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VAT Return Filing Services in the UAE

We prepare, reconcile and submit your VAT return on EmaraTax ahead of the 28th-day deadline, for businesses in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah.

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  • Every return checked against your sales, purchase and bank records
  • Input VAT claimed only where a valid tax invoice supports it
  • Monthly and quarterly filers, including nil returns

When is your next VAT return due?

Return and payment due

By the 28th day after your tax period ends

The FTA must receive your return and any VAT payable by this date. Your exact tax periods are shown in your EmaraTax account.

Get help with this return

UAE VAT filing, done properly every period

Every VAT-registered business in the UAE files a VAT return for each tax period the Federal Tax Authority assigns to it. For most businesses that means quarterly; once annual turnover reaches AED 150 million, it is usually monthly. The return reports your standard-rated, zero-rated and exempt sales, your imports and the VAT you can recover on costs. It must reach the FTA, together with any VAT payable, no later than the 28th day after the period ends.

In UAE VAT return filing, the arithmetic is the easy part. The work sits in the records behind it: invoices that meet the tax invoice rules, sales split by emirate, imports that match customs declarations, credit notes, reverse-charge purchases and corrections from earlier periods. Professional VAT return filing puts an experienced reviewer between your records and the FTA, so the figures you submit are figures you can explain.

5%
standard VAT rate on most goods and services
28 days
to file the return and pay after each tax period
5 years
to keep VAT records after the period they relate to
Illustration of two advisers completing a VAT filing form with AED amounts

What a late or incorrect VAT return can cost

The UAE's tax penalty schedule was revised with effect from 14 April 2026. These are the amounts that now apply to the most common VAT return problems.

What happened Penalty
VAT return filed after the deadline AED 1,000 the first time; AED 2,000 for each repeat within 24 months
VAT paid after the deadline 14% a year on the unpaid tax, charged monthly from the day after the due date
Incorrect return submitted AED 500, unless corrected before the filing deadline, or by a voluntary disclosure that does not change the tax due
Error corrected by voluntary disclosure 1% a month on the tax difference, from the day after the original return was due
Error found by the FTA before you disclosed it A fixed 15% of the tax difference, plus 1% a month
Required records not kept AED 10,000; AED 20,000 for a repeat within 24 months

Source: Cabinet Decision No. 40 of 2017 on administrative penalties for violations of UAE tax laws, as amended by Cabinet Decision No. 129 of 2025, published by the UAE Ministry of Finance. This is a summary, not legal advice.

Behind on a return? Tell us which period was missed and we'll explain what it takes to bring your filings up to date.

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Our VAT return filing services

Professional VAT filing in UAE starts with the records behind each box of the return. Here is what we check for each one before anything is submitted. Select a service to see where it sits on the return.

VAT return

Sample figures · Tax period 1 Jul to 30 Sep 2026

Box Description Amount (AED) VAT (AED)
VAT on sales and all other outputs
1a Standard-rated supplies, Abu Dhabi 120,000 6,000
1b Standard-rated supplies, Dubai 340,000 17,000
1f Standard-rated supplies, Ras Al Khaimah 85,000 4,250
3 Supplies subject to the reverse charge 40,000 2,000
4 Zero-rated supplies 60,000 –
5 Exempt supplies 0 –
6 Goods imported into the UAE 75,000 3,750
VAT on expenses and all other inputs
9 Standard-rated expenses 210,000 10,500
10 Supplies subject to the reverse charge 115,000 5,750
Net VAT due
12 Total value of due tax 33,000
13 Total value of recoverable tax 16,250
14 Payable tax for the period 16,750

Also part of our VAT filing services in UAE

  • VAT return preparation from your books, or from raw invoices and statements
  • Reconciliation of sales and purchase ledgers to bank statements
  • Filing and submission on EmaraTax, with the confirmation saved for your records
  • Nil returns for periods with no taxable activity
  • Voluntary disclosures to correct errors in earlier periods
  • VAT refund applications for excess recoverable tax
  • Replies to FTA questions about a return you have submitted
  • A VAT health check before your first return, or after a change in your business

What we need from you each period

Send what you have: a login to your cloud accounting software, exported reports or a folder of invoices. We'll tell you early if anything is missing, not on the 27th.

We work from Zoho Books, QuickBooks, Xero, Tally, Oracle NetSuite and spreadsheets, so there's no need to change how you keep your records.

