FinTaxIQTax Intelligence

Can I pay tax in instalments?

Answered by FinTaxIQ - TI from the Federal Tax Authority’s own law · 11 October 2026. Guidance, not tax advice: rely on the official text.

FinTaxIQ - TI AssistantDepends on your situationTI Pro

It depends on whether you mean your tax bill or a penalty. You can pay your Corporate Tax itself in instalments through the FTA portal before the due date; a penalty can only be paid in instalments if a special Committee approves your request.

Show the full answerShow less

The detail

For Corporate Tax (or VAT Return) liabilities, the FTA's online portal allows instalment payments up to the statutory due date, per FTA guidance. For administrative penalties, instalment payment requires approval of the Committee under Article 50 of Federal Decree-Law No. 28 of 2022, applying the controls in Cabinet Decision No. 105 of 2021.123

What the law says

  • The FTA Corporate Tax and Corporate Tax Return portals let a taxpayer pay the tax due either in full or in instalments up to the payment due date.23 Based on FTA guidance
  • Under Article 50 of Federal Decree-Law No. 28 of 2022, the Authority's Committee may approve paying an administrative penalty by instalments, waiving it, or refunding it, based on controls set by Cabinet Decision.1
  • Cabinet Decision No. 105 of 2021 sets the conditions for instalment approval of penalties: the penalties must be unsettled, total at least AED 50,000, not be under dispute before a tax committee or court, and the person must not owe other payable tax for that period.4

What it depends on

  • An instalment request for penalties applies only to unpaid penalties of at least AED 50,000 (subject to Committee adjustment).4
  • The penalties in question must not currently be under objection or appeal, other than via the reconsideration process.4
  • The person must have no other outstanding payable tax for the tax period concerned, and may submit only one such request per penalty.45

Check before you rely on it

  • Confirm whether you are asking about the tax liability itself or an administrative penalty
  • If it's a penalty, check the total owed is at least AED 50,000 and not under dispute
  • If it's tax due, check the payment due date on your return before using the instalment option in the portal
Note: If you meant a specific type of tax (VAT, Excise) rather than Corporate Tax, the portal process may differ and should be checked directly with the FTA.
Sources (5) — read the official text
  1. 1Tax 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 4Cabinet 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
  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
Helpful?

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

Ask your own question

Related questions

Filing Corporate Tax? Free Corporate Tax return guidance, in 5 easy steps