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When is the UAE VAT return due?

By the 28th day of the month after your VAT tax period ends, so a quarter ending 30 September 2026 is due by 28 October 2026. If the 28th falls on a Saturday or Sunday the date moves to the next working day, and public holidays or periods assigned by the FTA can change it.

Checked against official sources on 25 September 2026. Sources are listed at the end.

Due date
28th day of the month after the tax period ends
Official source(opens in a new tab)
Late return
AED 1,000
Official source(opens in a new tab)
Repeated within 24 months
AED 2,000
Official source(opens in a new tab)
Nil returns
The same penalties apply when nothing is payable
Official source(opens in a new tab)

Free deadline checker

Find your next VAT return date

Choose monthly or quarterly, and for quarters, the months they end in. Your accountant or your EmaraTax account can confirm your tax periods. No signup needed.

Where is the company licensed?

Each free zone sets its own audited accounts deadline and fee. We only give an exact date where the rule is published.

The issue date of the first licence.

Corporate tax registration

Sets your e-invoicing dates, whether or not you are registered for VAT.

Sets the e-invoicing phase, and whether a mainland company needs audited statements for corporate tax.

More dates (optional)

9 company deadlines, 2 overdue, 4 in the next 30 days

9 company deadlines

UAE calendar, 24 October 2026

2 overdue · 4 in the next 30 days

  1. Jul
    28
    2026

    VAT return: overdue unless already filed

    was due 88 days ago

    Confirm it was filed. The return for the tax period ending 30 June 2026 was due 28 July 2026. If it was not filed, a AED 1,000 penalty applies now (AED 2,000 if it is a repeat within 24 months).

    If missed: AED 1,000 for a late return, AED 2,000 if repeated within 24 months, including returns with nothing to pay. Unpaid tax carries a separate monthly late-payment penalty. Source: VAT return: overdue unless already filed (opens in a new tab)

  2. Sep
    30
    2026

    Corporate tax return: overdue unless already filed

    was due 24 days ago

    Confirm it was filed. The return for the tax period ending 31 December 2025 was due 30 September 2026. If it was not filed, the late filing penalty is already AED 500 and grows each month (AED 500 a month in the first year, then AED 1,000). If the company was formed after 31 December 2025, this return does not apply; add the formation date.

    If missed: AED 500 for each month or part of a month late during the first 12 months, then AED 1,000 a month. Late payment of tax is penalised separately. Source: Corporate tax return: overdue unless already filed (opens in a new tab)

  3. Oct
    24
    2026

    Confirm your corporate tax registration

    due today · suggested date

    UAE companies, including free zone companies, generally must register even if they pay 0%. Add the issue date of your first licence to see the deadline.

    If missed: AED 10,000 penalty for late registration. The FTA waives it for eligible companies that file their first return or annual declaration within 7 months from the end of the first tax period. Source: Confirm your corporate tax registration (opens in a new tab)

  4. Oct
    24
    2026

    Check your free zone's audited accounts rule

    due today · suggested date

    Suggested reminder: six months after the financial year ending 31 December 2025. Your free zone sets the actual deadline, which may be earlier, and whether audited accounts must be submitted to it; check its rules.

    If missed: Your free zone sets any late fee; we do not list one. Qualifying Free Zone Persons, and companies with revenue over AED 50 million in the tax period, must prepare and keep audited financial statements for corporate tax (Ministerial Decision 84 of 2025). Source: Check your free zone's audited accounts rule (opens in a new tab)

  5. Oct
    28
    2026

    File the VAT return

    in 4 days

    The 28th day after the tax period ending 30 September 2026, moved to the next working day when it falls on a weekend. Public holidays and FTA-assigned periods can change it.

    If missed: AED 1,000 for a late return, AED 2,000 if repeated within 24 months, including returns with nothing to pay. Unpaid tax carries a separate monthly late-payment penalty. Source: File the VAT return (opens in a new tab)

  6. Oct
    30
    2026

    Check whether you need an e-invoicing provider: revenue of AED 50 million or more

    in 6 days

    If your company invoices other businesses or government, e-invoicing applies whether or not you are registered for VAT. Sales only to consumers are out of scope. Businesses with revenue of AED 50 million or more must appoint an Accredited Service Provider by 30 October 2026 and start issuing e-invoices on 1 January 2027 (Ministerial Decision 244 of 2025, as amended by Decision 66 of 2026). Choose your revenue band to see only your dates.

    If missed: AED 5,000 for each month or part of a month without an appointed provider or without the system in place (Cabinet Decision 106 of 2025). Source: Check whether you need an e-invoicing provider: revenue of AED 50 million or more (opens in a new tab)

  7. Mar
    31
    2027

    Check whether you need an e-invoicing provider: revenue under AED 50 million

    in 158 days

    If your company invoices other businesses or government, e-invoicing applies whether or not you are registered for VAT. Sales only to consumers are out of scope. Businesses with revenue under AED 50 million must appoint an Accredited Service Provider by 31 March 2027 (Ministerial Decision 244 of 2025, as amended by Decision 66 of 2026).

