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At Par · United Arab Emirates

Does your DMCC company still file Corporate Tax at 0%?

A DMCC free-zone company is still a UAE taxable person. At Par keeps your books closed, your qualifying-income split clean, and your returns ready — so 0% stays a claim you can defend.

An ACCA is accountable. The finance team you don't hire.

In one line

Yes. A DMCC company must register for Corporate Tax and file every tax period, even at 0%. The 0% applies only to Qualifying Income and only while you meet every Qualifying Free Zone Person condition — including audited financial statements. At Par keeps the books and the split clean and prepares the return; you file.

In the UAE

What this means for your books.

Free-zone does not mean tax-free

0% Corporate Tax is conditional, not automatic. A DMCC company pays 0% only on Qualifying Income, and only while it meets every Qualifying Free Zone Person condition. Fail any one, and it is taxed under the ordinary regime — 0% up to AED 375,000 and 9% above.

DMCC is a Dubai government free zone for trade, commodities and enterprise, home to more than 26,000 member companies from over 180 countries (DMCC's own figure). That status does not change one thing: your company is a UAE taxable person, and the 0% is claimed on your Corporate Tax return, never granted by not filing. Qualifying and excluded activities are set by Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025.

Adequate substanceReal operations and people in the free zone
Qualifying IncomeIncome that qualifies under Cabinet Decision No. 100 of 2023
No 9% electionYou have not elected the standard 9% rate
Transfer pricingCompliant, with documentation kept
Audited financialsRequired for all QFZPs
De-minimis metNon-qualifying revenue under the lower of AED 5m or 5%

Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022, Art. 3; Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025.

The de-minimis line you can't cross

To keep the 0% rate, your non-qualifying revenue must stay under the lower of AED 5,000,000 or 5% of total revenue. Whichever is smaller is your limit.

Cross that line, or fail any single QFZP condition, and your company loses Qualifying Free Zone Person status from the start of that tax period and the next four — five tax periods in total, all taxed at 9%. Watching the split all year is the difference between a 0% you can defend and a costly surprise.

Five tax periodsA de-minimis breach or a failed condition removes QFZP status for the current tax period and the next four — all taxed at 9%.

Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022; Cabinet Decision No. 100 of 2023.

Audited financial statements are required

Every Qualifying Free Zone Person must prepare audited financial statements. That is your company's obligation, and your audited financial statements are signed by your auditor.

At Par keeps your records reconciled, complete and audit-ready, so your auditor's work is faster and your audit risk is lower. At Par does not provide audit or assurance services and does not perform the audit — a qualified accountant (ACCA) is accountable for the books we keep and the returns we prepare.

Ministerial Decision No. 84 of 2025 (audited financial statements).

VAT and the monthly close still apply

VAT does not pause for free-zone companies. The standard rate is 5%, and registration is required once taxable supplies pass AED 375,000 (voluntary from AED 187,500).

Each month, At Par reconciles your accounts, closes the books, keeps the qualifying versus non-qualifying income split clean and monitored against the de-minimis line, and prepares your VAT and Corporate Tax returns. You or your tax agent file on EmaraTax. At Par prepares; you authorize and file, and it never moves your money.

VAT standard rate5%
VAT registrationRequired at AED 375,000 taxable supplies
Voluntary registrationFrom AED 187,500
Filed onEmaraTax, by you or your tax agent

UAE Federal Tax Authority.

Show, don't tell

One document in. Recorded, with its evidence.

Read, checked twice, recorded.

Dr  Operating expensesAED 4,800
Cr  Accounts payable — supplierAED 4,800

It balances · evidence attached · append-only. At Par records it — you still authorize the payment.

Send one invoice, see what comes back Don't take our word for it — send one of your own and watch it come back recorded.
Why you can sign off on it

At Par prepares. Two checks agree. You authorize.

Two checks must agree before anything is recorded. Evidence on every figure. Append-only records. A qualified accountant (ACCA) is accountable. You authorize everything that moves money — At Par never moves it. At Par prepares your filings; you or your authorised tax agent submit them through the official channel.

Pricing

Priced against the hire, not the software.

A qualified accountant in Dubai typically costs AED 10,000–20,000 a month. At Par is a fraction of that — the accountant and the accounting system in one, an ACCA accountable.

Flat monthly, sized to your volume. Start with a 30-day paid pilot; no lock-in.

Books
fromAED 1,900per month
  • Bookkeeping and monthly close
  • VAT reconciled and returns prepared
  • An ACCA accountable — you authorize and file
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Full
Custommulti-entity / CFO
  • Everything in Books + Tax
  • Multiple entities or group
  • CFO-level reporting and advisory
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Every plan starts with a 30-day paid pilot · billed monthly, no lock-in · an ACCA accountable · you authorize everything that moves money. Exact scope sized on your call.

Questions

Asked by UAE businesses.

Do you audit our accounts? +

No. At Par does not provide audit or assurance services. We keep your books reconciled and your records audit-ready, and we prepare your returns. Your audited financial statements are signed by your own auditor. A qualified accountant (ACCA) is accountable for our work.

Do you file our returns and move our money? +

No. At Par prepares your Corporate Tax and VAT returns; you or your tax agent file them on EmaraTax. At Par never moves your money — you authorize and pay, and we record settlement from your evidence.

What does it cost? +

Books from AED 1,900 a month. Books plus tax from AED 3,900 a month. Larger companies are priced against the cost of the hire you would otherwise make. Every engagement starts with a 30-day paid pilot.

Can a DMCC company skip its Corporate Tax return if it pays 0%? +

No. A DMCC company is a UAE taxable person. It must register on EmaraTax and file a return every tax period, even at 0%. The 0% is claimed on the return, not granted by staying silent. Late registration or filing carries FTA penalties.

The pilot

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A few seats this cohort No lock-in · billed monthly Clean exit — records & evidence, always yours A person, not a bot

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Reviewed by an ACCA on the At Par team · Last updated 26 July 2026 · figures cited from the UAE Federal Tax Authority (FTA) — verify current dates before filing. See our UAE overview.

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