Record-keeping requirements for UAE businesses (Corporate Tax and VAT)
How long to keep records
Corporate Tax: a business keeps all records and documents that support its tax return and make its taxable profit easy to check, for 7 years after the end of the tax year (Corporate Tax Law, Art. 56).
VAT: the general rule is 5 years. Records are kept 4 extra years if there is a dispute with the FTA (or until it is finally settled, whichever is later) or an ongoing tax audit.
What to keep
- Invoices issued and received.
- Receipts and bank statements.
- Contracts and payroll.
- Financial statements and returns.
- Asset register.
Lost a receipt? See Can I deduct an expense without a receipt?
Why the FTA insists on records
In its news of 26 September 2026, the FTA stated that keeping all documents that support the information in tax returns is essential: these records let the FTA verify revenue, taxable income and eligibility for Small Business Relief. Not keeping the required records leads to administrative penalties.
For Corporate Tax, failing to keep records carries a 10,000 AED penalty (20,000 AED if repeated).
Format and language
Digital copies are fine if they are complete and readable. The FTA may ask you to translate some or all records into Arabic (an approved translation).
Cash basis or invoice basis
A business may prepare its accounts on the cash basis when its income is 3,000,000 AED or less, or in exceptional cases on request (Ministerial Decision No. 114 of 2023). The cash basis still requires complete records of money in and money out. Details: Can I use the cash basis?
How SoloBooks helps
Each receipt is stored with the entry you approved, and the evidence pack (all documents, a CSV of entries and the activity log) can be downloaded at any time. You remain responsible for keeping your own copy for the legal period.
Check it with the free calculator: Corporate Tax deadline calculator →
Official sources
- Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 on the Taxation of Corporations and Businesses (consolidated), Art. 51, 53 and 56 (checked 20 October 2026)
- Executive Regulation of the Tax Procedures Decree-Law (Cabinet Decision No. 74 of 2023, as amended), Art. 3 and 5 (checked 20 October 2026)
- Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2017 on Value Added Tax (consolidated) (checked 20 October 2026)
- Cabinet Decision No. 75 of 2023 on Corporate Tax administrative penalties, as amended (items 1, 2 and 14) (checked 20 October 2026)
- FTA news (26 September 2026): 30 September 2026 is the deadline for filing Tax Returns and paying Corporate Tax for the financial year ended 31 December 2025 (page last updated 28 September 2026 · checked 20 October 2026)
- Ministerial Decision No. 114 of 2023 on Accounting Standards and Methods (checked 20 October 2026)
General information, not tax advice. Your situation may differ.