Tasama Management Consultancy

UAE corporate tax, VAT & advisory FAQs

Straight answers on corporate tax, VAT, transfer pricing, finance leadership, business setup and market entry — written to be useful rather than promotional.

Corporate Tax

Corporate Tax — frequently asked

Our company has little or no profit. Do we still need to register?
A low profit figure does not settle the registration question. We first check your legal entity and business activities, then identify whether registration is required and which deadline applies.
Is the tax worked out from our sales or our profit?
The starting point is your accounting profit, with adjustments for tax purposes. For a business following the standard regime, 9% is charged only on the amount exceeding AED 375,000; the amount within that band carries a 0% rate.
Our licence is from a free zone. Does that mean we pay no Corporate Tax?
Your licence location is only part of the assessment. To establish whether the 0% treatment is available, we examine your activities, income sources and the conditions for Qualifying Free Zone Person status. Under that status, non-qualifying taxable income attracts 9% without the standard AED 375,000 band.
Our records are not ready. What should we send Tasama first?
Send your trade licence and the latest accounts or trial balance you have available. Include ownership information and tell us what is incomplete. We can then confirm which contracts, expense records and transaction details are needed for the agreed review.
How do tax consultants in Dubai price this work?
We need to understand the job before quoting. An EmaraTax registration application involves different work from reviewing several entities or assessing free zone income. Tell us about your company, the support required and your deadline so we can define the scope and fee.

VAT Services

VAT Services — frequently asked

When does my business need to register for VAT?
For a UAE-resident business, review taxable supplies and imports over the previous 12 months and those expected in the next 30 days. Mandatory registration generally applies above AED 375,000. Voluntary registration may be available when eligible supplies, imports or taxable expenses exceed AED 187,500. Tasama can help assess which requirements apply to your business.
What should I prepare before asking Tasama to handle my VAT return?
Start with your sales and purchase records, tax invoices, credit notes and accounting reports for the period. Include import documents and previous returns where relevant. We review the information available and identify any gaps before preparing the return.
Can Tasama work with our existing accountant?
Yes. We can work alongside your accountant or finance team on the VAT tasks you need support with, including return preparation, reconciliations and transaction reviews. The scope is agreed around your existing process.
Can you help if our VAT return does not match our accounts?
Yes. We compare the return with the underlying records to find where the difference comes from. This may involve reviewing invoice dates, credit notes, adjustments or VAT entries. We then explain what needs attention and the appropriate next steps.
Do you provide VAT support outside Dubai?
Yes. Our VAT consultancy services in the UAE cover businesses in Dubai and other emirates. We support registration, return preparation, reconciliations, treatment reviews and FTA audit enquiries.

Transfer Pricing

Transfer Pricing — frequently asked

What does transfer pricing mean for my business?
It concerns the prices and terms used in dealings between related parties. If one group company charges another for management support, goods or financing, those terms need a reasonable basis supported by records. The review starts with understanding the transaction and how the price was set.
Do the rules apply when both businesses are in the UAE?
Yes. Relevant transactions between UAE entities can fall within the rules, including dealings involving mainland and free zone businesses. A transaction does not fall outside the framework simply because both parties are based in the same country.
Does every business need a master file and local file?
No. Both files are required when a taxable person has revenue of AED 200 million or more in the relevant tax period, or is part of a multinational group with consolidated revenue of AED 3.15 billion or more in that period. Being below these thresholds does not remove the need to support applicable related-party pricing.
Is a separate benchmarking study needed for every transaction?
Not automatically. The appropriate analysis depends on the transaction, the pricing method and the evidence available. Benchmarking can help assess a price or margin against comparable independent dealings. The scope should follow the transactions being reviewed.
What should we prepare before speaking with Tasama?
Start with your group structure, related-party transaction details, intercompany agreements and financial records. Include any existing pricing policy, benchmarking work or previous documentation. These give us a useful starting point for identifying the scope and any gaps.

