare our clients' bookkeeping for the switch in advance.
Economic substance
Economic Substance Regulations reporting was abolished for financial years ending after 31 December 2022. Obligations for earlier years remain.
What happens if a UAE company misses its filings
The FTA imposes administrative penalties for corporate tax and VAT breaches, and free zones have their own reporting and audit requirements.
- late corporate tax registration: AED 10,000. The FTA waives this penalty if the first return is filed within 7 months of the end of the first tax period;
- late VAT return: AED 1,000, and AED 2,000 for a repeat within 24 months;
- late VAT payment: 14% per year, charged monthly on the unpaid amount;
- failure to keep VAT records: AED 10,000, and AED 20,000 for a repeat within 24 months;
- without audited financial statements, a free zone company loses the 0% qualifying person rate for the current and four following tax periods;
- during a review the bank requests financial statements and may restrict transactions if there are none.
The VAT penalty amounts are those in force from 14 April 2026. If deadlines have already been missed, we start with a list of obligations and file the documents in an order that reduces penalties where the FTA rules allow it.
How to start accounting support in the UAE
To start, send us the license, the financial year and the number of bank accounts, and tell us whether books were kept before. We will assess the task within one business day and propose the scope of work.
Other international business services
Sources
Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 on Corporate Tax; FTA: Corporate Tax registration; FTA: waiver of the late registration penalty; Ministerial Decision No. 84 of 2025 on Audited Financial Statements; Ministerial Decision No. 114 of 2023 on Accounting Standards; MoF: Small Business Relief extended to 31 December 2029; FTA: VAT registration; Cabinet Decision No. 40 of 2017 on penalties, consolidated; MoF: amendments to the e-invoicing decisions; DMCCA Company Regulations; Tax Code of Ukraine, Article 39-2. Reviewed and updated on 27.09.2026.
Page rating5 / 5
Frequently asked questions
Does a free zone company in the UAE need accounting?
How much do accounting services in Dubai and the UAE cost?
When is the UAE corporate tax return due?
At what turnover must a UAE company register for VAT?
Does a UAE company need an audit?
What if the company never registered for corporate tax?
Which accounting standard applies in the UAE?
How long must accounting records be kept in the UAE?
Can you restore the books for past years?
Are the UAE company's financial statements needed for the CFC report in Ukraine?
If you find an error or inaccuracy in the text, select it and press Ctrl + Enter
- Telegram
What clients say
5.0
Client reviews on Google Maps
-
“Crystal Tax provided invaluable assistance in setting up our company in the United Arab Emirates…”
Yevelina K.2 years ago · Google Maps
-
“Opening a bank account abroad sounded scary at first, but Crystal Tax made it super easy. They knew exactly which banks to approach, what paperwork was needed…”
Sergei M.a year ago · Google Maps
-
“As a fast-growing startup, we needed clear, actionable tax advice — and Crystal Tax delivered exactly that. No jargon, no fluff.”
Inna M.a year ago · Google Maps
Order a service
Briefly describe your task: the country, the business activity and the timing. That is enough for us to propose a solution and the order of work.
We reply within one business day.
Or message us
Telegram
WhatsApp