UAE: Domestic tax residency rules to benefit individuals and companies

International companies as well as individual consultants will benefit from the domestic tax residency rules, say experts. Arun Leslie John, Chief Market Analyst of Century Financial gave the example of a German-incorporated company with a trading branch in Dubai that has a taxable income of Dh100 million in the fiscal year beginning June 1, 2023.

“The company is subject to a 15 per cent corporate tax rate in Germany on its global income, including its branch income in Dubai,” he said.

“However, under UAE corporate tax law, the company can choose between two options for its branch profits. They can either claim foreign tax credit for taxes paid in Germany or elect to be taxed at the UAE corporate tax rate of 9 per cent and repatriate its branch profits to Germany without further taxation.”

If the company chooses the second option, resulting in a corporate tax liability of Dh9 million in the UAE, the company can repatriate its branch profits of Dh1 million to Germany without incurring any additional taxation.

According to John, due to the company electing to pay tax in the UAE, it benefits from a lower effective tax rate than Germany's standard 15 per cent rate. As a result, it saves Dh6 million in taxes compared to paying corporate tax at 15 per cent. Additionally, the company can repatriate its branch profits without facing any withholding tax or double taxation.

Earlier this month, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) issued Ministerial Decision No. 27 of 2023 on implementation of certain provisions of Cabinet Decision No. 85 of 2022 on determination of tax residency. The law regarding this was issued in September 2022 and stipulates the number of days which an individual is physically present in the UAE to be considered a tax resident among other things.

Beneficial for individuals and companies

In June 2023, 9 per cent corporate tax (CT) will come into effect for UAE mainland companies. Given this scenario, it will be beneficial for individuals and companies to tax residents of the UAE, says Nazar Musa, CEO, PRO Partner Group. “Compared to other worldwide corporate tax averages, 9 per cent is still considerably low in comparison to say 25 per cent corporate tax in the UK,” he said. “So, it would remain in the company’s best interest to be a UAE tax resident and obtain a TRC. This also applies to individuals who may have income and profits from another jurisdictions.”

Musa gave the example of a consultant as an individual who could benefit from the tax residency. “An individual consultant earning income from another jurisdiction would choose to make the UAE their home base to benefit from the zero-income tax in the UAE,” he said. “It would be in the individual’s best interest to become a UAE tax resident and obtain a Tax Residency Certificate (TRC). As the UAE has 0 per cent personal income tax the individual can submit their TRC to other tax authorities to demonstrate that they are a UAE tax resident, so that relevant income is taxed based on their residency status in the UAE.”

According to Farhat Ali Khan, Managing Partner of Century Maxim International, the most significant benefit of the scheme would be to avoid double taxation. “Obtaining a Tax Residency Certificate (TRC) showcases transparency and demonstrates accountability and commitment to operating legally while fulfilling tax obligations,” he said. “Under the scheme, people can benefit by paying taxes in only one country- either in their country of residence or the country where the income is generated. They can also gain exemption from certain taxes like personal income tax, capital gains tax, and inheritance tax. Also, subject to applicable laws and regulations, TRC holders involved in import-export activities may be able to take advantage of certain tax incentives or exemptions.

• Tax residency rules in UAE: All your questions answered