UAE Taxation Laws for Free Zone Companies

The UAE has introduced various taxation laws for corporations and businesses in free zones, including corporate tax return filing requirements and conditions for qualifying as a Free Zone Person. The regulations cover aspects such as qualifying income, excluded activities, transfer pricing documentation, and maintenance of audited financial statements. Compliance with these laws is essential for companies operating in free zones to avoid penalties and ensure tax efficiency.

• UAE
• Taxation
• Free Zone
• Corporate Tax
• Compliance

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1. Taxation of Corporations and Businesses For Free Zone Companies Federal Decree law No 47 of 2022 (Article 18) Cabinet Decision 55 & Ministerial Decision 139 of 2023 AUDIT & ASSURANCE | ACCOUNTING | TAX | CONSULTANCY | MSM TAX CONSULTANT 2307, LIWA HEIGHTS, JUMEIRAH LAKES TOWERS, P.O. BOX: 43711, DUBAI, U.A.E. www.mandmauditing.com www.mgiworld.com

2. Taxation on corporations and businesses Since last 6 years UAE has progressively introduced Excise tax, VAT, ESR, CbCR, UBO declaration, Involuntary loss of employment (ILOE). Amended to Commercial companies Law, Federal labor laws, Data protection Law, Free zones commercial laws, Anti money laundering law and now the introduction of Tax on Corporations & Businesses. Changing regulatory Environment Law was issued on 3rd October 2022 and was made effective within 15 days from the date of publication. This Law has to be read along with, Cabinet Decisions, Ministerial Decisions, FTA guidance notes, Tax law procedures, International Agreements and references to OECD guidelines. Federal Decree Law No 47 of 2022 (Law) This Law shall apply to Financial year commencing on or after 1 June 2023. Corporate tax ( CT ) return filing will be due on or before 9 months from end of Financial year. CT and return filing is mandatory for all the companies except exempted companies. Financial year applicability Need to satisfy various conditions to be considered as Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) All Offshore entities might be treated as Free Zone Person. Companies in Free zones ( FZ)

3. Conditions for Qualifying Free Zone Person All designated zones under VAT Law are qualified as FZ for CT purposes All other freezones are to be specified by Ministry If your zone is not a qualified Free zone, then all companies in that zone will be considered as mainland companies & will be liable for 9% tax on taxable income above 375000 Is your zone a qualified free zone? Adequate substance Derives qualifying income Comply with Arm s Length principle & Transfer pricing documentation Non qualifying revenue does not exceed the di minimus requirements Preparation and maintenance of Audited financial statements Should not have elected voluntarily to be subject to pay 9% CT If above point is yes, then the company has to comply other conditions. AUDITING | ACCOUNTING | TAX ADVISORY | CONSULTING www.mandmauditing.com & www.mgiworld.com

4. Analysis of Transactions Cabinet Decision No. 55 of 2023 on Determining Qualifying Income for the Qualifying freezone person All transactions including services are Qualifying income. Should not be in the list of excluded activities. Should meet the definition of beneficial recipient Income generated from Commercial property in the Free zone to the Free zone person is Qualifying income. Income should not be attributable to domestic or foreign PE. Free zone to Free zone Whether activity is covered under qualifying activity list Qualifying activity should not be in excluded activity list. Income should not be attributed to domestic PE. Free zone to Non-free Zone (Mainland and outside UAE) Any other income subject to satisfying the de minimis requirements. If both qualified and unqualified activity exist, then income from nonqualified activity should be less then 5% of total income or 5,000,000 whichever is less. AUDITING | ACCOUNTING | TAX ADVISORY | CONSULTING www.mandmauditing.com & www.mgiworld.com

5. Adequate Substance Carrying out core income generating activities in free zone Adequate number of qualified employees Adequate assets Incur an adequate amount of operating expenditure The above functions can be outsourced to a firm inside Free Zone At least two directors/owners meeting in UAE ( M & M stance) Does the Company meet the substance criteria? AUDITING | ACCOUNTING | TAX ADVISORY | CONSULTING www.mandmauditing.com & www.mgiworld.com

