UAE Tax Deadlines and Compliance Calendar

By Shihabudeen Pattasseri, FTA-Registered Tax Agent (TAAN 20056925) · Updated 2026-11-03

UAE tax deadlines are driven by your own financial year and tax periods rather than one national date, which is why generic calendars can mislead. Here is how to work out your key dates.

Corporate Tax

• Registration: by the deadline set from your licence issuance or incorporation date; companies incorporated on or after 1 March 2024 generally register within three months of incorporation.
• Return and payment: within nine months of the end of your financial year. For a year ending 31 December 2025, the deadline is 30 September 2026.

VAT

• Returns and payment: by the 28th day of the month after each tax period. Most businesses file quarterly; some monthly.
• Registration: within 30 days of becoming liable once you cross the mandatory threshold.

Excise Tax

Registered businesses file Excise Tax returns monthly, with payment due by the set date each period.

Build your own calendar

Note your financial year end, add nine months for Corporate Tax, and mark the 28th after each VAT quarter. Set reminders two to three weeks early so returns are prepared from reconciled records, not rushed. Missing a deadline is an automatic penalty, so the diary is worth keeping.

Frequently asked questions

When is my Corporate Tax return due?

Nine months after your financial year end. For a 31 December year end, that is 30 September the following year.

When are VAT returns due?

By the 28th of the month after the tax period ends, usually quarterly.

Is there one national tax deadline in the UAE?

No. Deadlines depend on your own financial year and tax periods, so each business has its own dates.

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