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How do I prepare a UAE VAT return?

Summarise your standard-rated, zero-rated and exempt supplies, purchases with recoverable input VAT, imports and adjustments for the tax period, then report them in the FTA's VAT201 return through the EmaraTax portal by the filing deadline (usually 28 days after the period ends).

How is VAT payable calculated?

Net VAT payable = total output VAT charged on your sales (plus reverse charge VAT) minus recoverable input VAT on your purchases and imports. A negative result is refundable or carried forward.

Input VAT is the 5% VAT you pay on business purchases, expenses and imports. It is generally recoverable if the expense relates to making taxable supplies and you hold a valid tax invoice.

Output VAT is the 5% VAT you charge customers on standard-rated supplies of goods and services in the UAE, collected on behalf of the Federal Tax Authority.

Can I calculate VAT online?

Yes — this free tool gives an indicative VAT201-style summary from your period figures. The final return should always be prepared from your complete transaction records.

Does every UAE business need VAT registration?

Registration is mandatory once taxable supplies and imports exceed AED 375,000 in 12 months, and voluntary above AED 187,500. Some businesses below the thresholds still register voluntarily to recover input VAT.

How can accounting software help with VAT?

Software like FinaBooks keeps tax-coded records, generates compliant tax invoices, reconciles ledgers to the return boxes and produces VAT-ready reports — reducing errors and penalty risk at filing time.

UAE VAT Return Preparation Tool | VAT Calculator & Return Review

This tool provides a preliminary VAT calculation and educational summary. Final VAT return preparation should be reviewed based on your business transactions, records and applicable UAE VAT regulations.

Tax period

Period start

Period end

Sales (AED, excl. VAT)

Standard-rated sales (5%)

Taxable supplies made in the UAE at 5%

Zero-rated sales (0%)

Exports and other zero-rated supplies

Exempt supplies

e.g. certain financial services, residential rent

Reverse charge supplies received

Imported services / goods under the reverse charge mechanism

Purchases & adjustments (AED)

Standard-rated purchases and expenses

Local expenses carrying 5% recoverable input VAT

Import VAT paid at customs

VAT amount paid on imports of goods (not the goods value)

Credit notes issued (sales value)

Reduces output VAT

Bad debt relief (sales value)

Strict FTA conditions apply

Other adjustments (VAT amount, +/-)

Positive increases payable; negative reduces it

VAT return summary (VAT201-style mapping)

Box	Amount	VAT
Standard-rated supplies (net of credit notes)	0.00	0.00
Zero-rated supplies	0.00	0.00
Exempt supplies	0.00	—
Reverse charge (output)	0.00	0.00
Bad debt relief	0.00	-0.00
Standard-rated expenses (recoverable input)	0.00	0.00
Import VAT paid	0.00	0.00
Reverse charge (recoverable input)	0.00	0.00

Total VAT due (output)AED 0.00

Total recoverable VAT (input)AED 0.00

Net VAT payable to the FTA

AED 0.00

VAT filing checklist

Tax invoices issued (sales)
Purchase invoices / tax invoices received
Sales reports for the period
Import documents (customs declarations)
Credit notes issued and received
Bank statements
Accounting records / VAT ledgers

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Automate VAT compliance with FinaBooks

FinaBooks keeps your accounting records tax-coded, generates compliant invoices, reconciles your books to the VAT return and produces tax-ready reporting every period.

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VAT professional services

VAT Return Preparation & Consultancy

Return preparation, review and FTA filing support.

VAT Registration

Mandatory and voluntary registration handled end-to-end.

VAT Health Check

Review of past returns, recovery position and penalty risk.

Frequently asked questions

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This tool provides indicative results for general guidance only. It is not financial, tax or legal advice, and outcomes depend on your facts and current regulations. Please verify with official sources or seek professional advice before acting.

UAE VAT Return Preparation Tool