Not sure what you have? Contact our team

Your VAT pack

For each tax period

Sales

  • Sales invoices and credit notes issued
  • Sales register or ledger export for the period
  • Export and shipping evidence for zero-rated sales

Purchases and expenses

  • Supplier tax invoices and credit notes
  • Staff expense claims with their receipts
  • Invoices from overseas suppliers of services

Imports

  • Customs import declarations for the period
  • Freight and clearing agent invoices

Bank and other records

  • Bank, card and payment-gateway statements
  • Petty cash records
  • Purchases or sales of business assets

First period with us? Add your VAT registration certificate and the last return you filed.

How submitting a VAT return with us works

Every period runs on the same 28-day clock, and submitting VAT returns on time depends on the first three weeks. We do most of the work then, so the final days are for your approval and payment, not for chasing invoices. Timings depend on when your records arrive.

  1. Days 1–7 after the period ends

    You upload invoices, statements and customs documents to a shared folder, or give us read access to your accounting software. We confirm what's arrived and list anything still missing.

  2. Days 5–15

    We reconcile sales and purchases to your bank statements, test tax invoices, split sales by emirate and match imports to customs declarations. Questions come to you in one list, not one at a time.

  3. Days 12–20

    A senior consultant reviews the draft return against your previous periods and trading pattern. You receive a short summary of the figures, what changed and why.

  4. Days 18–25

    Once you approve the figures, the return is submitted on EmaraTax. You get the UAE VAT submission confirmation and a copy of the filed return for your records.

  5. By the 28th day

    You pay any VAT due so it reaches the FTA by the deadline. If the return shows excess recoverable tax, we help you carry it forward or request a refund.

Why ADS Auditors for VAT filing

VAT, accounting and corporate tax in one team

Your VAT returns, books and corporate tax return are prepared by people who work together, so the numbers agree with each other when the FTA, a bank or an auditor compares them.

Offices in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah

Our head office is on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai and we have a branch in Ras Al Khaimah. Businesses elsewhere in the UAE, including Abu Dhabi, work with us remotely.

One point of contact

A dedicated relationship manager who knows your business, your tax periods and the documents you usually send.

A fee agreed before we start

We scope the work first and give you a fixed fee in writing, so there are no surprises at the end of each period.

Who we help with VAT returns

A trader completing a customs declaration form on a desktop computer
SMEs and first-time filers
Recently registered for VAT? We set up a clean filing routine from your first period, so your first return isn't the one that goes wrong.
Trading companies
Imports, re-exports and designated zone movements reconciled to your customs declarations, Box 6 and your stock records.
Service providers
Consultancies, agencies and contractors with clients abroad, where zero-rating and the place of supply decide how much VAT you charge.
E-commerce businesses
Marketplace payouts, payment-gateway fees, refunds and cross-border orders matched to the sales you report.
Businesses with several locations
Sales reported against the right emirate when you trade from more than one branch, showroom or warehouse.

VAT filing in Dubai, Abu Dhabi & RAK

Box 1 of every UAE VAT return splits standard-rated sales by emirate, so where you trade shapes how your return is prepared. We support VAT-registered businesses in all three emirates.

Towers along Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai seen from the Dubai Metro line

VAT return filing in Dubai

Our head office is on Sheikh Zayed Road. Dubai businesses often run mainland and free zone companies side by side, each with its own VAT registration and filing calendar. We keep each one on schedule and its records ready for review.

Abu Dhabi skyline at night seen from the Corniche

VAT filing for Abu Dhabi businesses

Contractors, trading firms and service companies in Abu Dhabi work with us remotely, sharing records through secure folders or their accounting software, with a review call before each return is submitted.

Aerial view of Ras Al Khaimah city and its mangrove creek beside the UAE flag

VAT filing in Ras Al Khaimah

Our Ras Al Khaimah branch supports businesses across the emirate, including companies in its free zones, with VAT returns that line up with their accounting and corporate tax filings.

What Our Clients Say

Excellent

Rated 4.9 · Based on 1,500+ reviews

  • Rashed Khatri

    Google review

    Ms. Meenakshi and her team has assisted me for all the VAT related issues on a timely basis, from the begining of my VAT registration till the filing of VAT on quarterly basis, they provide us update without we following up to them.

    Good Work, and recommend others as well to try their service.

