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Can I pay tax in instalments?

Answered by TI from the Federal Tax Authority’s own law · 15 September 2026. Guidance, not tax advice: rely on the official text.

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It depends what you are paying. Corporate tax can be paid in instalments through the FTA portal up to the due date. Administrative penalties can be paid by instalments only if the Committee approves — the unpaid penalties must be at least AED 50,000 and not under dispute.

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The detail

For corporate tax, the FTA guidance states you can make your Corporate Tax payments either in instalments or in full up to the payment due date — this is a portal payment mechanism, not a formal instalment plan. For administrative penalties, a formal instalment arrangement exists under Cabinet Decision 105 of 2021 and Article 50 of Federal Decree-Law 28 of 2022, but only on Committee approval and subject to conditions. Which route applies depends on whether you are asking about the tax itself or the penalties on it.1234

What the law says

  • The FTA guidance for Corporate Tax payments confirms you can pay your corporate tax either in instalments or in full until the payment due date (FTA guidance, not legislation).34 Based on FTA guidance
  • Administrative penalties may be paid by instalments only if the Committee, on the Director General's presentation, approves it under controls issued by Cabinet Decision 105 of 2021.12
  • Requests for penalty instalment plans must be on FTA forms and include the required data; the request is disregarded if the Article 5 requirements are not met.5

What it depends on

  • The instalment request must cover only unsettled penalties, the penalties must be at least AED 50,000, and they must not be subject to dispute (except via reconsideration).1
  • You must not owe any payable tax for the tax period that is the subject of the penalty instalment request.1
  • You cannot submit more than one instalment request for the same administrative penalties.5

Check before you rely on it

  • Confirm whether you are asking about the corporate tax itself or about administrative penalties.
  • Check the unpaid penalty amount is at least AED 50,000 before requesting an instalment plan.
  • Use the FTA's official form when submitting a penalty instalment request.
Note: The corporate tax instalment guidance in the sources covers payments up to the due date only; a longer formal instalment plan for tax itself is not addressed in the supplied sources.
Sources (5) — read the official text
  1. 1Cabinet Decision 105/2021Article 3Cabinet Decision
    Article 3 – Controls for Settlement of Administrative Penalties
    Read the article
    Article 3 – Controls for Settlement of Administrative Penalties by Instalments The Committee may approve the Settlement of Administrative Penalties by instalments if the following are met: 1. The Request to pay by instalments shall be in respect of unsettled Administrative Penalties only. 2. The Administrative Penalties required to be paid in instalments by the Person shall not be less than (50,000) fifty thousand Dirhams, and the Committee may make any adjustments to that amount. 3. The Administrative Penalties, which are the subject of the Request to pay by instalments, shall not be subject to dispute before the Tax Dispute Resolution Committee, the competent courts, or any other entity involved in the consideration of tax objections or appeals in accordance with the mechanism stated in the Federal Law No. 7 of 2017, except objection through the reconsideration mechanism. 4. The Person should not owe any payable tax in respect of the tax period which is the subject of the Request.
    Official PDF, p. 3Captured from the FTA website on 9 Sep 2026
  2. 2Tax Procedures LawArticle 50Law
    Article 50 – Controls for Paying by Instalment, Waiving, or
    Read the article
    Article 50 – Controls for Paying by Instalment, Waiving, or Refunding of Administrative Penalties 1. If the Authority imposes or collects an Administrative Penalty from any Person for violating the provisions of this Decree-Law or the Tax Law, the Committee provided for in Clause 2 of this Article may, according to the presentation of the Director General, issue a decision approving the payment by instalments of the penalty amount or totally or partially waiving or refunding it, pursuant to the controls and procedures issued in a decision by Cabinet according to a suggestion by the Minister. 2. The Chairman of the Board of the Authority shall issue a decision forming the Committee provided for in Clause 1 of this Article, to be chaired by him or his deputy, and the membership of two Board members. The decision issued forming the Committee shall set out its bylaws and the manner of holding its meetings. Chapter Three – Miscellaneous Provisions
    Official PDF, p. 31Captured from the FTA website on 9 Sep 2026
  3. Read the article
    My Payments Section. You can make your Corporate Tax Payments either in installments or in full till the payment due date. The following section outlines the payment process for settling corporate tax liabilities, either partially or in full. Step Action (1) Click 'MY PAYMENTS'. Federal Tax Authority Taxpayer User Manual – Corporate Tax Payments Page 7
    Official PDF, p. 7Captured from the FTA website on 8 Sep 2026
  4. Read the article
    Corporate Tax Return Payments You can make your Corporate Tax Return related payments either in instalments or in full till the payment due date. The below section covers the ‘Payment process’ for a partial payment towards the Corporate Tax Return. Step Action (1) Click 'MY PAYMENTS'. Federal Tax Authority Taxpayer User Manual - Corporate Tax Return Page 148
    Official PDF, p. 148Captured from the FTA website on 8 Sep 2026
  5. 5Cabinet Decision 105/2021Article 5Cabinet Decision
    Article 5 – Procedures for Submitting Requests for Paying by
    Read the article
    Article 5 – Procedures for Submitting Requests for Paying by Instalment and Waiver 1. Requests for Settlement of Administrative Penalties by instalments or Waiver of Administrative Penalties shall be submitted to the Authority in the forms prepared by the Authority for this purpose. The request shall contain the following documents and data: a. Name and information related to the Person, including email and correspondence address. Cabinet Decision No. 105 of 2021 – Issue Date: 28 December 2021 - Unofficial Translation 4 b. Tax registration number (TRN), if applicable. c. Amount of Administrative Penalties and violations relating to the Request. d. Date of imposition of the Administrative Penalties subject of the Request. e. Reasons for submitting the Request. f. Attaching an undertaking by the Person to settle the required payment in accordance with the Administrative Penalties instalment plan approved by the Committee, in case the request relates to the Settlement of Administrative Penalties by instalments. g. Attaching an undertaking by the Person that the person has corrected the violation and undertakes not to repeat the violation, in case the request relates to the Waiver of Administrative Penalties. h. Any other documents or details requested by the Committee or the Authority. 2. The Person shall not make more than one request for Settlement of Administrative Penalties by instalments or Waiver of Administrative Penalties in respect to same Administrative Penalties under review. 3. The Request shall be disregarded if the provisions of this Article are not met.
    Official PDF, pp. 4–5Captured from the FTA website on 9 Sep 2026
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Written by AI from the FTA sources above and checked before display. Not tax advice or official FTA information - confirm with a tax adviser before you act. Full disclaimer

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