Everyday expenses
I work from home. Can I deduct part of my rent and DEWA?
Depends on the details: keep good documents
The basic rule
A cost used for both home and business counts only for the business part, split in a fair and reasonable way (for example the floor space used for work and the time spent working there).
When it is different
- If your licence requires a separate office or flexi-desk, that cost is a business cost in full; home costs may then be harder to justify on top.
- If the company pays rent for a home you own, or that a relative owns, it is a payment to a Connected Person: deductible only at market value and only for the business part.
- A room used both as office and as guest or family space supports a smaller share than a dedicated room.
- Natural persons (sole establishments and freelancers): the same allocation logic applies within the business accounts.
Documents to keep
- Tenancy contract and Ejari
- DEWA and internet bills
- A simple floor plan or note of the area used and the calculation
- If paid to you or a relative: a written agreement and evidence of market rent
How safe is it?
Depends on the details: keep good documents Medium. The FTA can ask why a share of a family home is a business cost. A modest, calculated share is easier to defend than a large round figure.
When to ask a professional
Have it confirmed before claiming more than a small share, or when the company pays rent to you or a family member. Who can confirm it for your own case: an FTA-registered tax agent (a tax professional approved by the UAE tax authority), or the optional year-end review in SoloBooks.
If you pay no Corporate Tax this year (Small Business Relief): If you use Small Business Relief this year, you pay no Corporate Tax anyway, so this cost does not change your tax for that year. Keep the documents anyway: they back up your income figure, and they matter if you stop qualifying later.
Check it with the free calculator: Small Business Relief calculator →
Sources
- Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 on the Taxation of Corporations and Businesses (consolidated, unofficial English translation) — Art. 28(1), 28(3), 36(1)
- FTA Corporate Tax Guide: Determination of Taxable Income (CTGDTI1) — Sections on mixed-use expenditure and payments to Connected Persons
General information, not tax advice. Your situation may differ.
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Related questions
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- Do I pay UAE Corporate Tax on income from foreign clients?
- Am I eligible for Small Business Relief (no Corporate Tax for small businesses)?