Zero rated VAT vs Exempt VAT
Zero rated VAT & exempted VAT are different from each other. Zero rated VAT in UAE means you must charge VAT at 0% to your customers. Exempt VAT means you must NOT charge VAT.
The implementation of VAT is set to be on 1 January 2018, being imposed on certain goods and services. However, the law laid out a couple of exemptions and zero-rated goods and services. FTA has defined different VAT Rates for different sectors.
What Does Zero-Rated VAT Mean?
Any goods and services are subject to zero rated when those are exported to a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country that hasn’t implemented VAT just yet. This includes the passengers and goods that are transported internationally, as well as a transfer that starts or even ends in the UAE or cross any part of its region.
Difference Between Zero-Rated VAT vs Exempted VAT
Simply put, a zero-rated VAT is a supply of goods and services that are taxable but VAT is imposed at 0%. VAT-registered businesses that produce zero-rated supplies/services have the right to claim their input tax deductions that they have obtained in the course of producing the aforementioned taxable supplies. On the other hand, an exempt VAT is the supply of goods or services that are not subjected to any VAT rate.
Good and Services Under Zero Rated Tax
Based on the Article 45 of Federal Decree-Law Number 8 of 2017, there are 14 goods and services that are subject to zero-rated VAT.
i) Direct or Indirect Exports
The first on the list is the direct or indirect export outside the UAE to states in the GCC that do not implement VAT, as clearly stated in the Executive Regulation of this Decree-Law.
ii) International Transport
International airfares will be under the zero rate as it is stated that goods and services that are transported internationally starting or ending in the UAE or crossing any party of its region, which includes services related to such transport, will have zero rates applied on them.
iii) Air Passenger Transport
As mentioned on the third number in Article 45, the transport of air passenger in the country is also included “if it is considered an ‘international carriage’ pursuant to Article (1) of the Warsaw Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules Relating to International Carriage by Air 1929.”
iv) Supply of Air, Sea and Land Means of Transport
In accordance with the Executive Regulations of this Decree-Law, the supply of air, sea, and land means of transport for the transportation of passengers and goods are also under zero rate.
v) Goods and Services Related to the Supply of the Means of Transport
The supply of goods and services for the operation, repair, maintenance, or conversation of the aforementioned means of transport are zero-rated.
vi) Aircraft and Vessels for Rescue
Aircrafts and vessels that are intended for rescue and assistance by air or sea will have zero rate applied on them.
vii) Supply of Goods and Services Related to the Transfer of Goods or Passengers
The goods and services for consumption on board, or anything at all that is meant to be consumed by any means of transport, any installations, or addition thereto or any other use during transportation shall be included in this application as well.
viii) Investment in Precious Metal
The eight on the list is the supply or import of investment precious metals. With accordance to the Executive Regulation of this Decree-Law, it will specify the precious metals as well as the basis of the standards by which the aforementioned goods are classified as for investment purposes.
ix) Sale of the Residential Building
In accordance with the controls specified in the Executive Regulations of this Decree-Law, residential buildings in its first three years of completion, may it be for sale or lease in whole or in part, shall be under zero rate.
x) Charitable Building Supplies
If the buildings are for the purpose of being used by charities, the first supply shall have zero rate applied on them (sale or lease).
xi) First Supply for Residential Building
Buildings that are converted from non-residential to residential will be under zero rate as well in its first supply (sale or lease).
xii) Oil & Gas
Crude oil and natural gas are under zero rate as the number 12 on the list.
xiii) Educational Services
As per the Executive Regulation of this Decree-Law, zero rate shall apply on educational services and related goods and services for nurseries, preschool, elementary education, and higher education institutions that are owned or funded by the federal or local government.
xiv) Healthcare Services
The last on this list is, in accordance with the Executive Regulation of this Decree-Law, the supply of preventive and basic health care services and related goods and services.