6. Qualifying Activities: Excluded Activities: a) Any transactions with natural persons. (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) Manufacturing of goods or materials. Processing of goods or materials. Holding of shares and other securities. Ownership, management and operation of Ships. Reinsurance services that are subject to the regulatory oversight. Fund management services that are subject to the regulatory oversight. Wealth and investment management services that are subject to the regulatory oversight. Headquarter services to Related Parties. Treasury and financing services to Related Parties. Financing and leasing of Aircraft, including engines and rotable components. Distribution of goods or materials in or from a Designated Zone to a customer that resells such goods or materials, or parts thereof or processes or alters such goods or materials or parts thereof for the purposes of sale or resale Logistics services. (m) Any activities that are ancillary to the activities listed in paragraphs (a) to (l) of this Clause. b) Banking activities that are subject to the regulatory oversight. c) Insurance activities that are subject to the regulatory . d) Finance and leasing activities that are subject to the regulatory . e) Ownership or exploitation of immovable property, other than Commercial Property located in a Free Zone where the transaction in respect of such Commercial Property is conducted with other Free Zone Persons. (h) (i) (j) (k) f) Ownership or exploitation of intellectual property assets. g) Any activities that are ancillary to the activities listed in paragraphs (a) to (f) of this Clause. De Minimis Requirements (l) Non-qualifying Revenue derived by the Qualifying Free Zone Person in a Tax Period does not exceed 5% (five percent) of the total Revenue of the Qualifying Free Zone Person in that Tax Period or AED 5,000,000 (five million dirhams), whichever is lower. In application of paragraph (k) of Clause (1) of this Article, the activity of distributing goods or materials must be undertaken in or from a Designated Zone and the goods or materials entering the State must be imported through the Designated Zone. A Qualifying Free Zone Person that at any particular time fails to meet the de minimis requirements along with other conditions shall cease to be a Qualifying Free Zone Person from the beginning of the relevant Tax Period and for the subsequent (4) four Tax Periods. AUDITING | ACCOUNTING | TAX ADVISORY | CONSULTING www.mandmauditing.com & www.mgiworld.com

7. Qualifying free zone person limitations Tax group Loss transfers within a Qualifying Group Withholding Tax Credit Cannot take the exemption up to AED 375000 Small Business Relief Tax holiday for a free zone company is 50 years period of that specific free zone and not the date of company formation. Once elected as 9% taxable company cannot revert to FZCO AUDITING | ACCOUNTING | TAX ADVISORY | CONSULTING www.mandmauditing.com & www.mgiworld.com

8. TRANSFER PRICING DOCUMENTATION Related Party Connected Person Person shall be considered a Connected Person of a Taxable Person if that Person is: a) An owner of the Taxable Person. b) A director or officer of the Taxable Person. Natural Person fourth kinship and Juridical person holding more than 50% either singly or jointly Transfer pricing Regime Arm s Length Transaction Transfer Pricing Documentation The transaction or arrangement are consistent with the results that would have been realized if Persons who were not Related Parties had engaged in a similar transaction or arrangement under similar circumstances. Master file Local Level file Disclosure form Transfer pricing documentation

9. Transfer Pricing Regime Methods to be used in arriving at an arm s length range Factors to be considered AUDITING | ACCOUNTING | TAX ADVISORY | CONSULTING AUDIT & ASSURANCE | ACCOUNTING | TAX | CONSULTANCY | MSM TAX CONSULTANT www.mandmauditing.com & www.mgiworld.com www.mandmauditing.com

10. Transfer Pricing Regime Master File Domestic TP and cross border transactions AUDITING | ACCOUNTING | TAX ADVISORY | CONSULTING AUDIT & ASSURANCE | ACCOUNTING | TAX | CONSULTANCY | MSM TAX CONSULTANT www.mandmauditing.com & www.mgiworld.com www.mandmauditing.com

11. Income from Immovable Property ( Juridical Person) QFZP Free Zone Property Mainland Mainland Mainland Mainland Mainland Mainland Property Commercial Residential Residential Commercial 9 % 9 % To NFZP To NFZP To FZP To FZP 9 % 9 % 9 % 0% AUDITING | ACCOUNTING | TAX ADVISORY | CONSULTING www.mandmauditing.com & www.mgiworld.com

