10 Most Common VAT-Related Mistakes that UAE Businesses Should Avoid

 Ever since the introduction of VAT in the UAE – there have been questions and some more. With regulated tax agents in the UAE – businesses are trying to sort their VAT-related issues, given the heavy penalties charged on non-compliance. Here are a couple of common mistakes that businesses tend to make and must always avoid.

• It’s important to record the sale in the correct emirate – it isn’t dependent on the customer location but on the location of your fixed business.
• Most businesses fail to notify the FTA that tax is based on margins, wherein if you are selling certain goods like coins, stamps, and second-hand goods – you must charge VAT on the profit margin.
• Not having an invoice-wise working of the returns – it’s important to maintain this, because if ever the FTA demands an audit – these details will be required.
• It’s crucial to file returns and make payments on time, or else there is a heavy penalty levied on the business. Given that most businesses tend to miss out on dates, it’s important to indulge in VAT consultancy services in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
• Be careful of the claims – and ensure you are making the right claims and on the right purchases.
• If your business makes a zero-rated sale or an exempt sale – it doesn’t mean that you don’t show it. Even if you file everything properly and miss out on this information – it can have repercussions. Identify and disclose them in your return submission.
• Reverse Charging Mechanisms is another place where businesses need to be careful. While disclosing transactions for returns, companies fail to disclose the reverse charging mechanisms, given they don’t have any tax effect.
• Timing is crucial when it comes to VAT, and it should be charged at the right time. There have been instances where businesses fail to insert supplies in the wrong returns, although they are supplied much later.

These are a few of the common VAT-related mistakes that businesses make. However, if you want to avoid this, it’s good to indulge in VAT health check services in UAE and stay in compliance with the VAT laws. To know more, reach out to TRC Pamco, a leading VAT consultancy in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

How to do VAT Health Check?

 A VAT health check is super essential for every business, to ensure authenticity and compliance of organizational processes, under the VAT guidelines – and thus successfully submit accurate numbers for VAT returns.

A VAT health check assures the organization of a fair treatment on VAT, given the transparent audit trials and reconciled accounts. A health check begins after discussing the business, identifying the areas that need focus, and reviewing the VAT workings and systems being used. In the UAE, the Federal Tax Authorities are authorized to perform tax audits – thus it’s important for every business to be VAT compliant, to ensure no penalties on your business.

How is a VAT health check conducted?

A VAT health check is conducted by first independently reviewing the client’s tax filings to get a true and fair view of their business. Post this, if there are any questions, it’s put forward to the clients. After gathering all the past and present information, a thorough study is undertaken on the accounting records, the calculations, the tax liabilities, tax compliance and tax records. Annual VAT returns are compared with the accounts, to ensure they provide the same numbers. It’s all about knowing if VAT is fairly treated by an organization and reports accurate information to the FTA.

A VAT health check is a must for every business. But why? A VAT health check conducted by qualified VAT firms in the UAE helps you:

• Identify opportunities to maximize your VAT returns
• Highlights all areas of concerns, helping you mitigate risk in the most efficient manner
• Reviews your VAT liability, helping you optimize it.
• Identify if the maximum VAT benefit is being achieved by your business
• Constantly reviews your VAT systems to identify arising opportunities or improvements
• Find errors or gaps before the FTA, thus potentially mitigating any penalties or defaults

If you are finding any discrepancies in your business, and looking for a VAT health check, reach out to TRC Pamco, a VAT consultancy in the UAE. They provide Health check services with their vast experience and knowledge on the subject matter.