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Is Small Business Relief applied automatically?

Answered by TI from the Federal Tax Authority’s own law · 25 September 2026. Guidance, not tax advice: rely on the official text.

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No. You have to actively choose it every year by making an election in your Corporate Tax Return - it's not given automatically.

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The detail

Small Business Relief is an election, not an automatic exemption. A Resident Person meeting the revenue threshold and other conditions may elect under Article 21(1) of the Corporate Tax Law to be treated as having no Taxable Income, but the election must be made in the Tax Return for each Tax Period in which it is to apply.12

What the law says

  • Article 21(1) allows a Resident Taxable Person to elect for Small Business Relief where revenue stays under the Ministerial threshold and other prescribed conditions are met.1
  • FTA guidance confirms the taxpayer must first register for Corporate Tax and then elect for the relief in each Tax Return filed, as the relief only applies for periods where the election is made.2 Based on FTA guidance

What it depends on

  • The Resident Person must not be a Constituent Company of a Multinational Enterprises Group or a Qualifying Free Zone Person.3
  • Revenue for the relevant and previous Tax Periods must not exceed AED 3 million.4 Based on FTA guidance
  • Electing brings other consequences, e.g. Tax Losses in that period cannot be carried forward.5

Check before you rely on it

  • Confirm your revenue does not exceed AED 3 million for the relevant and prior periods
  • Confirm you are not part of a Multinational Enterprises Group or a Qualifying Free Zone Person
  • Make sure the election box is ticked in the Tax Return for each period you want relief
Sources (5) — read the official text
  1. 1Corporate Tax LawArticle 21Law
    Article 21 – Small Business Relief
    Read the article
    Article 21 – Small Business Relief 1. A Taxable Person that is a Resident Person may elect to be treated as not having derived any Taxable Income for a Tax Period where: a. the Revenue of the Taxable Person for the relevant Tax Period and previous Tax Periods does not exceed a threshold to be set by the Minister; and b. the Taxable Person meets all other conditions prescribed by the Minister. 2. Where Clause 1 of this Article applies to a Taxable Person, the following provisions of this Decree-Law shall not apply: a. Exempt Income as specified in Chapter Seven of this Decree-Law. b. Reliefs as specified in Chapter Eight of this Decree-Law. c. Deductions as specified in Chapter Nine of this Decree-Law. d. Tax Loss relief as specified in Chapter Eleven of this Decree-Law. e. Article 55 of this Decree-Law. 3. The Authority may take the necessary measures to verify the compliance with the conditions of Clause 1 of this Article, and may request any relevant information or records from the Taxable Person within the timeline prescribed by the Authority. Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 and its amendments – Unofficial translation (as published by the Ministry of Finance) 28 Chapter Seven – Exempt Income
    Official PDF, pp. 28–29Captured from the FTA website on 9 Sep 2026Found by following a reference in another source
  2. Read the article
    The rules on Exempt Income therefore do not apply to businesses that elect for Small Business Relief.24 More information on the treatment of Exempt Income when electing for Small Business Relief can be found in Section 5.3. How to elect for Small Business Relief Eligible Taxable Persons that meet the conditions for Small Business Relief and wishing to benefit from Small Business Relief must first register for Corporate Tax. Then they must make an election in their Tax Return in order to benefit from the relief. This election must be made for each Tax Period that a Tax Return is filed in order for the relief to apply for that Tax Period. More information on Tax Returns and broader compliance requirements when electing for Small Business Relief can be found in Section 6. 24 Article 21(2)(a) of the Corporate Tax Law. Corporate Tax Guide | Small Business Relief | CTGSBR1 18
    Official PDF, p. 19Captured from the FTA website on 8 Sep 2026
  3. 3Ministerial Decision 73/2023Article 3Ministerial Decision
    Article 3 – Additional Conditions for Small Business Relief
    Read the article
    Article 3 – Additional Conditions for Small Business Relief A Resident Person that elects to apply the Small Business Relief must not be any of the following: 1. A Constituent Company of a Multinational Enterprises Group as defined in Cabinet Decision No. 44 referred to. 2. A Qualifying Free Zone Person.
    Official PDF, p. 2Captured from the FTA website on 9 Sep 2026
  4. Read the article
      Federal Tax Authority You can make the election to apply the 'Small Business Relief'. You are only entitled to this relief if your revenue is AED 3 million or less. If you are entitled for small business relief, you should answer 'Yes\No' to the question: 'Is the Taxable Person a member of a Multinational Enterprise Group?'. Taxpayer User Manual - Corporate Tax Return Page 38
    Official PDF, p. 38Captured from the FTA website on 8 Sep 2026
  5. 5Ministerial Decision 73/2023Article 4Ministerial Decision
    Article 4 – Tax Loss Relief
    Read the article
    Article 4 – Tax Loss Relief 1. Where an election to apply the Small Business Relief is made in a Tax Period, any Tax Losses incurred in such Tax Period cannot be carried forward to any subsequent Tax Periods. 2. Any unutilised Tax Losses incurred in previous Tax Periods where an election to apply the Small Business Relief was not made, may be carried forward to subsequent Tax Periods in which an election to apply the Small Business Relief is not made, subject to the conditions of Article 37 of the Corporate Tax Law.
    Official PDF, p. 2Captured 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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