12. Taxability of Resident/Nonresident Natural Person under Cabinet decision No 49 of 2023 Resident/ Nonresident Natural Person Any other Income which is classified as business income Real Estate Investment Wages Personal Investment No CT applicable No CT applicable No CT applicable Wage : The wage that is given to the employee in consideration of their services under the employment contract, whether in cash or in kind, payable annually, monthly, weekly, daily, hourly, or by piece-meal, and includes all allowances, and bonuses in addition to any other benefits provided for, in the employment contract or in accordance with the applicable legislation in the State. Personal Investment : Investment activity that a natural person conducts for their personal account that is neither conducted through a License or requiring a License from a Licensing Authority in the State, nor considered as a commercial business in accordance with the Federal Decree-Law No. 50 of 2022. Real Estate Investment : Any investment activity conducted by a natural person related to, directly or indirectly, the sale, leasing, sub-leasing, and renting of land or real estate property in the State that is not conducted or does not require to be conducted through a License from a Licensing Authority. Up to 1 Million Exceeds 1 Million No CT applicable CT applicable 9% AUDITING | ACCOUNTING | TAX ADVISORY | CONSULTING www.mandmauditing.com & www.mgiworld.com

13. Other Provisions AUDITING | ACCOUNTING | TAX ADVISORY | CONSULTING www.mandmauditing.com & www.mgiworld.com

14. TAX LOSS Both Taxable Persons are juridical persons. A Tax Loss can be offset against the Taxable Income of subsequent Tax Periods Both Taxable Persons are Resident Persons. TAX LOSS Either Taxable Person has a direct or indirect ownership interest of at least 75% (seventy-five percent) in the other, or a third Person has a direct or indirect ownership interest of at least 75% (seventy-five percent) in each of the Taxable Persons. . The Financial Year of each of the Taxable Persons ends on the same date. Both Taxable Persons prepare their financial statements using the same accounting standards.

15. Tax Grouping Both the Parent Company and the Subsidiary prepare their financial statements using the same accounting standards. The Resident Persons are juridical persons. TAX GROUPING Neither the Parent Company nor the Subsidiary is an Exempt Person. The Parent Company owns at least 95% (ninety-five percent) of the share capital or Voting rights or profit and loss of the Subsidiary. Neither the Parent Company nor the Subsidiary is a Qualifying Free Zone Person. . . . For the purposes of determining the Taxable Income of a Tax Group, the Parent Company shall consolidate the financial results, assets and liabilities of each Subsidiary for the relevant Tax Period, eliminating transactions between the Parent Company and each Subsidiary that is a member of the Tax Group.

16. Tax Registration Any Taxable Person shall register for Corporate Tax with the Authority in the form and manner and within the timeline prescribed by the Authority and obtain a Tax Registration Number, except in circumstances prescribed by the Minister. P P Tax Returns A Taxable Person must file a Tax Return, as applicable, to the Authority in the form and manner prescribed by the Authority no later than (9) nine months from the end of the relevant Tax Period, or by such other date as directed by the Authority. E E The Authority may, by notice or through a decision issued by the Authority, request a Taxable Person to submit the financial statements used to determine the Taxable Income for a Tax Period in the form and manner and within the timeline prescribed by the Authority. R R A Taxable Person shall maintain all records and documents for a period of (7) seven years following the end of the Tax Period to which they relate that: Support the information to be provided in a Tax Return or in any other document to be filed with the Authority. Enable the Taxable Person s Taxable Income to be readily ascertained by the Authority. G G Financial Statements Record Keeping

