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What is the penalty for paying Corporate Tax late?

Answered by FinTaxIQ - TI from the Federal Tax Authority’s own law · 28 September 2026. Guidance, not tax advice: rely on the official text.

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A monthly penalty of 14% per year applies on any Corporate Tax you haven't paid, charged for each month (or part of a month) it stays unpaid, starting the day after the payment due date. Pay as soon as possible to stop it accruing.

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The detail

Under Cabinet Decision No. 75 of 2023, failure to settle Payable Tax attracts a monthly penalty of 14% per annum on the unpaid amount, calculated for each month or part-month of delay from the day after the due date. For amounts arising from a Voluntary Disclosure or Tax Assessment, the due date for this penalty is 20 business days from submission or receipt respectively.1

What the law says

  • A monthly penalty of 14% per annum applies to any Corporate Tax that remains unpaid, for each month or part thereof, starting the day after the due date and continuing monthly until paid.1
  • Corporate Tax must be paid within 9 months from the end of the relevant Tax Period, which sets the normal due date from which the late-payment penalty runs.2 Based on FTA guidance

What it depends on

  • Where the tax arises from a Voluntary Disclosure, the due date for this penalty is 20 business days from the date the disclosure is submitted.1
  • Where the tax arises from a Tax Assessment, the due date is 20 business days from the date the assessment is received.1

