UAE Corporate Tax Law Release

Key highlights

Free Zone entities 

A hotly anticipated area of the CT law was the treatment of Free Zone Persons. The law suggests that a Qualifying Free Zone Person can have both Qualifying Income (taxed at the rate of 0%) and non-qualifying Taxable Income (taxed at 9%), a significant open question from the Consultation Document. However, some questions remain to be answered on this.  

The conditions to be considered a Qualifying Free Zone Person include among others maintaining adequate substance, complying with transfer pricing provisions and not electing to be subject to CT. All Free Zone entities will be required to register and file a CT return, irrespective of whether they are a Qualifying Free Zone Person or not.

A number of points remain unanswered such as what constitutes Qualifying Income (subject to Cabinet decision), the treatment of transactions between Free Zone entities and group entities located in mainland UAE, and whether the election to become subject to regular CT in the UAE is irrevocable.

Exempt persons

The CT law establishes which persons will be exempt from UAE CT, and this definition is somewhat expanded from the Consultation Document as it now includes certain non-extractive natural resources businesses.

In addition the CT law has provided additional clarity with reference to Government entities and Government Controlled entities. Specifically the CT law has defined that Government entities, would be considered as exempt persons unless conducting any business or business activity under a License issued by a Licensing Authority. Government controlled entities would be considered as exempt persons unless conducting a non mandated activity.

For businesses in extractive industries, the CT law has specified that if the entity is earning income from both extractive and non-extractive business, then the extractive income is to be taxed under the relevant Emirate Legislation and the other business income shall be taxed as per the CT law.

Calculation of taxable income

The CT law reinforced that taxable income will be determined on the basis of the net profit (or loss) in financial statements prepared for financial reporting purposes in accordance with acceptable accounting standards.

The provisions provide insights in terms of the tax adjustments that will apply to the reported accounting income. These include insights into the treatment of unrealised gains and losses and interest expenses.  

Tax grouping 

Tax grouping is an important way taxpayers may reduce the administrative burden of tax, and share losses to reduce tax. Additional clarity was provided in relation to rules governing the utilisation of tax losses where a subsidiary joins a Tax group and when a Tax group ceases to exist. 

Transfer Pricing (TP)

The UAE CT law contains several articles relating to Transfer Pricing. The key points covered under the CT law are summarised below:

• Transactions with related parties and connected persons must meet the arm’s length principle.

• TP methods, broadly in line with the OECD TP Guidelines, are introduced.

• Definitions of ‘Related Parties’, ‘Control’ and ‘Connected Persons’ are covered. 

• Concept of transfer pricing adjustments, including corresponding adjustments and potential mechanisms, is provided. 

• Taxpayers to prepare TP documentation (disclosure form, master file, local file). Conditions and format to be provided under separate ministerial decisions and tax authority guidance.

• FAQ’s provide commentary on additional TP considerations including, but not limited to, (i) domestic transactions - covered; (ii) transactions within a tax group - excluded; and (iii) Free Zone entities - covered.

• Further details expected via separate ministerial decisions and tax authority guidance. 

Transitional provisions 

The CT law restates the principle established in the Consultation Document that the opening balance sheet for tax purposes will be the prior period closing accounting balance sheet. This should simplify calculation of deferred tax, which needs to be evaluated by taxpayers going forwards. However, it also potentially establishes some additional uncertainty as this principle is “subject to any conditions or adjustments that may be prescribed by the Minister”. Taxpayers must therefore carefully consider their approach to tax accounting and provisions.

Participation exemptions

The participation exemption exempts certain income (dividends, capital gains) from UAE CT. In addition to the previously mentioned criteria (5% ownership, and investee company to be subject to a 9% tax rate), a 12 month continuous holding period requirement has been added. The CT law also clarifies how the participation exemption may apply in cases where the immediate participation may not meet the conditions of the exemption.

Global minimum tax

No further guidance was provided in the CT law in relation to Pillar Two. Based on the FAQs, multinationals will be subject to CT under the regular UAE CT regime, until such time as the Pillar Two rules are adopted by the UAE. Further information will be released in due course on the implementation of the Pillar Two rules in the UAE.