UAE legal entity
Review incorporation, residency and any exemption position. A trading name alone does not establish the legal person. Match the licence to the formation documents and business profile.
01 / ESTABLISH YOUR TAX PROFILE
Corporate Tax Registration in Dubai.
Start with the right entity. Get the details right before you apply.
Corporate Tax registration establishes your tax profile. A&A helps assess the obligation, reconcile entity details, prepare the application and organise the handover to annual compliance.
Registration ≠ tax payable
A low profit, an unused licence or an existing VAT number does not answer every Corporate Tax registration question.
Find your starting point ↓CHOOSE THE CORRECT STARTING POINT
Which person are we registering?
Before collecting documents, distinguish the company from its owners and branches. This prevents a common problem: a technically complete application for the wrong taxpayer.
Individual business owner
Establish whether this is a natural-person business or a separate company. Identify business receipts separately from employment and personal investments before assessing registration.
Branch or foreign entity
Identify the head office and UAE presence. A domestic branch may belong within its parent’s profile; a foreign entity needs a separate residence, establishment or nexus review.
THE APPLICATION DOSSIER
A document pack with a purpose.
We organise the evidence into identity, ownership, authority and operating details. You confirm that it is complete and current. Any inconsistency is recorded before the application proceeds.
- Formation documents and current trade licences, including relevant branches.
- Ownership information and the identification needed for relevant owners and signatories.
- Evidence that the signatory can act for the entity.
- Business activities, contact information and accounting-period details.
Exact documents depend on the entity and current FTA application requirements. Use an agreed secure exchange method for identity documents; never put account passwords in an enquiry.
What happens before and after submission?
| Stage | Our preparation | Your decision / evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Assess | Document the entity and deadline basis | Confirm incorporation history and existing registrations |
| Prepare | Reconcile details and list missing items | Provide current records and resolve inconsistencies |
| Submit | Support the authorised application and retain the reference | Approve the information and authorised access arrangements |
| Handover | Record queries, outcome and next compliance actions | Retain confirmation and arrange annual reporting |
Already late or unsure of the date?
Bring the incorporation documents and any FTA notice. We check the deadline against the relevant category instead of applying an old licence-month table to every business. If a penalty exists, any relief needs a separate eligibility review; registering alone does not guarantee cancellation.
CLEAR ANSWERS
Your questions,
before you begin.
General UAE guidance, with the details of your entity and tax period checked before we advise.
Is AED 375,000 the registration threshold for a UAE company?
No. The standard taxable-income rate band is not a general company registration exemption. Establish whether the entity is a taxable person before considering the amount of tax payable.
Does a freelancer follow the same registration test?
Not necessarily. For a natural person, the business-turnover test differs from a company’s position. Confirm the legal form of the licence, relevant activities and applicable exclusions before using any threshold.
Does VAT registration also register me for Corporate Tax?
No. Check the Corporate Tax status in the existing EmaraTax taxpayer profile. An existing VAT account should not be treated as proof of Corporate Tax registration or a reason to create a duplicate profile.
Can a free zone company assume it does not need to register?
No. Registration and eligibility for special free zone tax treatment are separate questions. We review the legal entity and its activities without assuming that a free zone licence proves a zero-tax outcome.
How long does the application take, and what does it cost?
The FTA registration service is free and lists an estimated 20 business days after a complete application is received. Our preparation fee is separate. Missing evidence or authority queries can affect timing; approval is not guaranteed.
What will I receive after the engagement?
The agreed handover should include an application record, outstanding-query log and, if approved, the registration confirmation. We also record the tax period and next compliance actions. Annual return preparation is separately scoped.
Official sources & scope
Content checked on 11 September 2026. This page explains a consultancy service; it is not an FTA ruling, a legal opinion or a guarantee of approval. The law and decisions applicable to your period take precedence over summaries.
Fees and delivery dates depend on the records, entities, transactions and work agreed. Government charges, tax payable and penalties are separate from our professional fees. Do not send passwords or one-time codes through an enquiry form.
A&A TAX CONSULTANTS · DUBAI & UAE
Start with your business.
Leave with a clear next step.
Tell us the service you need, your entity type and the relevant period. We’ll clarify the scope and the information needed before work begins.