A business must notify the FTA by submitting an application for deregistration from VAT within 20 business days from the date of occurrence of any of the following events that require VAT deregistration under Article 21 of the VAT Law:

General Process for VAT Deregistration

Taxpayers must submit the VAT deregistration within 20 business days from the occurrence of the event that requires deregistration.

Filing During the Deregistration Process: VAT deregistration process can sometimes take several months. During this period, it’s important to file zero returns for each tax period to avoid accumulating non-filing penalties.

Post-Deregistration Responsibilities

Even after deregistration, businesses may still need to retain their VAT records for a period of five years, as per the UAE’s tax laws. Additionally, if the business holds any VAT credits or balances, it may need to settle these amounts before completing the deregistration process.

Penalty

If the registrant fails to submit a deregistration application within 20 business days, as specified by the Tax Law, a penalty of AED1,000 will be imposed, with an additional AED1,000 per month for each subsequent month of delay, up to a maximum of AED10,000.

Impact of VAT Deregistration

Potential Resubmission of VAT Registration

In the future, if a business’s circumstances change and it crosses the registration limit again, then the business will have to resubmit VAT Registration. This could affect the management of the business and might cause some forms of interruptions in the course of the business.

Seeking advice on VAT compliance or understanding the full scope of VAT registration in UAE is essential for maintaining the smooth operation of your business. It is highly advisable to consult with reputable VAT consultants such as Excellence, who can provide expert guidance that will help you stay informed about VAT registration and deregistration requirements to avoid costly mistakes and focus on growing your business and ensure that your business stays compliant with the UAE’s VAT laws.