17. General Anti-abuse Rule The entering into or carrying out of the transaction or arrangement, or any part of it, is not for a valid commercial or other non-fiscal reason which reflects economic reality; main purposes of the transaction or arrangement, or any part of it, is not to obtain a Corporate Tax advantage. P P Transitional Rules Opening balance sheet shall be the closing balance sheet prepared under accounting standards applied in the State on the last day of the Financial Year that ends immediately before their first Tax Period commences and at arm s length principle E E A Govt entity & Govt controlled entity, A Person engaged in an Extractive Business & Non-Extractive Natural Resource Business, A Qualifying Public Benefit Entity & Qualifying Investment Fund A public pension or social security fund, or a private pension or social security fund (regulatory oversight, meets any other conditions that may be prescribed by the Minister. ) Juridical person incorporated in the State that is wholly owned and controlled by an Exempt Person R R Dividends and other profit distributions received from a juridical person that is a Resident Person. Participating interest refers to holding of equitable interest in shares or profits by more than 5% and meeting other conditions specified in the Act. Any other income from a Participating Interest. Income of a Foreign Permanent Establishment & Non-Resident Person from operating aircraft or ships in international transportation that meets the conditions G G Exempt Person Exempt Income:

18. Witholding Tax Credit P P Taxable person can deduct the withholding tax paid in foreign country from the tax liability Foreign Tax Credits Corporate tax due can be reduced by the foreign taxes paid for its branches/entities for the relevant tax period E E R R UAE Corporate tax has prescribed 0% withholding tax Tax relief is available to Taxable Person s Revenue threshold for the relevant Tax Period and previous Tax Periods shall be up to AED 3,000,000 (three million dirhams) for each Tax Period. G G 0% Withholding Taxes Small Business Relief

19. Permanent Establishment (PE) The main purpose of the Permanent Establishment concept in the UAE Corporate Tax Law is to determine if and when a foreign person has established sufficient presence in the UAE to warrant the business profits of that foreign person from the state sourced income to be subject to Corporate Tax. Place of Effective Management P P In case the group of companies outside UAE is managed & controlled from within UAE,place of Effective management needs to be evaluated E E On 29th July 2023, the UAE Ministry of Finance has introduced the Cabinet Decision No. (75) of 2023outlining the applicable administrative penalties for violations related to the application of Law No. (47) of 2022 on the Taxation of Corporations and Businesses ( Corporate Tax Law ). R R All the companies require to maintain books of accounts under international accounting standards. UAE follows international financial reporting standards for the purpose of accounting G G Penalties International Accounting Standards

20. IFRS15RevenuefromContractswith Customers The objective of this Standard is to establish the principles that an entity shall apply to report useful information to users of financial statements about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from a contract with a customer. . P P IFRS 16 Leases This Standard sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases. The objective is to ensure that lessees and lessors provide relevant information in a manner that faithfully represents those transactions. This information gives a basis for users of financial statements to assess the effect that leases have on the financial position, financial performance and cash flows of an entity. An entity shall consider the terms and conditions of contracts and all relevant facts and circumstances when applying this Standard.. E E The objective of this Standard is to prescribe the accounting treatment for property, plant and equipment so that users of the financial statements can discern information about an entity s investment in its property, plant and equipment and the changes in such investment. The principal issues in accounting for property, plant and equipment are the recognition of the assets, the determination of their carrying amounts and the depreciation charges and impairment losses to be recognized in relation to them. R R The objective of this Standard is to prescribe the accounting treatment for income taxes. The principal issue in accounting for income taxes is how to account for the current and future tax consequences of: G G IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment the future recovery (settlement) of the carrying amount of assets (liabilities) that are recognized in an entity s statement of financial position; and transactions and other events of the current period that are recognized in an entity s financial statements. IAS 12 Income Taxes

21. Calculation of Taxable Income Net Profit As per financial statements (A) 2.A Unrealised Loss on Revenue Items 2.B Exempt Income: Dividends (Resident Person) XXX (XX) (XX) LESS: 2.C Exempt Income: Dividends (Participating Interest in a foreign juridical person) (XX) 2.D Exempt Income: Other profit distributions (Resident Person) (XX) 2.E Exempt Income: Other profit distributions (Participating Interest in a foreign juridical person) Subtotal of Items 2.A to 2.E (B) (XX) (XX) ADD: 3.A Unrealised Gain on Revenue Items XX 3.B Donations, grants or gifts to non Qualifying Public Benefit Entity. 3.C Fines and penalties 3.D Bribes or other illicit payments 3.E Dividends, profit distributions to Owner XX XX XX XX 3.F Interest expenditure incurred on a loan obtained from Relative party XX 3.G Disallowed Interest Expenditure Third party (Over capping rule of 30% on EBITDA) XX 3.H Disallowed Entertainment Expenditure (50% of Total) Subtotal of Items 3.A to 3.H (C) XX XX (D) GROSS TAXABLE INCOME (A+C-B) XXX Gross Taxable income upto AED 375,000 TAX @9% (D- AED 375,000) 0 XX LESS: Relief:Transfers Within a Qualifying Group Relief:Business Restructuring Relief Foreign Tax Credit (XX) (XX) (XX) Final Corporate Tax Liability XX AUDIT & ASSURANCE | ACCOUNTING | TAX | CONSULTANCY | MSM TAX CONSULTANT www.mandmauditing.com

