Value Added Tax in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was implemented as from January 1, 2018. Since the introduction of VAT, it has grown as one of the important structural characteristics of the nation’s economy and provides a great impact on the country’s finance and the way of the business strategies. The UAE government has tremendously encouraged the adoption of VAT, hence the need to identify and discuss in this blog post several subtopics on the impact of VAT on businesses, the government, and the economy in general. At the conclusion of this post, it will be possible to give a clear and comprehensible rationale for VAT as an essential component of the UAE’s economy.

Perhaps, the most impressive objective of using VAT in the UAE is to increase the government revenues. In this context, the UAE used to rely on revenues generated from oil prior to the introduction of VAT whereby the economy was subjected to volatility in the global oil market. VAT can be also explained by the fact that it can help reduce the severity of the fluctuations in the oil prices by offering another means of gaining tax revenues.

•  Diversification of Revenue Sources:
  This is rather helpful to the government because the introduction of VAT contributes to the diversification of its revenue sources. This diversification is important for economic diversification most especially when it comes to a country that is majorly dependent on oil as a source of wealth because we all know that oil prices are very volatile. Therefore, implementation of VAT means that the government will has its constant source of revenues through which it will be funding its major programs such as provision of social services and putting up social infrastructures.

•  Increased Public Spending:
  By adopting the system and generating more revenues from VAT, the government will also be in a position to fund the provision of more services in areas such as healthcare, education and physical infrastructures among others. This investment is also result oriented as it relieves the suffering of the residents and boosts the economic productivity of the area as it creates employment opportunities and usher’s business friendly environments.

Overall, the implementation of VAT in UAE has enhanced business legal requirement and bringing clarity in its working. VAT encourages companies to provide accountability in their economic activities due to record-keeping obligation in the value-added tax system.

• Improved Record-Keeping
  Businesses are today required to keep track of records of their sales and purchase records in a correct and current manner. The following requirement is thus relevant in enhancing the organization of business since they can easily monitor their accounts: Additionally, where a business maintains accurate records doing an audit or compliance with other legal necessities becomes more manageable.

• Reducing Tax Evasion
  These motives minimized through the implementation of Value Added Tax whereby people cannot easily evade taxes. Due to the accumulation of VAT, all the conduit actors who participate in the supply chain found it more difficult to manipulate figures and declare small turnovers. It assists the government to attain a higher amount of actual tax revenue which will enable it evaluate and makes certain that all firms are paying their fair share on the economy.

The introduction of the ‘VAT’ has made the social responsibilities of business equal for all trading companies in the UAE. This is because, through establishing a common tax regulation framework, the implementation of VAT promotes fair competition and non-discrimination among different business entities.

• Standardized Taxation
  VAT delivers a standard tax plan and is applicable for all register businesses within the European community. It removes areas of dispute in taxation and makes it possible for all new and existing business ventures, small and large and in whichever industrial sector the firms operate in, to be subjected to similar tax measures. This helps in minimizing competition that is pegged on those aspects that have been eased on through taxes hence serving to level the playing field of competition by ensuring that compliance is made on some of the variables that relate to product or service quality.

• Eliminating Informal Economy
  VAT plays a role in the legalization of the informal sector traders as they are able to deposit the VAT charged on their goods or services into the government’s treasury. Compliance in the previous register includes business entities that originally did not register for operation, and now can register and follow tax laws. By incorporating these informal businesses into the formal economy, the competition becomes fiercer, and every business person is required to pay taxes to the state.

Referring to the topic under discussion, VAT has the capacity of boosting economic growth due to its ability to produce more cash which is used by the government in boosting various sectors. They result in employment opportunities, enhanced physical facilities, and a general advancement in the economic status of the population.

• Job Creation
  Improvement in the government earnings from VAT will in turn enable more public sector development an investment. They also provide numerous employment opportunities for the residents of the respective regions or states. This reduced unemployment rate means that income levels are raised, and consequently spending is boosted, effectively opening up a cycle of economic growth.