Goods and Services Exempted from VAT
There are only four items that are listed as exempted from VAT as per Article 46 of the Federal Decree-Law Number 8 of 2017:
i) Financial services that are specified in the Executive Regulation of this Decree-Law
ii) Supply of residential buildings through sale or lease, other than that which is zero rated according to Clauses (9) and (11) of Article (45) of this Decree-Law
iii) Supply of bare land
iv) Supply of local passenger transport
SAB is equipped with a team of thriving VAT specialists who can help your business to overcome expected roadblocks such as lack of familiarity with VAT rules & regulations, structure and compliance issues, lack of resources and lack of a compliant accounting system.
we are a freezone company one in ajman freezone the other one is in dmcc
do we need this VAT id or registration?
Yes, you need VAT Registration.
We are offering FREE VAT REGISTRATION & CONSULTANCY!
Contact us if you need any help regarding VAT!
Hi
I would like an information about VAT.
I am the owner and director of a RAK offshore company with no accounts in Dubai but only overseas.
Do i need to register for vat.
Regards
Max
No, you do not need to register for vat.
I own a Medical Centre in Dubai with a annual turnover of more than the stipulated limit. Ours is a LLC with a local as a partner. I understand that Health sector has 0% VAT. Do we need to register for VAT?
Yes, if your annual turnover is more than AED 375,000.
Thanks
good morning im working in dental clinic here in rak LLC, my boss ask me to registeer for vat, i understand that health sector has 0% vat. so im confused if do i really neeed to register or no need?
Health sector is 0% not exempt so you must register.
Thanks
we are JAFZA based trading company where we will get orders through online, we split the orders and will place it to different suppliers in India and the supplier will send the goods directly to the buyer in Germany, so we are not importing or exporting any goods through UAE, but we will get the payment from our buyer to our UAE a/c where we will take our commission and send the rest of the payment to suppliers in India,
In this case whether we need to register for VAT?
No, you don’t have to register.
Hi, we are an HR company with a turnover of 300,000. Do we need to register for VAT?
Businesses with a turnover less than AED 375,000 can register VOLUNTARILY.
Let SAB assist you in VAT registration.
Thanks
Business Activity: Salon
Questions:
1. Do we need to register for VAT?
2. Shop Rent: A tenancy contract was signed in September 2017. However, this December month, the real estate has recently sent an addendum stating our existing contract which was renewed three months ago are included in the VAT this year 2017 and upon signing now on the addendum, does this mean we have to pay or issue a cheque the full amount of 5% VAT now regardless that VAT will officially take effect only in January 2018? Is this legal to charge us now for the 5% VAT in 2017 or the 5% VAT will be charged to us only upon renewal by September 2018? Can you please explain further on this?
Thank you in advance for your prompt reply.
1. Yes, you need to register for VAT if your annual turnover is more than AED 375,000
2. No, you don’t have to pay 5% for the finance done in 2017. 5% VAT will be charged upon the renewal by september 2018.
For more queries and questions, contact out VAT experts on accounts@sabauditing.ae
Thanks
Please let me know whether Free zone companies are subject to pay input tax on services they obtain from outside Free zone suppliers, because we are in Sharjah and we give services to Companies in Free zones in UAE.
Free Zone companies are subject to VAT.
Thank you!
Hi, I have a company in Dubai. Our office rent is AED130,000 per year inclusive 5% Vat. Is there any chance to get the VAT refund? If yes, how it is possible.
Yes it is refundable.
SAB is providing VAT services, We will assist you in getting the VAT refund.
Contact Us!
Hai sir
Can i add tax for export sales ( if they not submitting their Custom Certificate ).
and also company vehicle petrol bill tax can clime or not
sincerely
It depends on the nature of the situation that whether you can claim it or not.
For more queries and questions, contact out VAT experts on accounts@sabauditing.ae
Thanks
I am currently operating my business from UAE. I have trading business in which Auto spare parts & Components are shipped from China to UK. All my bank transactions are done in UAE. Do I have to register for VAT? Does my business comes under Zero rated?
my company is registered in Dubai
Yes, you have to register. Contact us and we will help you in registering your company under Federal Tax Authority. Thank you!
thanks
you are welcome!
Our customer is a RAK International company (Offshore). They informed me that they do not need to register to UAE VAT. They may voluntary register in the next month but will still be VAT zero rated for Export and Import services. In this case we don’t need to charge them of VAT, right?
