VAT compliance is essential for companies that are doing businesses in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) given that their objective is to conform to tax standards. Furthermore, many companies have faced high complexity since the establishment of VAT in 2018 and have had to follow new regulations. This brief will give you an overview about UAE VAT compliance, and how can you adopt best practices to stay compliant and what support you can request to manage the risk factors for your business adequately.

• Overview of VAT:
  VAT is a type of consumption tax that is levied on the supply of goods and services, which are sold in the market. These are indirect taxes since they are collected by businesses at their own expense before being passed on to the end consumer. In UAE, the prescribed GST rate is at 5% and there are no other rates that are applicable in this country.
• Importance of VAT Compliance:

The above-mentioned facts suggest that many performances were attributed to mid-13th. These reasons are important in supporting the argument and show that businesses should abide by challenges of Value Added Tax to avoid penalties, enhance business operations, and prevent collapse due to bad reputation. Non-compliance may attract penalties which include fines, lead to legal problems, or reduce the organization competitiveness in the market.

• Registration:
  This means that the businesses with turnover of AED 375,001 and above are required to register for VAT. While those that earn of lesser than the above limit is free to register voluntarily. In this stage, the business will apply for Tax Registration Number (TRN) from Federal Tax Administration (FTA).
• Invoicing and Record Keeping:
  All sales, deliveries, supplies, or any other taxable transactions must be accompanied by proper VAT-compliant invoices. The invoices should be clear and concise with such features as the supplier’s TRN, customer’s TRN, amount of VAT charged and details of the nature of the supplies. This is actually critical for accurately tracking the revenue to ensure that all accounts are balanced, to facilitate auditing.
• Filing VAT Returns:
  Each return must be filed quarterly or monthly, depending on whether the business is large, medium or small. These returns compute the VAT recovered on supplies and the amount of VA Tax incurred on acquisitions to result in the net VAT payable or recoverable. In as much as compliance entails many other aspects, the most important aspect that cannot be undermined is submission of accurate and timely VAT returns
• Payment of VAT:
  Finally, any VAT payments that are owed have to be paid to the FTA at the required due dates. This means that failure to observe the set time for VAT payments attracts penalties and interests which must be paid thus warranting for timely payments of VAT.

• Complexity of Regulations:
  What makes the subject thrilling to learn is that the UAE VAT laws are somewhat rigid and dynamic in equal measure. You can avoid getting lost with the current rules and interpretations or to become a victim of erroneous interpretations or rule application by strictly adhering to the activity and approaching it with professional competence.
• Managing Documentation:
  Keeping records that are clear and comprehensive of all the managerial transactions do present a lot of difficulties to most firms. It is therefore critical to keep proper records that would help in preparation of the correct VAT returns as well as in cases where the FTA conducts audits on organizations.
• Cash Flow Management:
  Governing cash flows to facilitate disposals that would allow for proper VAT remittance may be tricky for concern firms with slim margins of working. The matter of when they collect and remit VAT constitutes another potent factor in their financial strategies.

• Hiring a VAT Consultant:
  VAT professionals include, in one way or another, professionals in accounting, law, auditing, and tax consulting that specialize extensively in the regulation and implementation of VAT compliance. Professional help can be a valuable asset in areas such as registration for the relieved of taxes, filing returns and managing audits, thus keeping the businesses legal. For professional consultants, contact cbmc.ae
• Implementing VAT Software:
  The use of VAT compliance software can help in minimizing different VAT issues that can occur through eliminating predisposed problems in the methodical flows and mistake probabilities. They can be used for issuing invoices, record-keeping, filing returns and can assist in summoning compliance data and reducing the time taken and chances of error.
• Staff Training and Development:
  Forcing one’s team to be knowledgeable about VAT rules and guidelines becomes mandatory. This shows that adherence to these standards can be improved through training and development that will ensure the employees are aware with the existing current prevailing laws and other normative frameworks.
• Outsourcing VAT Compliance:
  Seeking assistance of VAT consultants such as CBM Consultants may also be a smart move for those industries which do not have professionals in-house. It means that any business that might be interested in engaging the services of VAT domicile can do so since these firms can undertake every process of VAT, from registration to return filing on behalf of the businesses. A good example of an Outsourced VAT Company is CBM Consultants.

• Federal Tax Authority (FTA) Resources:
  There is a lot of information on the FTA website that can be used in an effort to assist in the understanding of how different businesses should meet their VAT obligations. these are both the specific detailed guides, the most commonly asked questions, as well as the web-based approach to registration and filing of returns. Having access to these resources makes compliance much easier; the danger of making an error is averted.
• Industry Associations and Chambers of Commerce:
  It is through the industry associations and the chambers of commerce where businesses seek support and help in compliance to VAT. Such organizations may provide training sessions, seminars, workshops, and prospective associations that will enable the organizations to remain educated and legal.
• Professional Services Firms:
  The professional services firms such as CBMC often provide VAT compliance services as part of their service delivery. These firms have expertise in the necessary specialized technical skills for VA Tax compliance that include advice and support to firms who are unable to meet their VAT obligations.

• Case Study 1:

Retail Business is one of the businesses that has benefited from globalization and its management has been enlightened by this strategic management tool.
It was in a very big retailing business where it was difficult to handle Compliance of VAT because of the number of transactions and the many rules there were on the process. Using the services of a VAT consultant and incorporating the use of VAT software helped the business to map out and develop the necessary strategies that enhanced efficiency in returns and VAT accuracy and eliminate unnecessary delays in filing. There was also a briefing and training conducted to the staff by the consultant to improve staff knowledge regarding the VAT compliance aspect.

• Case Study 2:

Small Manufacturing Company refers to a manufacturing enterprise capable of producing a diverse range of products with little or no initial capital investment and low operating costs.
An example of an organization that lacked clerical competence was a manufacturing firm which faced difficulty in recording their transactions and submitting the correct VAT returns on time. One example is the company decided to outsource its compliance to VAT to a professional services firm; this allowed the firm to streamline its focus on its business activities without compromising its compliance with VAT requirements. It guided the company starting from the registration process up to managing the audits making it easier for the company not to have to mobilize its human power to perform the activities.

• Digital Transformation:
  Evolving digital technologies is altering VAT Adherence as more businesses adopt digital technologies to carry out their everyday activities. The digital revolution in the management of VAT is useful since it makes the processes more accurate, faster, and more transparent with the help of automation, artificial intelligence, and blockchain. Companies which actively adopt these technologies will be anyway better prepared for the further changes in the regulation sphere.
• International Collaboration:
  There will be greater cooperation on the part of the VR systems in different nations owing to the growing integration of VAT systems. Companies that are exporting or importing products or services in different countries will require understanding and integration of different jurisdictions, it is therefore important to pay attention to global VAT.

Maintaining VAT obedience in the UAE is an elaborate process that involves the appreciation of the laws governing VAT, adequate documentation of the activities undertaken by the business and timely submission of the returns. Overall, adherence to VAT does not have to be a problem; with the appropriate solutions and assistance, several stumbling blocks can be avoided. If one did not engage a consultant or simply hired a specialist in the field, employ a team or training the existing staff, then there are diverse approaches toward maintaining business within the UAE’s realm legal, VAT-compliant and efficient.

Therefore, it is a wise decision for companies to either outsource vat services or  hire experts such as CBM Consultants, as we can ensure that your VAT Obedience is up to date because of our team of experts. Rest Assured, you can focus on the important business tasks and take important decisions while we handle the mundane tasks. Visit cbmc.ae for further information.