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Is VAT charged on membership fees of a club or association?

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: only one case is covered here. A membership in a student organisation supplied by a recognised educational institution is standard-rated at 5% (VAT charged). For any other club or association the sources don't say, so check with your tax advisor.

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The detail

The only case the sources cover is a supply of membership in a student organisation by an educational institution under Article 40(1): that supply is excluded from zero-rating by Article 40(4)(h) of the VAT Executive Regulation, so it is standard-rated at 5%. For club or association membership fees generally, the supplied sources do not set out the position.1

What the law says

  • Article 40(4)(h) of the Executive Regulation of Federal Decree-Law No 8 of 2017 lists 'a supply of membership in a student organisation' as an exception to the zero-rating of goods and services directly related to educational services, so it is subject to VAT at the standard rate.1

What it depends on

  • This applies only where the membership is in a student organisation and is supplied by an educational institution that meets the conditions of Article 40(1) (recognised by the competent government entity, etc.).1

Check before you rely on it

  • Confirm whether the club or association is a student organisation of a recognised educational institution.
  • If it is not, the sources given do not cover the VAT treatment of its membership fees.
Note: For membership fees of ordinary clubs or associations, the VAT position is outside the supplied sources.
Sources (1) — read the official text
  1. 1VAT Executive RegulationArticle 40Executive Regulation
    Article 40 – Zero-rating Education Services
    Read the article
    Article 40 – Zero-rating Education Services 1. The supply of educational services shall be subject to the zero rate if the following conditions are met: 24 Article amended as per Cabinet Decision No. 100 of 2024. Cabinet Decision No. 52 of 2017 and its amendments – As published by the Ministry of Finance 30 a. The supply of educational services is provided in accordance with the curriculum recognised by the federal or local competent government entity regulating the education sector where the course is delivered. b. The supplier of the educational services is an educational institution which is recognised by the federal or local competent government entity regulating the education sector where the course is delivered. c. Where the Supplier of educational services is a higher education institution, the institution is either owned by the federal or local government or receives more than 50% of its annual funding directly from the federal or local government. 2. A supply of Goods or Services made by educational institutions identified in Clause 1 of this Article shall be zero-rated where the supply is directly related to the provision of a zero-rated educational service. 3. Printed and digital reading material provided by educational institutions identified in Clause 1 of this Article and which are related to the curriculum of an education shall be zero-rated. 4. As an exception to Clause 2 of this Article, the following supplies shall not be zerorated: a. Goods and Services supplied by the educational institution referred to in Clause 1 that are made available to Persons who are not enrolled in the educational institution. b. Any Goods other than educational materials provided by the educational institution referred to in Clause 1 that are consumed or transformed by the students undertaking the educational service for the purposes of education. c. Uniforms or any other clothing which are required to be worn by the educational institution referred to in Clause 1, irrespective of whether or not supplied by the educational institutions as part of the supply of educational services. d. Electronic devices in relation to educational services, irrespective of whether or not supplied by the educational institution referred to in Clause 1 as part of the supply of educational services. e. Food and beverages supplied at the educational institution referred to in Clause 1, including supplies from vending machines or vouchers in respect of food and beverages. f. Field trips, unless these are directly related to the curriculum of an education service and are not predominantly recreational. g. Extracurricular activities provided by or through the educational institution referred to in Clause 1 for a fee additional to the fee for the education service. Cabinet Decision No. 52 of 2017 and its amendments – As published by the Ministry of Finance 31 h. A supply of membership in a student organisation.
    Official PDF, pp. 30–32Captured from the FTA website on 10 Sep 2026Found by following a reference in another source
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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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