1. Glossary
Accounting Income: The accounting net profit or loss for the relevant Tax Period as per the Financial Statements prepared in accordance with the provisions of Article 20 of the Corporate Tax Law.
Accounting Standards: The accounting standards specified in Ministerial Decision No. 114 of 2023.
Accrual Basis of Accounting: An accounting method under which the Taxable Person recognises income when earned and expenditure when incurred.
AED: The United Arab Emirates dirham.
Authority: Federal Tax Authority.
Business: Any activity conducted regularly, on an ongoing and independent basis by any Person and in any location, such as industrial, commercial, agricultural, vocational, professional, service or excavation activities or any other activity related to the use of tangible or intangible properties.
Business Activity: Any transaction or activity, or series of transactions or activities, conducted by a Person in the course of its Business.
Cash Basis of Accounting: An accounting method under which the Taxable Person recognises income and expenditure when cash payments are received and paid.
Connected Person: Any Person affiliated with a Taxable Person as determined in Article 36(2) of the Corporate Tax Law.
Corporate Tax: The tax imposed by the Corporate Tax Law on juridical persons and Business income.
Corporate Tax Law: Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 on the Taxation of Corporations and Businesses.
Corporate Tax Payable: Corporate Tax that has or will become due for payment to the FTA in respect of one or more Tax Periods.
Dividend: Any payments or distributions that are declared or paid on or in respect of shares or other rights participating in the profits of the issuer of such shares or rights which do not constitute a return on capital or a return on debt claims. These payments or distributions are considered dividends whether based in cash, securities, or other properties, and whether payable out of profits or retained earnings or from any account or legal reserve or from capital reserve or revenue. This will include any payment or benefit which in substance or effect constitutes a distribution of profits made in connection with the acquisition or redemption or cancellation of shares or termination of other ownership interests or rights. It also comprises any transaction or arrangement with a Related Party or Connected Person which does not comply with Article 34 of the Corporate Tax Law.
Domestic Permanent Establishment: A place of Business or other form of presence of a Qualifying Free Zone Person outside the Free Zone in the UAE.
Double Taxation Agreement: An international agreement signed by two or more countries for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion on income and capital.
Exempt Income: Any income exempt from Corporate Tax under the Corporate Tax Law.
Financial Statements: A complete set of statements as specified under the Accounting Standards applied by the Taxable Person, which includes, but is not limited to, statement of income, statement of other comprehensive income, balance sheet, statement of changes in equity and cash flow statement.
Financial Year: The Gregorian calendar year, or the twelve-month period for which the Taxable Person prepares Financial Statements.
Foreign Permanent Establishment: A place of Business or other form of presence outside the UAE of a Resident Person that is determined in accordance with the criteria prescribed in Article 14 of the Corporate Tax Law.
Foreign Tax Credit: Tax paid under the laws of a foreign jurisdiction on income or profits that may be deducted from the Corporate Tax due, in accordance with the conditions of Article 47(2) of the Corporate Tax Law.
Free Zone: A designated and defined geographic area within the UAE that is specified in a decision issued by the Cabinet at the suggestion of the Minister.
Free Zone Person: A juridical person incorporated, established or otherwise registered in a Free Zone, including a branch of a Non-Resident Person registered in a Free Zone.
FTA: Federal Tax Authority, being the Authority in charge of administration, collection and enforcement of federal taxes in the UAE.
Government Entity: The Federal Government, Local Governments, ministries, government departments, government agencies, authorities and public institutions of the Federal Government or Local Governments.
IFRS: International Financial Reporting Standards.
IFRS for SMEs: International Financial Reporting Standard for small and medium sized entities.
Immovable Property: Means any of the following:
a. Any area of land over which rights or interests or services can be created.
b. Any building, structure or engineering work attached to the land permanently or attached to the seabed.
c. Any fixture or equipment which makes up a permanent part of the land or is permanently attached to the building, structure or engineering work or attached to the seabed.
Interest: Any amount accrued or paid for the use of money or credit, including discounts, premiums and profit paid in respect of an Islamic financial instrument and other payments economically equivalent to interest, and any other amounts incurred in connection with the raising of finance, excluding payments of the principal amount.
Licence: A document issued by a Licensing Authority under which a Business or Business Activity is conducted in the UAE.
Licensing Authority: The competent authority concerned with licensing or authorising a Business or Business Activity in the UAE.
Market Value: The price which could be agreed in an arm’s-length free market transaction between Persons who are not Related Parties or Connected Persons in similar circumstances.
Non-Resident Person: The Taxable Person specified in Article 11(4) of the Corporate Tax Law.
Participating Interest: An ownership interest in the shares or capital of a juridical person that meets the conditions referred to in Article 23 of the Corporate Tax Law.
Participation: The juridical person in which the Participating Interest is held.
Participation Exemption: An exemption from Corporate Tax for income from a Participating Interest, available under Article 23 of the Corporate Tax Law and as specified under Ministerial Decision No. 116 of 2023.
Permanent Establishment: A place of Business or other form of presence in the UAE of a Non-Resident Person in accordance with Article 14 of the Corporate Tax Law.