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What happens if I miss a tax deadline?

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

TI AssistantClear answerTI Public

Miss paying tax? You pay a penalty: 2% of the unpaid tax right away, 4% after seven days, then 1% daily, capped at 300%. Miss the deadline to ask for a review or reconsideration? You can apply for an extension, but only in appropriate cases.

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The detail

For late payment of tax, the penalty is 2% of the unpaid amount immediately, plus 4% on the seventh day after the deadline, and then a 1% daily penalty on the remaining unpaid amount after one calendar month, with a 300% upper ceiling. If you miss the deadline to submit a Tax Assessment Review request or a reconsideration request, the Authority may extend the deadline at your request if it deems the case appropriate, but it will reject such requests if you were unaware of your obligations, relied on a negligent third party, or were merely busy with your Business. The request for extension must include justifications and reasons.123

What the law says

  • Cabinet Decision No. 74 of 2023, Article 25(3) allows the Authority to extend the deadline for accepting a Tax Assessment Review request or a reconsideration request in cases it deems appropriate, upon request.2
  • FTA Decision No. 1 of 2025, Article 2 specifies that the Authority rejects such an extension when the Taxpayer was unaware of obligations, the delay was caused by a third party's negligence, the topic was complex, or the Applicant was busy with Business.1
  • The Public Clarification on Dubai Owners' Associations cites Penalty 9 of Cabinet Resolution 40: late payment penalty is 2% immediately, 4% after seven days, and 1% daily after one month, with a 300% cap.3 Based on FTA guidance

What it depends on

  • The late payment penalty applies to tax stated in a submitted tax return or notified tax assessment that remains unpaid after the specified timeframe.3 Based on FTA guidance
  • An extension request for a late review or reconsideration must include justifications and reasons for the delay.2
  • The 300% ceiling on the daily penalty is an upper limit on the total late payment penalty.3 Based on FTA guidance

Check before you rely on it

  • If you missed a payment deadline, calculate the unpaid amount and days elapsed to estimate your penalty.
  • If you missed a review or reconsideration deadline, prepare a written request with justifications for the extension.
  • Do not rely on your tax agent's negligence as a reason - that grounds rejection of the extension.
Note: The sources do not cover penalties for late filing of returns or late registration; this answer addresses late payment and late appeal submission only.
Sources (3) — read the official text
  1. 1FTA Decision 1/2025Article 2FTA Decision
    Article 2 – Cases in which the Extension of Deadline for Accepting
    Read the article
    Article 2 – Cases in which the Extension of Deadline for Accepting the Submission of a Tax Assessment Review Request or a Request for Reconsideration is rejected The Authority shall reject extending the deadline for accepting the submission of a Tax Assessment Review request or a request for Reconsideration in any of the following cases: Federal Tax Authority Decision No. 1 of 2025 – Unofficial translation 2 a. The Taxpayer is unaware of their obligations. b. The delay was caused by the negligence of a third party on whom the Taxpayer relied, such as a Tax Agent or a Legal Representative. c. A complexity in the topic of the Tax Assessment Review request or the request for Reconsideration, due to which the Taxpayer could not submit the request on time. d. The Applicant was busy running their Business.
    Official PDF, pp. 2–3Captured from the FTA website on 9 Sep 2026
  2. 2Tax Procedures Executive RegulationArticle 25Executive Regulation
    Article 25 – Extension of Deadlines
    Read the article
    Article 25 – Extension of Deadlines 1. The Authority may extend the deadline for deciding on a Tax assessment review request and a request for reconsideration, which fulfil the formalities, for a period of (20) twenty Business Days if the extension is necessary to decide on the request. 2. The Committee may extend the deadline for deciding on a Tax objection, which fulfils the formalities, for a period of (60) sixty Business Days if the extension is necessary to decide on the objection. 3. The Authority may, at the request of the Persons concerned, extend the deadline for accepting the submission of a Tax assessment review request or a reconsideration request, in the cases deemed appropriate by the Authority. 4. The Committee may, upon the request of the Persons concerned, extend the deadline for accepting the submission a Tax objection if there is a reason beyond their control, sudden accident, emergency circumstances or force majeure that prevented them from submitting the Tax objection within the specified deadline. 5. For the purposes of Clauses 3 and 4 of this Article, the request must be submitted including justifications for extension and reasons related to the review, reconsideration or objection.
    Official PDF, p. 24Captured from the FTA website on 9 Sep 2026
  3. Read the article
    10. audit and before the Authority starts the tax audit. • 5% if the registrant makes a voluntary disclosure before being notified of the tax audit by the Authority Table 1 – Penalty 9 of the Appendix to Cabinet Resolution 40: The failure of the taxable person to settle the payable tax stated in the submitted tax return or tax assessment he was notified of, within the timeframe specified in the tax law. ) – المُ رفق بقرار مجلس9( ) – الغرامة رقم1( الجدول رقم.10 :)40( الوزراء رقم عدم قيام الخاضع للضريبة بسداد الضريبة المبيّنة على أنها ضريبة مستحقة الدفع في اإلقرار الضريبي الذي تم تقديمه أو التقييم الضريبي الذي تم تبليغه به خلل المهلة المحددة في .القانون الضريبي The Taxable Person shall be obligated to pay a late payment penalty consisting of: • 2% of the unpaid tax is due immediately once the payment of payable tax is late; • 4% is due on the seventh day following the deadline for payment, on the amount of tax which is still unpaid; • 1% daily penalty charged on any amount that is still unpaid one calendar month following the deadline for payment with upper ceiling of 300%. المسجل ملزم بدفع الغرامة المطبقة على تأخير الدفع والتي :تتألف من ) من الض بببريبة غير المدفوعة تس بببتحق على الفور%2( • .عند تأخير دفع الضريبة المستحقة الدفع ) تسبببتحق في اليوم السبببابع من تاريخ انتهاء الفترة%4( • الم حددة ل لدفع على مبلغ الض ببببببري بة ا لذي لم يدفع حتى .تاريخه ي مبلغ غير مدفوع أ على تسبببببتحق يومية غرامة )%1( • ّ لمدة تزيد على شهر ميلدي واحد من تاريخ انتهاء الفترة .)%300( المحددة للدفع وبحد أقصى 9/9
    Official PDF, p. 9Captured 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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