FTA calls for submitting tax returns before deadline

The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has called on businesses registered for value added tax (VAT), and whose quarterly and monthly tax periods ended by March 31, 2018, to file their tax returns and pay their due taxes by April 29.

The authority explained that according to the Federal Decree-Law No. (8) for 2017 on Value Added Tax and its Executive Regulations, tax returns must be submitted to the FTA no later than the 28th of each month, or according to law no. (7) of 2017 on Tax Procedures the following day if the 28th falls on a public holiday.

Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director-general of the FTA, said that filing tax returns and paying taxes is a legal obligation that must be carried out to ensure compliance with tax legislation. He called on registered businesses to submit their tax returns as soon as possible.

In a press statement issued by the FTA, Al Bustani called on all registered businesses to check their tax periods and the deadline for submitting tax returns, and paying taxes through the eServices portal on the FTA website - eservices.tax.gov.ae. Businesses whose tax periods ended on March 31 can already submit their tax returns and then pay their dues before the expiry of the payment period, he explained, adding that the 2 steps are not required to be carried out at the same time.

Al Bustani also reiterated his call for registered businesses to pay their taxes well ahead of time, so that they reach the FTA before the payment deadline, cautioning that late payments incur administrative penalties. He explained that the electronic tax transfer procedure may require some time for banks to process the payment after it has been submitted by the taxable person. This processing time may lead to payments reaching the authority after the deadline if the payment was not submitted early enough, in which case, the taxable person incurs administrative penalties.

"Tax returns and payments may be submitted 24 hours a day on the website," Al Bustani said. "Taxable persons can visit the website, select the eServices portal, click on the VAT tab to access and fill the tax returns form. Users can then submit the tax return and proceed to paying the tax under the 'Payment' tab. Taxable persons may, at any time, request assistance from one of the FTA-accredited tax agents whose names are listed on the website."

- business@khaleejtimes.com