UAE extends deadline to submit VAT returns to May 28

The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) of the UAE has ordered a directive to extend to May 28, the deadline of submitting VAT returns and payments of tax due for the tax period ended March 31, 2020, official news agency WAM reported.

The move will facilitate businesses and service providers to meet their obligations without facing any difficulties.

“This comes in n light of the Federal Tax Authority’s commitment to supporting VAT registrants and the unprecedented intensive precautionary measures undertaken by the UAE to curb the spread of the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) imposing 24-hour restrictions on the movement of individuals and vehicles implemented in certain areas of the UAE, which coincided with deadlines for filing VAT Returns,” said FTA in a press statement today.

The FTA confirmed that VAT registrants who have monthly tax periods must submit their returns, and settle their associated dues for the tax period from March 1-31, no later than Thursday, May 28, 2020.

Meanwhile, VAT registrants having quarterly tax periods must submit their returns and settle their tax dues for the tax period from January 1 to March 31, 2020, by Thursday, May 28, 2020. The FTA also urged registrants to include accurate data in their VAT returns.

This directive pertains only to VAT returns for the tax periods that ended on March 31, 2020, and does not affect any other tax periods where the deadline for filing tax returns and settling of payable taxes does not fall in April 2020.

The FTA is extending its entire range of services remotely, by operating an electronic system that facilitates registration, filing tax returns, and payment of due taxes from anywhere and anytime. The aim is to encourage registrants to comply with the procedures and to promote social distancing while avoiding the use of paper documents.

The UAE has, since the outbreak, registered a total of 7,755 Covid-19 cases and 46 deaths.