• Infrastructure Development
  The Government need not spend its own revenue to finance the improvement or construction of such infrastructure, roads, transport, power and other amenities. Enhanced infrastructure attracts foreign investment by creating proper facilities and helps local investors by availing successful facilities to them.

• Encouraging Foreign Investment
  VAT in a particular country such as the UAE is a transparent and a non-complicated tax structure, which in turn makes the country a favorite for investors from other countries. Investors feel that they can be able to ascertain their tax burdens in the country well and that the government of the country is investing in public facilities.

On the efficiency angle, it is evident that VAT also helps to ease the complexity involved in tax collection and remittance both for the business entities and government. Coordinating tax laws will be easier if there is a unified tax system since it reduces the complexity of the tax charges.

• Streamlined Tax Collection
  VAT is charged when an item is sold in the market, and this way makes it easy for the government to collect taxes since many agents are involved in the supply chain. This simplification helps to lessen the burden of paperwork on the apex revenue bodies as well as guarantee efficient and effective collections of taxes.

• Relative Compliance Costs for Business
  In the event of businesses, VAT make taxation easy in the aspect of compliance. This simplification is evident in the fact that for the businesses to deal with taxes and regulation, they only need to concern themselves with the matters relating to value added tax. These measures ease the burden of compliance with tax laws through a reduction in expenditure on compliance activities to enable enterprises concentrate on business.

Implementation of VAT has also been positive in terms of accommodation for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the UAE. Thus, through registration and VAT compliance, SMEs become more structured and are in a position to capture larger markets.

• Formalization of SMEs:
  In my view, the requirements for registration and operations of VAT ensures that SMEs operating legally register for and adhere to taxation laws. This was helpful in making the SMEs aware of various other formalities that can provide them with different government benefits and support in the form of funds and training for business expansion.

• Access to Credit:
  This way, SMEs will be able to make proper records of their accounts as per the procedure contained under VAT legislation and hence enhance their credit rating. Lenders such as Banks and other financial institutions are most likely to lend to the firms that prepare and present clear and accurate financial statements hence enabling SMEs obtain the Working Capital to facilitate their expansion.

It also helps in familiarizing consumers with taxation, particularly for government revenue through VAT. In this case, consumer notice the amount of tax paid on their purchases, and this enables them to have a true image of their contribution to government revenue and provision of public services.

•  Transparent Pricing
  As for the VAT, for the benefit of the consumer, the tax component of their purchase price of goods and services are discernible. He said that this was because it assists the consumers to comprehend the pattern of costing of their purchases and how taxation is used to finance the public services.

• Educating Consumers
  There are also many different campaigns and educational programs today, which are directed on awareness of the consumers of the significance of the use of VAT. It leads to an enhanced sense of civic duty among the society, and consumers buying back products that fund government endeavors through taxes.

The aforementioned benefits make the adoption of VAT in UAE as a plus in the system with so many advantages boosting the economic stability of the country. VAT optimizes the governmental revenues; encourages compliance and Fair competition; fosters economic diversification; facilitates businesses and Individuals’ tax compliance; supports SME’s; and increases consumers’ awareness thus making it a key for the Federal government’s economic development strategy of the UAE. It has also helped to diversify its revenue base since it has now shifted away from solely relying on oil as its main source of income and is a platform that sets a good ground and framework for future growth.

In the progressive future, it is wise for the business entities and the consumers to accept as well as recognize the value of VAT. Companies compliance with VAT rules is not only a legal requirement but also a way of moving towards increased companies’ transparency and could, therefore, be termed as increased competitiveness. The consumers, in contrast, have the very important task of backing the government’s efforts by recognizing and accepting the need for VAT.

Companies such as CBM Consultants know the legalities of UAE and very well recognize the value of VATs. Thus, we offer Outsourcing VAT Services to people all across the world. Our team of experts will ensure that you do not have to handle the mundane & infuriating hassle of taxes. Rest Assured, you can focus on the important business decisions while we handle the background tasks, ensuring that your business is working at the maximum potential.