22. M&M Services About M & M and its Services for Corporate Tax AUDITING | ACCOUNTING | TAX ADVISORY | CONSULTING www.mandmauditing.com & www.mgiworld.com

23. Our Role in Ensuring compliance of the Law M & M can assist you in CT 1 Impact Analysis 6 Double Tax Avoidance Treaty Corporate Tax Implementation & training 2 7 Computation of taxable income 3 8 Transfer Pricing Tax Setoff claims 9 Permanent Establishment Advisory 4 Tax Residency 10 5 Structural changes Registration & Filing AUDITING | ACCOUNTING | TAX ADVISORY | CONSULTING AUDIT & ASSURANCE | ACCOUNTING | TAX | CONSULTANCY | MSM TAX CONSULTANT www.mandmauditing.com & www.mgiworld.com www.mandmauditing.com

24. Our Corporate Tax Team Mr. Vinayak Aatreya Arpit Maniyar Mohan Pootheri Ramesh Nair Kaushik Shah Gulafroze Shaikh Free zones , General provisions in tax, Restructuring & VAT expertise PE Tax Tax implication on the formation of the Company Accounting & VAT expertise Transfer pricing & VAT expertise grouping & Tax setoff losses AUDITING | ACCOUNTING | TAX ADVISORY | CONSULTING AUDIT & ASSURANCE | ACCOUNTING | TAX | CONSULTANCY | MSM TAX CONSULTANT www.mandmauditing.com & www.mgiworld.com www.mandmauditing.com

25. Updates About M&M Growth With the growing expertise and the need to provide individualized solutions to the client, we have streamlined our core functions into five verticals of services covering Audits, Tax, Accounting, Business set up and advisory services related to AML and compliance services About us Member of MGI worldwide giving us access to 251 partners in 102 countries. We are an established local player with global connect with cross border services and services in local jurisdiction, delivered with high quality Our Affiliate Is into technological sphere and has global presence in data analytic , blockchain solution, process automation, IT system implementation, software development including technology, support Data Analytics Presence We have increased our presence in Abu Dhabi & converted one of our office in Ibn Battuta gate Dubai for training of our staff and clients. Innovations With the help of our affiliate, we have developed our in-house audit us to seamlessly collect documents in a secured portal for clients and working on many more such value add on products. Our expertise In UAE covers clients in diverse sectors like Insurance, investment funds, Pharmaceutical, technology steel, advertising media having turnover over USD 10 billion tool that allows AUDIT & ASSURANCE | ACCOUNTING | TAX | CONSULTANCY | MSM TAX CONSULTANT www.mandmauditing.com

26. The content of this Article has been prepared using unofficial English translation published as Taxation of Corporations and Businesses Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 Issued 3 October 2022 .The intent of this document is to have a quick and an easy access to information and does not purport to be a legal document. One should consult a tax expert before taking any actions based on this article. This presentation has been prepared on 14th of February and might undergo changes based on any clarifications, cabinet decisions and guidance note received from any authority Office: 2307 Liwa Heights, Cluster W, Jumeriah Lake Towers, Dubai, UAE. PO Box 43711 Contact Numbers: M: +971 52 777 2978 T : +971 4 4486 424 THANK YOU Email Address: vinayak@mandmauditing.com Tax@mandmauditing.com www.mandmauditing.com 26 AUDIT & ASSURANCE | ACCOUNTING | TAX | CONSULTANCY | MSM TAX CONSULTANT www.mandmauditing.com