All you need to know about registering for VAT?
With the release of the executive regulations last week, we now have more details on the registration process
According to the executive regulations on value added tax (VAT) published last week, the mandatory registration threshold is Dh375,000.
This means that anyone with a turnover of Dh375,000 or more is required to register their business for VAT, the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) and Ministry of Finance (MoF) said in the recently release regulations.
The voluntary registration threshold is Dh187,500, with companies of that size or above able to register for VAT too.
The failure of a taxable person or business to submit a registration application within the time frame specified in the tax law is liable for a Dh20,000 fine.
Also according to the executive regulations, companies are able to register as a tax group.
Through this mechanism, more than one company can register for VAT as a group, under a single common control, according to Dubai-based Jitendra Consulting Group. They say that the main benefit of group registration is to simplify the procedures and save costs through consolidated tax returns and a single VAT registration.
The group’s tax returns and payments are carried out by the member who acts as a representative of the group, the FTA has stated. All the members are jointly liable, however.
http://gulfnews.com/business/economy/vat/all-you-need-to-know-about-registering-for-vat-1.2136687
Who can or will be able to register for VAT?
A business must register for VAT if their taxable supplies and imports exceed the mandatory registration threshold of AED 375,000.
Furthermore, a business may choose to register for VAT voluntarily if their supplies and imports are less than the mandatory registration threshold, but exceed the voluntary registration threshold of AED 187,500.
Similarly, a business may register voluntarily if their expenses exceed the voluntary registration threshold. This latter opportunity to register voluntarily is designed to enable start-up businesses with no turnover to register for VAT.
How long must a taxable person retain VAT invoices for?
Any taxable person must retain VAT invoices issued and received for a minimum of 5 years.
How should a business determine the place of supply?
The place of supply will determine whether a supply is made within the UAE (in which case the UAE VAT law will apply), or outside the UAE for VAT purposes.
For a supply of goods, the place of supply should be the location of goods when the supply takes place with special rules for certain categories of supplies (e.g. water and energy, cross border supplies).
For the supply of services, the place of supply should be where the supplier is established with special rules for certain categories of supplies (e.g. cross border supplies between businesses).
Can businesses offset customs duty against VAT payments?
The cost of living is likely to increase slightly, but this will vary depending on the individual’s lifestyle and spending behaviour. If your spending is mainly on those things which are relieved from VAT, you are unlikely to see any significant increase.
How will real estate be treated?
The VAT treatment of real estate will depend on whether it is a commercial or residential property.
Supplies (including sales or leases) of commercial properties will be taxable at the standard VAT rate (i.e 5%).
On the other hand, supplies of residential properties will generally be exempt from VAT. This will ensure that VAT would not constitute an irrecoverable cost to persons who buy their own properties. In order to ensure that real estate developers can recover VAT on construction of residential properties, the first supply of residential properties within 3 years from their completion will be zero-rated.
Source: https://www.mof.gov.ae/En/budget/Pages/VATQuestions.aspx