If you are registered and you have Tax Registration Number (TRN) then you will charge them VAT. Thank you
Let us know if you need VAT or Accounting Services, we will help you.
hi we have a land transportation company in uae we r provinding land transportation services to gcc and locally
we r already registered for vat i want to know what we have to do whether we are zero rated or exempted and how we will file a tax
Is it a Land Transportation for Passengers or Shipments? Is it a Local transportation or International Transportation?
1) Is rent of Labour camp(Residence Purpose) subject to VAT??
2) LLC company partner/manager’s remuneration is subject to VAT as directorship services??
I own a RAKEZ free zone establishment, a service company (No trading) for Project management and Engineering consultancies. Didn’t conduct any business before so previous revenue to date is Zero. So not registered with VAT. Do I need to register for VAT for my first contract I am getting, or shall I register after this year, and will VAT be applied on this contract retro or not.
Hi,
One of our tax representatives will get back to you. Thank you!
Hi,
I am setting up a Digital Media Services company in DSO Freezone and my scope of work will be only finding the target audience for a European Media Company to sell their services online digitally. Payments will be in the UAE bank account, and I will transfer the money to the supplier in Europe after deducting my commission. Do I need to register for VAT?
Thank you in advance for your response
Hi Mr. Serkan,
Please share your contact details and one of our VAT specialists will contact you.
Thank you
If your commission amount is exceeding the threshold of AED 187,500 then you can apply for Voluntary VAT registration.
If your commission amount is exceeding the threshold of AED 375,000 then you must apply for Mandatory VAT registration.
For more information, Feel free to contact us.
Thank you
Hi, we are cargo company in UAE and sending the customer boxes to Philippines, do we need to pay and collect tax from our client?
If you are raising invoice on the name of philippines company and you have supporting documents available that goods shipped out of UAE then there will be no need to charge VAT.
Thank you
I am doing my MBA graduation on a private study center in Dubai. Do I need to pay the VAT on top of my course fee. I have seen some exemption shall be available for the higher study. does it applicable to only some institute or only for Emirati students. your expert advise would be appreciated,
I have eCommerce trade licence in Free Zone and we are buying hotels, visas, transfer, excursion from tour operators based in UAE and we are selling it to travel agencies abroad. Do we need register and pay VAT?
My client owns a small office with an ongoing rental tenant <180,000 and is selling it. This is his only UAE property or income so he has never registered for VAT. Now the buyer insists that the owner must register for VAT to sell it, even if it is zero VAT payable. He does not wish to register for VAT simply to sell the property then de-register immediately, considering the VAT payable is zero in any case. Must he register?
I am an individual: personal bank account holder, I am doing consultancy for a company in Belgium.
Do I need to invoice with VAT. Or its exempted?
Thanks in advance for your reply.
Hi,
We are a Ship Agency Service Provider, we provide various services to “Foreign Vessel’s” coming to UAE Ports.
Services such as Launch Service – for Transportation of Crew and Supplies to Vessel, Supplies from local Market.
We do all the husbandry services on behalf of the Vessel Owners. Most of our customers out of UAE, shall we consider our supplies as Zero Rated Supply.
hi,
we are transport company, some of our customer we are back charging Salik we have to charge VAT or its exempted from VAT. our customer doesn’t accepting with VAT kindly clarify.
Please share your contact details with us and one of our representatives will contact you. Or call # 050 454 8424 / 04 259 4747
Thanks
Greeting,
1) Our company is providing transportation services to students from whom they are directly collecting the transportation fee and also to some schools we have given buses with drivers and monthly we are charging invoice to them. Could you please advise the VAT
Hello Mr. Shakeel Ahmad,
Thank you for your inquiry. As per your inquiry, you will charge VAT to the students and you will also charge VAT from the schools as well. 5% VAT must be charged. For more information, contact us. 04 259 4747
Thank you!
Our company is registered in JAFZA however our operations is outside UAE. Do we need to add 5% VAT on our invoice?
No, it will be out of scope.
Hi,
Ours is a french school located in Abu Dhabi.
1. Is students school bus fees chargeable with VAT 5% on invoice? or is it an exempt supply?
2. School bus transportation supplier charges school with VAT 5% on their monthly invoice. Is it recoverable?
Thanks