Tax Advisory — VAT
VAT services cover registration, quarterly return filing and deregistration under the UAE's 5% VAT regime. FMCA handles the full VAT lifecycle for UAE and KSA businesses — from mandatory or voluntary registration through ongoing return filing and FTA audit support — as one connected service.
Reviewed by FMCA's Senior Tax Advisory Team — registered FTA tax agents serving clients across the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Four connected parts of the VAT lifecycle, handled by one team from registration through deregistration.
Mandatory or voluntary registration filed correctly, with the TRN issued and the right effective date confirmed.
Returns prepared and filed on schedule from books already reconciled, with input VAT properly claimed.
Handled correctly when a business closes, restructures, or drops below the threshold — deregistering late carries its own penalty.
Direct representation if the FTA opens a VAT audit or information request — not left to the business to navigate alone.
VAT is deadline-driven — most of the real cost comes from timing, not the tax itself.
Missing the mandatory registration deadline once taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000 carries a fixed FTA penalty.
Late or incorrect quarterly returns compound — repeated late filing increases the likelihood of an FTA audit.
Continuing to file after a business should have deregistered creates its own compliance exposure — deregistration has a deadline too.
This is why FMCA manages VAT as one connected service tied to bookkeeping and corporate tax — not a standalone filing task disconnected from the rest of the compliance calendar.
The right timing depends on where your business actually sits against the threshold.
Our Approach
FMCA's tax practice is led by registered FTA tax agents with direct representation rights in FTA correspondence and audits — not a bookkeeper filling in a form and hoping it's accepted.
How We Work
Illustrative scenarios based on the kind of work we do — not descriptions of specific named clients.
Voluntary VAT registration filed early to recover input VAT on setup costs, ahead of crossing the mandatory threshold.
A missed VAT return identified and filed with a voluntary disclosure before the FTA flagged it, limiting the penalty exposure.
VAT treatment for a designated free zone activity confirmed correctly at registration, avoiding a reclassification later.
Explore Further
Dedicated pages covering the full scope of related work — explore each in depth.
Related Insights
FAQ
Mandatory once taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000 in a 12-month period; voluntary registration is available earlier and is sometimes advantageous for recovering input VAT.
Recovering input VAT on business expenses before you're required to register — useful for businesses with significant setup costs ahead of revenue.
Typically a few business days once the application and supporting documents are complete.
Designated zone treatment depends on the specific activity — it's confirmed at registration rather than assumed automatically.
The FTA applies fixed penalties for both late registration and late or incorrect return filing, increasing with repeated non-compliance.
Tell us where things stand and a senior consultant will get back to you directly — not a call centre.
