What is the Corporate Tax filing deadline?
WHAT IS THE CORPORATE TAX FILING DEADLINE?
What is the Corporate Tax filing deadline in the UAE? Learn the 9-month rule, examples by year-end, and how to avoid FTA penalties with TAXESMAN.
What Is the Corporate Tax Filing Deadline?
What is the Corporate Tax filing deadline?
In the UAE, the Corporate Tax return is generally due within 9 months from the end of your Tax Period (financial year), and any Corporate Tax payment is due by the same deadline.
This is important because many businesses in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and UAE free zones assume there is one fixed deadline for everyone. In reality, your filing deadline depends entirely on when your Tax Period ends.
In this guide, you will learn the Corporate Tax filing deadline rule, clear examples you can apply to your own business, and the most common mistakes that lead to late filing or late payment penalties.
If you want help confirming your first filing deadline and preparing your Corporate Tax return correctly, TAXESMAN can assist.
What Is the Corporate Tax Filing Deadline Rule in the UAE?
The UAE Corporate Tax filing deadline is linked to your Tax Period.
The general rule is:
- You must file a Corporate Tax return for each Tax Period within 9 months from the end of that period
- Any Corporate Tax due is generally payable by the same 9-month deadline
This is why the correct way to answer the question “What is the Corporate Tax filing deadline?” always starts with one key point: your financial year end date.
If you share your year-end date with TAXESMAN, we can confirm your exact filing deadline and manage the full process for you.
What Is the Corporate Tax Filing Deadline if My Financial Year Ends on 31 December?
If your Tax Period ends on 31 December, the Corporate Tax filing deadline is usually 9 months later, at the end of September.
Example (very common for SMEs and Dubai-based businesses)
- Tax Period end: 31 December 2024
- Corporate Tax filing deadline: 30 September 2025
If you want this confirmed and aligned with your accounting records, TAXESMAN can handle it for you.
What Is the Corporate Tax Filing Deadline if My Financial Year Ends on 31 May?
Some UAE companies use a non-calendar financial year, such as ending on 31 May. The same 9-month rule still applies.
Example
- Tax Period end: 31 May 2024
- Corporate Tax filing deadline: End of February 2025 (month-end dependent)
If your business does not follow a January-to-December year, TAXESMAN can confirm your exact deadline and keep your filings compliant.
Does the Corporate Tax Filing Deadline Apply to Free Zone Companies?
Yes. The same 9-month filing deadline rule applies to free zone companies.
Even if your free zone company believes it qualifies for 0% Corporate Tax on qualifying income, you are still required to respect filing deadlines and maintain proper records.
Ignoring deadlines because of a presumed 0% position is a common and costly mistake.
If you want a free zone Corporate Tax readiness check, TAXESMAN can help.
What Happens If I Miss the Corporate Tax Filing Deadline?
This is exactly why understanding what the Corporate Tax filing deadline is matters.
The Federal Tax Authority has urged taxpayers to submit Corporate Tax returns and settle any liabilities within 9 months from the end of the Tax Period to avoid:
- Late filing penalties
- Late payment penalties
- Increased scrutiny during future reviews
If you are approaching your deadline, or already past it, TAXESMAN can help you act quickly, fix gaps in records, and submit correctly.
Practical Checklist to Meet the Corporate Tax Filing Deadline
To stay compliant with the Corporate Tax filing deadline, most businesses should do the following early:
- Confirm your Tax Period end date (financial year end)
- Maintain clean and complete accounting records throughout the year
- Prepare your Corporate Tax return as a self-assessment submission through the official channel
- Set internal cut-off dates, such as closing your books within 30 to 45 days after year-end
If you want TAXESMAN to manage this proactively so filing is stress-free, we can do that for you.
What Is the Corporate Tax Filing Deadline?
To summarise, what is the Corporate Tax filing deadline in the UAE?
It is generally within 9 months from the end of your Tax Period (financial year), and any Corporate Tax due is typically payable by the same deadline.
Do not wait until the last minute to prepare. Let TAXESMAN manage your Corporate Tax timeline, record readiness, and filing from start to finish so you stay compliant with confidence.
FAQs: What Is the Corporate Tax Filing Deadline?
What is the Corporate Tax filing deadline in the UAE?
The Corporate Tax return is generally due within 9 months from the end of the Tax Period, with payment due by the same deadline.
Is the Corporate Tax filing deadline the same for all companies?
The 9-month rule is the same, but the actual deadline depends on your Tax Period end date.
Does the Corporate Tax filing deadline apply to free zone companies?
Yes. Free zone companies must also file within the same 9-month timeframe.
Is Corporate Tax payment due on the same deadline as the return?
In most cases, yes. Payment is due within the same 9-month window after the Tax Period ends.