A tax return can look ready while the accounts behind it still contain unanswered questions. Perhaps a bank receipt has no matching invoice. An expense has been recorded twice. Or a year-end adjustment changed the profit after someone prepared the tax calculation.
Before your next tax filing in the UAE, give your team time to check those details.
This guide focuses on UAE Corporate Tax. VAT has separate return requirements and tax periods, so the same checklist should not be treated as a complete VAT filing review. The questions below help business owners and finance teams assess whether their Corporate Tax return is supported by reliable information.
Why review your records before tax filing?
A review before submission gives the business a chance to find missing information, explain differences and check the treatment of significant transactions. It also helps the person approving the return understand what they are signing off.
Set aside time for questions that need another person’s input. A supplier may need to resend an invoice, or a director may need to explain a payment. Those conversations become harder when the filing deadline is only hours away.
A review cannot guarantee an error-free return. It can make the information used to prepare it more consistent and easier to support.
1. Are our accounting records complete and up to date?
Start with the period covered by the return. Have sales, purchases, expenses and bank transactions been recorded through the closing date? Have customer and supplier balances been reviewed? Are assets, liabilities and year-end journal entries included?
Ask your accountant a direct question: “Can we prepare reliable financial statements from these records?”
If the answer depends on invoices that have not arrived or balances that nobody can explain, there is still work to do.
Businesses that outsource their accounts should confirm which version is final. The bookkeeping team and tax preparer need to work from the same approved figures. A last-minute change to the accounts should trigger a check of the tax calculation too.
2. Have all revenue transactions been recorded?
Compare the sales records with the revenue accounts, credit notes, customer receipts and relevant contracts. Investigate unexplained differences between the invoicing system and the ledger.
Bank deposits help with this review, but they do not tell the whole story. A payment received in December might settle an earlier invoice. Another receipt might be a customer advance or money introduced by an owner.
For a Dubai consultancy working on projects, for example, invoices, payment dates and the period in which services were delivered may differ. The finance team should understand how those transactions were recorded.
Avoid assuming that every bank receipt is revenue or that every invoiced amount receives identical tax treatment. The accounting and tax analysis depends on the facts.
3. Are our expenses properly recorded and supported?
Review significant expenses against invoices, receipts, contracts and payment evidence. Check that the categories are consistent and that the records explain the business purpose.
Look closely at mixed spending. If an owner used a personal card to pay a company bill, the records should explain the reimbursement. If a company payment includes personal costs, those elements need to be identified.
Recording an expense in the accounts does not automatically establish its Corporate Tax deductibility. Applicable restrictions, timing rules and the circumstances of the expenditure still matter. The FTA’s Corporate Tax FAQs explain the general approach to deductible business expenses.
A bank payment confirms that money moved. It may not explain what the business purchased.
4. Have we reconciled our bank accounts?
Bank reconciliation means comparing the accounting records with the bank statement and explaining the differences.
Check every relevant bank account, along with card accounts and payment processors where applicable. Look for:
- Missing or duplicate entries.
- Incorrect amounts and unidentified payments.
- Receipts that have not been recorded.
- Bank charges and timing differences.
- Old outstanding items that keep appearing each month.
A timing difference may be reasonable. A balance carried forward for several months without an explanation needs attention.
Ask whether someone reviewed the reconciliation and whether unresolved items could affect the accounts used for filing.
5. Do our financial statements match our tax information?
The figures should connect through a clear sequence:
Accounting records → Financial statements → Tax adjustments → Taxable income → Tax return
Accounting profit and taxable income are not necessarily the same. The FTA identifies accounting income as the starting point for determining taxable income, subject to adjustments required by Corporate Tax law. See its Accounting Standards Guide.
Ask for a schedule that explains the movement from accounting profit or loss to the amount reported for tax purposes. Each material adjustment should have a reason and supporting calculation.
Also check the version dates. If the financial statements changed after the tax working papers were prepared, confirm that the return reflects the final accounts.
6. Have we reviewed significant or unusual transactions?
Routine transactions tend to follow familiar accounting processes. One-off transactions may need a closer look.
Examples include an asset disposal, a shareholder loan, a large manual journal, a significant provision or an unusual cross-border payment. A business restructuring or new intercompany arrangement may also change the questions the tax preparer needs to ask.
Prepare a short list of these items and discuss them before the return is finalised. For each one, identify what happened, how it was recorded and whether anyone assessed its tax treatment.
An unusual transaction is not automatically incorrect or taxable. It deserves review because the normal posting process may not answer every question.
7. Do we have supporting documents for important transactions?
Choose a few significant figures and try tracing them to the evidence. Can someone find the documents without relying on the memory of the person who posted the entry?
Depending on the transaction, the file might contain:
- An invoice or credit note.
- A contract or purchase agreement.
- A receipt and payment confirmation.
- Payroll records.
- Asset purchase or disposal documents.
- An agreement supporting an intercompany charge.
Keep the records readable and clearly named. Where one payment covers several invoices, include a reconciliation.
For a fuller approach to organising the evidence, read our guide to getting records ready for a Corporate Tax review.
8. Have we reviewed related-party transactions?
Identify relevant dealings with group companies, owners, shareholders, directors and other parties that may fall within the legal definitions of Related Parties or Connected Persons.
Common examples include management fees, shared office costs, loans, intercompany services and asset transfers.
Ask how the charge was calculated, what agreement supports it and whether the tax preparer has considered the applicable rules. An invoice alone may not explain why a particular amount was charged.
UAE transfer-pricing rules can apply to domestic as well as international dealings with Related Parties and Connected Persons. The FTA’s Corporate Tax FAQs explain this scope. Check the requirements relevant to the business before deciding which disclosures or documentation are needed.
