VAT registration & return filing
5% sounds simple until you meet aggregator commissions, service charges, discounts and zero-rated items. We register, file and defend your VAT position with the FTA.
Our VAT service covers
- VAT registration and group registration assessment
- Quarterly return preparation and filing on the EmaraTax portal
- Output VAT reconciled to POS and sales channels
- Input VAT recovery review — claim what's allowed, exclude what isn't
- Voluntary disclosure support when past returns need correcting
- FTA audit support and penalty reconsideration requests
Industry VAT traps we catch
Restaurant VAT goes wrong in predictable places: treating Talabat payouts (net of commission) as gross sales, missing VAT on service charges, claiming input VAT on entertainment or personal expenses, and mixing VAT-inclusive and VAT-exclusive figures in the same report.
Our returns are built from reconciled books, so the sales figure on your VAT return ties to your POS, your bank and your P&L. If your past filings look off, we'll quantify the exposure and correct it through the proper voluntary disclosure route before it becomes a penalty.
FAQs
When must a UAE business register for VAT?
Registration is mandatory once taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000 in the last 12 months (or expected in the next 30 days). Voluntary registration is available from AED 187,500 — often worthwhile if you have significant input VAT to recover.
Are Talabat and Deliveroo sales VAT-inclusive?
Customer prices on aggregators are VAT-inclusive, but the payout you receive is net of commission. Your output VAT must be calculated on the gross customer sale — not on the net payout. Getting this wrong understates VAT and is a common FTA audit finding.
What are the penalties for late VAT filing?
Late filing starts at AED 1,000 for a first offence (AED 2,000 if repeated within 24 months), and late payment penalties accrue on unpaid tax. Fixing errors proactively through voluntary disclosure is far cheaper than waiting for an FTA assessment.
Can you fix VAT returns filed incorrectly in the past?
Yes. We re-perform the workings, quantify the difference and file a voluntary disclosure where required. Many corrections also go in your favour — unclaimed input VAT is recoverable within the time limits.
Free VAT health check
Send your last filed return and we'll benchmark it against your bank and POS data — free.