Check before you rely on it

  • Confirm the exact due date that applies to your payment (normal filing due date, Voluntary Disclosure, or Tax Assessment).
  • Check how many months or part-months have elapsed since that due date.
Sources (2) — read the official text
  1. Article 4 – Publication and Entry into Force
    Read the article
    Article 4 – Publication and Entry into Force This Decision shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall come into effect on 1 August 2023. Cabinet Decision No. 75 of 2023 and its amendments – As published by Ministry of Finance 3 Table of Violations and Administrative Penalties Annexed to Cabinet Decision No. 75 of 2023 on Violations Related to the Application of Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 on the Taxation of Corporations and Businesses No. Description of Violation Administrative Penalty Amount in AED 1. Failure of the Person conducting a Business or Business Activity or having a Tax obligation under the Tax Procedures Law or the Corporate Tax Law to keep the required records and other information specified in the Tax Procedures Law and the Corporate Tax Law. Failure of the Person conducting Business or Business Activity or having a Tax obligation under the Tax Procedures Law or the Corporate Tax Law to submit the data, records and documents related to Tax in Arabic to the Authority when requested. Failure of the Registrant to submit a deregistration application within the timeframe specified in the Corporate Tax Law and its implementing decisions. Failure of the Registrant to inform the Authority of any case that may require the amendment of the information pertaining to his Tax record kept by the Authority. One of the following penalties shall apply: 1. 10,000 for each violation. 2. 20,000 in each case of repeated violation within 24 months from the date of the last violation. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 5,000 1,000 in case of late submission of the application and on the same date monthly, up to a maximum of 10,000. One of the following penalties shall apply: 1. 1,000 for each violation. 2. 5,000 in each case of repeated violation within 24 months from the date of the last violation. Failure of the Legal Representative to provide 1,000 notification of their appointment within the specified timeframes, in which case the penalties will be due from the Legal Representative's own funds. Failure of the Legal Representative to file a Tax 1. 500 for each month, or part thereof, Return within the specified timeframes, in for the first twelve months. Cabinet Decision No. 75 of 2023 and its amendments – As published by Ministry of Finance 4 7. 8. 9. which case the penalties will be due from the 2. 1,000 for each month, or part thereof, Legal Representative's own funds. from the thirteenth month onwards. This penalty shall be imposed from the day following the expiry date of the timeframe within which the Tax Return must be submitted, and on the same date monthly thereafter. Failure of the Registrant to submit a Tax Return 1. 500 for each month, or part thereof, within the timeframe specified in the for the first twelve months. Corporate Tax Law. 2. 1,000 for each month, or part thereof, from the thirteenth month onwards. This penalty shall be imposed from the day following the expiry date of the timeframe within which the Tax Return must be submitted, and on the same date monthly thereafter. Failure of the Taxable Person to settle the 1. A monthly penalty of 14% per annum, Payable Tax. for each month or part thereof, on the unsettled Payable Tax amount from the day following the due date of payment and on the same date monthly thereafter. 2. For the purposes of this penalty, the due date of payment in the case of the Voluntary Disclosure and Tax Assessment, shall be as follows: a. 20 Business Days from the date of submission, in the case of a Voluntary Disclosure. b. 20 Business Days from the date of receipt, in the case of a Tax Assessment. The Registrant submits an incorrect Tax 500, unless the Person corrects his Tax Return. Return before the expiry of the deadline Cabinet Decision No. 75 of 2023 and its amendments – As published by Ministry of Finance 5 10. The submission of a Voluntary Disclosure by the Taxable Person in relation to errors in the Tax Return, Tax Assessment or Tax refund application pursuant to Clauses 1 and 2 of Article 10 of the Tax Procedures Law. 11. Failure of the Taxable Person to submit a Voluntary Disclosure in relation to errors in the Tax Return, Tax Assessment or Tax refund application pursuant to Clauses 1 and 2 of Article 10 of the Tax Procedures Law, before being notified by the Authority that it will be subject to a Tax Audit. for the submission of the Tax Return according to the Corporate Tax Law. A monthly penalty of 1% on the Tax Difference, for each month or part thereof, to be applied as of the date following the due date of the relevant Tax Return, the submission of the Tax refund application, or the Notification of the Tax Assessment and until the date the Voluntary Disclosure is submitted. The following penalties shall apply: 1. A fixed penalty of 15% on the Tax Difference. 2. A monthly penalty of 1% on the Tax Difference, for each month or part thereof, to be applied as follows: a. Where the Taxable Person submits a Voluntary Disclosure after being notified that it will be subject to a Tax Audit by the Authority, the penalty shall be imposed for the period from the day following the due date of the relevant Tax Return, or the submission of the Tax refund application or Notification of the Tax Assessment and until the date the Voluntary Disclosure is submitted. b. Where the Taxable Person fails to submit a Voluntary Disclosure, the penalty shall be imposed as of the date following the due date of the relevant Tax Return, or the submission of the Tax refund application or Notification of the Cabinet Decision No. 75 of 2023 and its amendments – As published by Ministry of Finance 6 12. 13. 14. Tax Assessment and until the date of issuance of the Tax Assessment. Failure of a Person subject to Tax Audit, his Tax 20,000 Agent or Legal Representative to offer facilitation to the Tax Auditor in violation of the provisions of Article 20 of the Tax Procedures Law, in which case the penalties will be due from the Person’s, Legal Representative’s or Tax Agent’s own funds, as applicable. Failure of a Person to submit, or late 1. 500 for each month, or part thereof, submission of a Declaration to the Authority, for the first twelve months. as required in accordance with the provisions 2. 1,000 for each month, or part thereof, of the Corporate Tax Law. from the thirteenth month onwards. This penalty shall be imposed from the day following the expiry date of the timeframe within which the Declaration must be submitted, and on the same date monthly thereafter. Failure of the Taxable Person to submit a Tax 10,000 Registration application within the timeframe specified by the Authority in accordance with the Corporate Tax Law. 1 1 Added as per Cabinet Decision No. 10 of 2024 Cabinet Decision No. 75 of 2023 and its amendments – As published by Ministry of Finance 7
    Official PDF, pp. 3–7Captured from the FTA website on 9 Sep 2026
  2. Read the article
    • • • • • • • • • • To treat a Government Entity’s taxable Businesses as a single Taxable Person;390 To treat an Unincorporated Partnership as a single Taxable Person;391 To treat a Family Foundation as an Unincorporated Partnership;392 To request a clarification from the FTA;393 To request a refund from the FTA;394 To adjust Taxable Income following an adjustment by a foreign tax authority; 395 To move from the Cash Basis of Accounting to Accrual Basis of Accounting;396 To form, join or leave a Tax Group, replace a Parent Company in a Tax Group, or cease to be a Tax Group;397 To deregister for Corporate Tax;398 and To change their Tax Period.399 Tax Returns and payments Consistent with Corporate Tax being a self-assessed regime, Taxable Persons should pay Corporate Tax and file their Corporate Tax Return within 9 months from the end of the relevant Tax Period.400 For example, a Taxable Person with a Financial Year ending on 31 December is required to file their Tax Return and pay Corporate Tax on or before 30 September the following year. Submitting a Tax Return late or a delay in making a payment of Corporate Tax Payable will result in a penalty of: • • AED 500 for each month of delay, or part thereof, for the first twelve months; AED 1,000 for each month of delay, or part thereof, from the thirteenth month onwards.401 390 Article 5(6) of the Corporate Tax Law. 391 Article 16(8) of the Corporate Tax Law. 392 Article 17(1) of the Corporate Tax Law. 393 Article 59(1) of the Corporate Tax Law. 394 Article 49(1) of the Corporate Tax Law. 395 Article 34(11) of the Corporate Tax Law. 396 Article 20(6) of the Corporate Tax Law. 397 Articles 40(1), 40(3), 40(9), 40(10), 40(11) and 40(12) of the Corporate Tax Law. 398 Article 52(1) of the Corporate Tax Law. 399 Article 58 of the Corporate Tax Law. 400 Articles 48 and 53 of the Corporate Tax Law. 401 Cabinet Decision No. 75 of 2023. General Corporate Tax Guide | Corporate Tax | CTGGCT1 119
    Official PDF, p. 120Captured from the FTA website on 8 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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