    If missed: AED 5,000 for each month or part of a month without an appointed provider or without the system in place (Cabinet Decision 106 of 2025). Source: Check whether you need an e-invoicing provider: revenue under AED 50 million (opens in a new tab)

  8. Jul
    01
    2027

    Start issuing e-invoices

    in 250 days

    If your company invoices other businesses or government, e-invoicing applies whether or not you are registered for VAT. Sales only to consumers are out of scope. For revenue under AED 50 million, e-invoicing through your provider becomes mandatory on 1 July 2027.

    If missed: AED 5,000 for each month or part of a month without an appointed provider or without the system in place (Cabinet Decision 106 of 2025). Source: Start issuing e-invoices (opens in a new tab)

  9. Sep
    30
    2027

    File the corporate tax return

    in 341 days

    Nine months after the tax period ending 31 December 2026. Required even on the 0% rate or with Small Business Relief. If your first tax period is shorter or longer than a year, use its actual end date. Small Business Relief, for resident companies with revenue of AED 3 million or less in this and every earlier period, is chosen in each return and runs to tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029 (Ministerial Decision 131 of 2026); it is not available to Qualifying Free Zone Persons.

    If missed: AED 500 for each month or part of a month late during the first 12 months, then AED 1,000 a month. Late payment of tax is penalised separately. Source: File the corporate tax return (opens in a new tab)

Save and get reminders

Rules and figures from official sources, checked 25 September 2026. Dates are worked out from what you enter; your own tax period, extensions or authority may differ. Confirm your dates with a registered tax agent or your licensing authority. Get Tajdeed is not a tax adviser or government service.

Next VAT return for each quarter group

Quarterly VAT periods in the UAE fall into three groups. Find the months your quarters end in to see the next period end and due date from today.

Next VAT return for each quarter group
Tax periodsNext period endsReturn due by
Quarters ending Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct31 October 202630 November 2026
Quarters ending Feb, May, Aug, Nov30 November 202628 December 2026
Quarters ending Mar, Jun, Sep, Dec30 September 202628 October 2026
Monthly returns30 September 202628 October 2026

The 28th day rule

The FTA gives every VAT registrant a tax period, either monthly or quarterly. The return for each period, and any VAT payable, is due by the 28th day of the month after the period ends. You or your accountant file it on EmaraTax.

When the 28th falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the date moves to the next working day. Public holidays and periods the FTA assigns to you can also change it, so treat the 28th as the latest safe day, not a target. Some examples:

  • Quarter ending 30 September 2026: due 28 October 2026
  • Quarter ending 31 October 2026: 28 November is a Saturday, so due 30 November 2026
  • Month ending 30 November 2026: due 28 December 2026

Which quarter group are you in?

Quarterly periods do not all end in March, June, September and December. The FTA assigns one of three patterns, and the due dates follow from it:

If you are not sure which group you are in, check your EmaraTax account or ask your accountant before relying on any date.

  • Quarters ending January, April, July and October: returns due in February, May, August and November
  • Quarters ending February, May, August and November: returns due in March, June, September and December
  • Quarters ending March, June, September and December: returns due in April, July, October and January

Late filing penalties, including nil returns

Under Cabinet Decision No. 40 of 2017 and its amendments, a late VAT return costs AED 1,000. A second late return within 24 months costs AED 2,000. These apply even to a return with nothing to pay, so a quiet quarter still needs a return on time.

VAT that is not paid on time carries a separate monthly late-payment penalty under the same decision. Filing on time does not stop it if the payment is late.

A routine that keeps VAT on time

Most late VAT returns are not hard, just forgotten. Agree with your accountant who files and by which day, ask them to send you the filing reference, and keep a record of it for each period.

The free checker on this page shows your next due date, and with a free account you get email reminders before every return. Once you mark a return done, the next period is set up for you.

Common questions

Is the UAE VAT return due on the 28th or at the end of the month?

On the 28th day of the month after the tax period ends, not the last day of the month. For a quarter ending 31 December, that is 28 January, moved to the next working day if it falls on a weekend.

Do I still file a VAT return if I had no sales?

Yes. A registered business files for every period. A late nil return attracts the same AED 1,000 penalty, or AED 2,000 if it is repeated within 24 months.

Is the late payment penalty the same as the late filing penalty?

No. The late filing penalty is a fixed amount per return. Unpaid VAT carries its own monthly late-payment penalty, so a return that is late and unpaid attracts both.

What if the 28th is a public holiday?

Public holidays can change the due date, but our calendar only moves dates off weekends. Check any holiday period with your accountant or on EmaraTax, and file before the 28th when you can.

Does Get Tajdeed file my VAT return?

No. Get Tajdeed does not file returns; you or your accountant file on EmaraTax. It is not a tax adviser or a government service, and it is not affiliated with or approved by the FTA or any other authority. Confirm your dates with a registered tax agent.

Official sources

Rules and figures from official sources, checked 25 September 2026. Dates are worked out from what you enter; your own tax period, extensions or authority may differ. Confirm your dates with a registered tax agent or your licensing authority. Get Tajdeed is not a tax adviser or government service.

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UAE VAT Return Due Date: The 28th and Late Penalties | Get Tajdeed