  • TJT

    Google review

    Great service, and efficient communication, and Mr. Lyju did a great job in assisting me to get the right solutions for my issues.

  • Lal Singh K Kailey

    Google review

    I highly recommend this business. I am very impressed with their professionalism and customer service.

  • P G

    Google review

    Thanks to ADS team for the professional service, We are happy to recommend them.

    Rgds / Prasad Gopinath
    Director
    GoTranz Logistics LLC, Dubai

  • 小张

    Google review

    Fast work and best service. Thanks so much

  • Rizwan Rafeeque

    Google review

    Great service.

  • Zachariah Thomas

    Google review

    Good company

Enquire about VAT filing

Tell us how you file today and when your next return is due. A specialist will come back to you with what's needed and a fixed-fee quote.

  1. We review your enquiry and contact you, usually within one working day.
  2. A short call to understand your tax periods, software and records.
  3. A written scope and fee before any work begins.

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VAT return filing FAQs

Straight answers on UAE VAT returns, deadlines and corrections. If yours isn't here, ask us directly.

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What is the deadline for VAT return filing in the UAE?

Your VAT return, and any VAT payable, must reach the Federal Tax Authority no later than the 28th day after the end of your tax period, unless the FTA directs a different date. For a quarter ending 30 September, the deadline is 28 October. The deadline finder at the top of this page works it out for any period.

How do I file a VAT return in the UAE?

VAT returns are filed online on the FTA's EmaraTax portal. The return covers your standard-rated sales by emirate, zero-rated and exempt supplies, imports and the VAT you can recover on purchases, and works out the net VAT payable or refundable. When you use our VAT return filing services in Dubai or anywhere in the UAE, we prepare the figures from your records, take you through them and submit the return once you approve it.

Do I file my VAT return monthly or quarterly?

Most businesses file quarterly. Businesses with annual turnover of AED 150 million or more usually file monthly, and the FTA can assign a different tax period to some businesses. Your tax periods and due dates are shown in your EmaraTax account.

Do I need to file a VAT return if I had no sales?

Yes. A VAT-registered business must file a return for every tax period, even when there was no taxable activity. A nil return submitted after the deadline attracts the same late filing penalty as any other return.

What documents are needed to file a VAT return?

Sales and purchase invoices, credit notes, bank and card statements, customs import declarations, export evidence for zero-rated sales and invoices from overseas suppliers of services. See the full list under what we need from you each period.

What happens if I submit my VAT return late?

A late return is penalised at AED 1,000 the first time and AED 2,000 for each repeat within 24 months. VAT paid late attracts a penalty of 14% a year on the unpaid amount, charged monthly until it is settled, so it pays to file and pay as soon as possible, even after a missed deadline.

How do I correct a mistake on a VAT return I have already submitted?

Errors in a submitted return are generally corrected through a voluntary disclosure on EmaraTax. Disclosing before the FTA notifies you of a tax audit limits the penalty to 1% a month on the tax difference; if the FTA finds the error first, a fixed 15% penalty applies on top. We prepare voluntary disclosures together with the reconciliation that supports them.

Can I recover VAT on all of my business expenses?

No. Input VAT is recoverable only when you hold a valid tax invoice, the expense is used to make taxable supplies, and it isn't a cost the law blocks, such as entertainment for people who are not your employees or vehicles available for personal use. Checking this is part of every return we prepare.

Is there a time limit for reclaiming excess VAT?

Yes. Under amendments to the UAE VAT law in force from 1 January 2026, requests to reclaim excess refundable VAT must be made within five years, after which the right to recover it lapses. If your EmaraTax account holds older credits, it is worth reviewing them now.

How long do I need to keep VAT records?

Generally for five years after the end of the tax period the records relate to, with longer periods for some records, such as those relating to real estate. Failing to keep the required records can lead to a penalty of AED 10,000, so we keep the working papers behind each return organised for you.

Do you only offer VAT filing in Dubai?

No. Alongside VAT filing in Dubai, we support businesses in Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and the other emirates, working from our offices in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah and remotely.

How much do your VAT return filing services cost?

The fee depends on how many transactions you have, how often you file and the condition of your records. We agree a fixed fee once we understand your requirements. Send an enquiry for a quote.

Next VAT return due soon? Send us your period end date and we'll confirm exactly what we need from you. Enquire