Finance Advisory

Finance Advisory — frequently asked

When should a business seek financial advisory support?
Consider support when monthly reports arrive too late, cash is difficult to predict, margins are unclear or expansion decisions lack a financial plan. You do not need to wait for a crisis. A review can establish which reports and forecasts would be most useful to your management team.
What does a Virtual CFO do?
A Virtual CFO provides senior financial leadership on a part-time basis. The work can include reviewing management accounts, planning cash, preparing budgets and supporting board reporting. Tasama’s Virtual CFO services in the UAE are shaped around the agreed needs of the business.
How is financial advisory different from bookkeeping?
Bookkeeping records transactions and maintains the underlying accounts. Financial advisory uses those records to examine performance, forecast cash and assess future decisions. Reliable bookkeeping is still essential because the analysis depends on the quality of the information behind it.
Can forecasts help if our revenue changes each month?
Yes, provided the assumptions are realistic and updated regularly. A rolling forecast lets you revise expected sales, costs and payment timings as new information arrives. It helps you explore possible outcomes and plan responses, rather than treating one annual budget as fixed.
What information should we share with Tasama first?
Start with your latest financial statements or management accounts, existing budgets, cash balances and details of outstanding customer and supplier payments. Tell us which decisions or reporting problems need attention. We can then identify what further information is needed for the agreed scope.

Management Consulting

Management Consulting — frequently asked

When should we engage business management consultants in Dubai?
Seek support when a decision involves significant resources or changes to the way your business operates. That might be market entry, a new branch, expansion or a process redesign. Business management consultancy in Dubai helps you examine the assumptions, compare options and identify what needs to happen before committing.
What does a Tasama feasibility study include?
The scope can include market demand, competitor and pricing analysis, operating requirements, and financial projections covering profit, cash flow and break-even. Relevant regulatory and tax considerations are also reviewed. The outcome is a recommendation on whether to proceed, with the main assumptions and risks explained.
Can you help us choose between mainland and a free zone?
Yes. We review the choice as part of your market entry and operating plans, considering activities, customers, structure and relevant tax implications. If you also need formation coordination, Tasama’s Company Formation and GCC Expansion service covers that separate scope.
How long does business transformation take?
The timeline depends on the processes involved, access to reliable information and how much change is needed. A focused process review and a wider operating-model redesign require different scopes. The work and delivery schedule should be agreed after the initial assessment.
Does Tasama provide support after the recommendations?
Yes. Advisory implementation support is one of the services listed on this page. The extent of that support is agreed for the engagement, so your team understands which activities Tasama will assist with and which responsibilities remain within the business.

Company Formation & GCC Expansion

Company Formation & GCC Expansion — frequently asked

What information helps business setup consultants in Dubai assess our options?
Share your activities, customer locations, ownership and visa needs. Ask why a particular structure is recommended and which tasks the engagement covers. This helps you assess the advice and identify any separate approvals or services.
Does a free zone company automatically pay no Corporate Tax?
No. The 0% rate applies to qualifying income of a Qualifying Free Zone Person meeting the required conditions. Other income may receive different treatment. Review the expected revenue and applicable rules before relying on a tax benefit.
Must a new UAE company register for both Corporate Tax and VAT immediately?
The rules differ. UAE-resident juridical persons incorporated on or after 1 March 2024 generally apply for Corporate Tax registration within three months, subject to applicable exemptions. For UAE-resident businesses, VAT registration generally becomes mandatory above AED 375,000 in taxable supplies and imports over the previous 12 months or expected in the next 30 days. Non-resident rules differ.
How long will company formation and bank account opening take?
Timing depends on the authority, activity, approvals and documents. Bank account opening involves a separate assessment. A licence being issued does not guarantee a banking decision or the same completion date.
Can Tasama support plans beyond UAE incorporation?
Yes. Tasama offers GCC Expansion Advisory and India–UAE Structuring. Share how the proposed entity relates to your wider business so we can define the relevant advisory scope.

Business Setup

Business Setup — frequently asked

Should we choose mainland or a free zone?
Start with where and how the company will operate. Business setup in a UAE free zone and mainland formation have different permissions and requirements. We examine the activity, customers and visa needs before recommending a route.
What should we ask business setup consultants in the UAE?
If you are comparing business setup consultants in Dubai or elsewhere in the UAE, ask why the proposed licence fits your business. Clarify the tasks included, separate fees and approvals, and the scope for residency, banking and post-setup support.
Is Ras Al Khaimah always cheaper than Dubai?
No single location is cheapest for every business. Compare the actual licence, premises, visa and renewal requirements. A lower advertised fee may cover a different scope from the option you are comparing.
Can you guarantee a licence and Emirates ID within twelve days?
A fixed deadline cannot apply to every activity or applicant. Additional approvals, document queries and appointment availability can affect the schedule. Discuss the expected stages after the setup requirements have been reviewed.
Does formation include tax registration and bank approval?
Only the assistance specified in the engagement is included. Bank approval remains with the bank. Corporate Tax registration and VAT eligibility need separate assessment; forming a company does not mean VAT registration is automatically required.

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