UAE VAT Return
UAE VAT is administered by the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) and filed electronically through the EmaraTax portal. VAT-registered businesses submit Form VAT201 for each tax period – typically quarterly, or monthly for larger registrants. Where a UAE business also holds a VAT Foreign Branch registration in a supported territory – for example in the EU or the UK – generate.TAX can help prepare those foreign returns in the same platform.
generate.TAX supports the UAE obligation that matters most in practice: the VAT Return (Form VAT201) – with a controlled preparer-reviewer-approver workflow before figures go into EmaraTax. It also supports VAT Foreign Branch filings for registrations in other supported countries, including the EU and the UK.
Best for: UAE VAT-registered businesses, accounting firms, in-house finance teams and self-employed users who need a clearer, more controlled UAE VAT process.
Supported UAE obligations
VAT Return (Form VAT201)
The main UAE VAT return filed through the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) via EmaraTax. Most registrants file quarterly; larger businesses may file monthly. The UAE applies a standard rate of 5%, with zero-rated and exempt supplies where applicable.
VAT Foreign Branch
If your UAE business also has a VAT registration abroad – a VAT Foreign Branch – generate.TAX can prepare returns for supported countries, including the EU and the UK, in one controlled workflow.
VAT Return (Form VAT201)
Create and review the UAE VAT Return (Form VAT201) with a workflow built for accuracy, control and audit readiness before filing through EmaraTax.
- Periodic VAT201 preparation aligned to FTA / EmaraTax filing (quarterly or monthly as assigned)
- Support for the UAE standard rate of 5%, plus zero-rated and exempt treatments where applicable
- Structured review before submission, with clear return history, auditability and reconciliation support
VAT Foreign Branch
Prepare VAT returns for your VAT Foreign Branch registrations in supported countries – including the EU and the UK – alongside your UAE VAT201.
- Run UAE VAT201 and foreign-branch returns from the same generate.TAX workspace
- Coverage across supported territories in the EU and the UK (see the Countries page for the full list)
- Same preparer-reviewer-approver controls and audit trail you use for domestic UAE filing
How generate.TAX helps in the UAE
Designed for UAE VAT compliance, generate.TAX supports the recurring requirements that matter most – from the UAE VAT Return to monthly VAT201s / VIES and related validation processes. The platform reinforces governance through a secure digital audit trail and a defined preparer-reviewer-approver workflow, helping teams stay accurate, traceable and ready for review before filing in EmaraTax.
For accountants
Standardise repeatable VAT workflows across multiple UAE clients, keep a clear audit trail, and move returns through preparer-reviewer-approver steps with less chasing and less spreadsheet work.
For finance teams
Reduce risk around recurring submissions, improve review controls, and keep supporting data, adjustments and return history in a format that is easier to validate and explain internally.
For self-employed users
Keep filings simple with one place to review transactions, generate the correct UAE VAT outputs and stay organised without building your own manual process every quarter.
Key functionality for the UAE
generate.TAX helps you prepare VAT filings from your accounting data with the controls teams need day to day – exceptions, multi-entity work, currencies, and a clear path from draft to approved submission.
Exceptions & out-of-period
Out-of-period transactions are flagged automatically. Include them in the current submission, adjust a prior period, or defer to the next – resolved in a few clicks.
Multiple entities & groups
Connect multiple entities and prepare returns for individual companies or VAT groups, with member entities mapped and kept aligned before consolidation.
Multi-currency
Work with multi-currency ledgers and convert values using European Central Bank forex rates where required for your return.
Multiple countries
Use one platform across supported territories – useful if you manage the UAE alongside other EU, UK or GCC-related VAT registrations.
Accruals & cash basis
Generate returns for accrual or cash-based accounting according to the rules that apply to the country and entity.
Collaborative review workflow
Move work through preparer, reviewer and approver steps with a clear digital audit trail before figures go to the tax authority.
Chrome Extension – VAT Companion
Use the free generate.TAX VAT Companion Chrome (and Edge) extension to transfer your completed VAT201 figures into EmaraTax – reducing manual re-keying and the risk of typing errors at the final submission step with the Federal Tax Authority (FTA).
Open the official tax authority portal, match the entity and period, then paste the figures from generate.TAX with one click.
How it helps for the UAE
- Bridge generate.TAX figures into the EmaraTax VAT portal
- Reduce manual data entry at submission time
- Keep entity, country and period aligned before pasting
- Works alongside Chrome and Microsoft Edge
Other countries supported
generate.TAX supports a growing list of countries beyond the UAE, including multiple VAT returns, statements and related compliance obligations across different territories. Explore the full Countries page to see current coverage and the obligations available in each jurisdiction.
Solutions for Capture & VAT
Document Capture
A document capture solution - converting images and PDFs into data ready for posting.
VAT Return Generator
Easily create your VAT return with data from your cloud accounting system.
Recapitulative Statement
Create a validated list of intra-community suppliers to be submitted to authorities.
VAT Number Checker
Validate and keep a validated list of customer VAT numbers when generating an Invoice in the accounting software.
FAQs
Who should file the UAE VAT Return through this page?
This page is for VAT-registered businesses in the UAE that need to prepare Form VAT201 for filing through EmaraTax – including mainland and free-zone registrants with an active TRN. It is also relevant if your UAE entity holds a VAT Foreign Branch registration in a supported EU or UK territory.
What is EmaraTax?
EmaraTax is the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) portal used for electronic VAT return filing in the UAE. generate.TAX helps you prepare declaration-ready VAT201 figures with review controls, then you complete submission in EmaraTax.
What is Form VAT201?
Form VAT201 is the UAE VAT return. Registrants file it for each tax period assigned by the FTA – typically quarterly, or monthly for larger businesses – and both the return and any payment due are submitted via EmaraTax, generally within 28 days of the period end.
Can I manage a VAT Foreign Branch from the UAE?
Yes. If your UAE business has a VAT Foreign Branch – a VAT registration in another supported country – generate.TAX can help you prepare those foreign returns, including in the EU and the UK, in the same platform as your UAE VAT201. Note that the VAT Number Checker is not available as part of the UAE country package.
Which authority handles UAE VAT returns and statements?
UAE VAT is administered by the Federal Tax Authority (FTA). Returns are filed electronically through EmaraTax. generate.TAX prepares review-ready figures; final submission remains on the authority portal.
How does generate.TAX help accountants and finance teams in the UAE?
generate.TAX helps firms and in-house teams standardise the UAE VAT workflow with clearer VAT201 preparation, reviewer controls, audit trails, and multi-country support for VAT Foreign Branch returns in supported territories – before UAE figures are transferred into EmaraTax.
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Unlock all generate.TAX features for 30 days to help you with the generation of VAT returns and capture of bills & receipts.
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