Businesses operating across GCC borders or with international operations may be entitled to reclaim withholding taxes and excess VAT payments they are leaving on the table. We identify and pursue legitimate reclaim opportunities — from FTA VAT refund applications to treaty-based withholding tax recoveries.
In brief: Many UAE businesses leave recoverable tax unclaimed: excess input VAT, FTA refunds for exporters, foreign withholding tax recoverable under the UAE's 140+ double tax treaties, and penalties that can be reduced through reconsideration. We review your position, tell you honestly what is worth pursuing, and manage each claim through to payment. Fixed fee or recovery-linked pricing, agreed upfront.
CFA CharterholderChartered AccountantFTA RegisteredDouble Tax TreatiesFixed FeeGCC-Wide Coverage
Many businesses are overpaying tax — either through incorrect VAT recovery rates, unclaimed FTA refunds, or foreign withholding taxes not reclaimed via treaty provisions. We identify and pursue these opportunities systematically.
VAT Refunds
UAE VAT Refund Applications
Certain businesses are entitled to claim VAT refunds from the FTA — including exporters, businesses with excess input tax, and foreign businesses incurring UAE VAT. We prepare and submit refund applications and manage the FTA review process.
Excess input tax VAT refund claims
Export-related VAT refund applications
Foreign business VAT recovery (non-UAE entities)
New business pre-registration VAT reclaims
FTA refund correspondence and follow-up
Withholding Tax
Withholding Tax Recovery via DTTs
UAE businesses receiving dividends, interest, or royalties from overseas may have withholding tax deducted at source in those countries. Where a double tax treaty exists between the UAE and the source country, we identify and pursue recovery of excess withholding taxes.
Double tax treaty applicability analysis
UAE tax residency certificate applications
Withholding tax reclaim submissions
Dividend, interest, and royalty WHT recovery
Treaty benefit claims coordination
FTA Penalties
FTA Penalty Reconsideration
FTA penalties — whether for late filing, underpayment, or compliance failures — can often be challenged or reduced through a reconsideration application. We prepare and submit formal reconsideration requests, supported by detailed technical arguments.
FTA penalty reconsideration applications
Voluntary disclosure to reduce penalty exposure
Technical grounds identification and briefing
TDRD appeal support if reconsideration fails
Historic underpayment regularisation
Historic Claims
Historic Input Tax Recovery Review
Businesses that have historically under-recovered input tax — through an overly conservative partial exemption method or incorrect blocking of legitimate claims — may be able to recover these amounts through a retrospective review and FTA amendment submission.
Historic input tax recovery rate review
Partial exemption method re-assessment
VAT return amendment preparation
Capital goods adjustment scheme claims
Recovery claim quantification and submission
FAQ
Tax Reclaim UAE Frequently Asked Questions
Who can claim a VAT refund from the FTA in the UAE?+
The main categories are: VAT-registered businesses in a sustained excess input tax position (commonly exporters and zero-rated suppliers), foreign businesses without a UAE establishment that incurred UAE VAT and meet the reciprocal scheme conditions, new businesses reclaiming pre-registration VAT, and specific schemes such as UAE nationals building residences. Each route has its own eligibility tests, documentation requirements, and application windows.
How long does an FTA VAT refund take?+
The FTA formally reviews refund applications within 20 business days of submission, though it can extend this where further review is needed. Clean applications with complete documentation are processed fastest; applications with inconsistent filings or missing tax invoices attract queries that add weeks or months. Preparing the file to FTA standard before submission is the biggest driver of refund speed.
How does withholding tax recovery work for UAE companies?+
When a UAE company receives dividends, interest, or royalties from abroad, the source country often deducts withholding tax at its domestic rate. If the UAE has a double tax treaty with that country, the treaty rate is frequently lower, sometimes zero. Recovery involves obtaining a UAE Tax Residency Certificate from the FTA, preparing the source-country reclaim forms, and filing within that country's limitation period. The UAE has over 140 treaties, so material recoveries are common for groups with cross-border income.
Can FTA penalties be reduced or cancelled?+
Often, yes. A reconsideration request can be filed with the FTA within 40 business days of the penalty decision, supported by technical grounds. Where reconsideration fails, an objection can be escalated to the Tax Disputes Resolution Committee. Separately, a voluntary disclosure filed before the FTA identifies an error typically attracts materially lower penalties than waiting for an audit. The right route depends on the facts, which is where we start.
How do you charge for tax reclaim work?+
Two models, agreed before work begins: a fixed fee for defined-scope work such as a refund application or penalty reconsideration, or recovery-linked pricing for historic reclaim reviews where the outcome is uncertain. We tell you honestly at the initial review whether a claim is worth pursuing; if the recoverable amount does not justify the cost, we say so.