9. Have we considered the relevant tax adjustments?
Once the accounts are final, review the adjustments used in the tax calculation.
Potential areas include restricted deductions, exempt income, interest expenses, related-party arrangements, and reliefs or elections where applicable. Depending on the circumstances, provisions, accruals or asset-related amounts may also need consideration.
This is a list of review areas, not a complete adjustment schedule. An accounting entry does not need an adjustment simply because it belongs to one of these categories.
For each adjustment, ask: “What rule are we applying, what facts support it, and where is the calculation?”
The FTA’s Tax Returns Guide provides context for the information requested in a Corporate Tax return. Use it alongside current legislation and relevant clarifications.
10. Are our tax registrations and filing details correct?
Confirm that the return relates to the correct legal entity and Tax Period. Check the registration information, business details and contact information against the company’s current records.
Do not assume Corporate Tax and VAT registration details or filing periods are interchangeable.
Confirm the submission and payment deadlines that apply to this return, using current FTA information. Assign responsibility for both tasks. The person preparing the return may not be the person authorised to submit it or arrange payment.
Agree who will perform the final review and retain the submission acknowledgement and payment evidence once the process is complete.
11. Have we reviewed previous filings and adjustments?
Where earlier returns exist, compare them with the current working papers.
Review previous calculations, corrections, payments, unresolved balances and advice that may remain relevant. Ask whether an earlier treatment was specific to that period or whether it continues to apply.
Copying last year’s figures or assumptions can carry a mistake into a new return. Equally, a difference between years may be entirely reasonable if the business changed.
If you find a possible error in a submitted return, assess it under the applicable correction rules. Do not assume it can simply be offset in the current return or that every inconsistency requires the same response.
12. Can we explain every significant figure in the return?
Before approval, select the largest or most sensitive figures and ask the preparer to explain them.
The trail should be understandable:
Tax return figure → Tax calculation → Financial statements or ledger → Transaction → Supporting document
For a tax adjustment, the explanation should also identify the reason for the adjustment and the calculation used.
Not every figure needs an identical file. The evidence should be appropriate to the amount and transaction.
If the explanation is “the software calculated it,” ask what information and settings produced the result. Software can process the data provided to it; someone still needs to review the output.
A practical checklist for tax filing in the UAE
Use this as a general review aid. It is not an official Federal Tax Authority checklist.
| Review area | Question to resolve before submission |
|---|---|
| Accounting records | Are all transactions and closing entries included? |
| Revenue | Have differences between sales, receipts and the ledger been explained? |
| Expenses | Are significant costs supported and their tax treatment considered? |
| Bank accounts | Are reconciliations complete, with outstanding items explained? |
| Receivables and payables | Have old or unusual customer and supplier balances been reviewed? |
| Financial statements | Are the tax working papers based on the final accounts? |
| Tax adjustments | Is each material adjustment supported by a reason and calculation? |
| Related parties | Have relevant dealings and reporting requirements been considered? |
| Documents | Can important figures be traced to accessible evidence? |
| Previous filings | Have relevant prior treatments and unresolved issues been reviewed? |
| Filing details | Are the entity, period and registration information correct? |
| Final approval | Who will review, submit, arrange payment and retain confirmations? |
Give each unresolved item an owner and a completion date. A checklist is useful only if someone follows up on the answers.
Common mistakes that weaken a filing review
Several problems recur: preparing a return before the books are complete, leaving reconciliations until the deadline, and assuming accounting profit is automatically taxable income.
Other mistakes are less obvious. A preparer may reuse an earlier tax treatment without checking whether the facts changed. A reviewer may overlook a large journal because the trial balance still balances. Supporting documents may exist but remain scattered across personal inboxes.
Avoid reviewing only the final tax amount. Check how the business arrived at it, including unusual transactions, mixed personal and business spending, and any assumptions entered into the software.
How bookkeeping throughout the year helps
A regular monthly bookkeeping routine makes these questions easier to answer. Bank differences can be resolved while transactions are still familiar, missing invoices can be requested promptly, and old customer or supplier balances can be investigated.
Regular financial reports also give the tax preparer better context for changes in the business.
The filing review still matters. Year-round bookkeeping reduces catch-up work, but the final accounts, tax adjustments and return need their own checks.
When professional support may be useful
An experienced internal finance team may handle a straightforward return with appropriate review. Additional support can be useful when records are incomplete, related-party dealings are significant, the business operates across borders or tax adjustments are difficult to assess.
It can also help where prior filings raise questions or the deadline is approaching before the accounts are ready.
Agree the scope clearly. Who completes the books? Who reviews the tax treatment? Who approves and submits the return? Outsourcing works better when these responsibilities are explicit.
A&A Tax Consultants can help businesses review their records and prepare financial and tax information through Corporate Tax support, accounting and bookkeeping services, with audit support and business advisory where relevant to the agreed work.
Frequently asked questions
What should I check before filing Corporate Tax in the UAE?
Check the final accounts, reconciliations, revenue, expenses, significant transactions, tax adjustments and supporting documents. Confirm the legal entity, Tax Period, filing details and responsibilities for approval, submission and payment.
What documents are needed for UAE Corporate Tax filing?
The requirements depend on the taxpayer and return. Prepare the financial records, statements, tax calculations and supporting schedules needed to substantiate the figures. Documents retained as evidence are not necessarily all submitted with the return.
How do I know whether my accounting records are ready?
You should be able to produce financial statements, explain material balances and trace significant transactions to supporting documents. Unresolved differences should be assessed before relying on the figures.
Should bank accounts be reconciled before filing a tax return?
Yes, as a practical financial control. Reconciliation helps identify missing or duplicate entries and unexplained balances that could affect the accounts used for tax preparation.
Does accounting profit equal taxable income in the UAE?
Not necessarily. Accounting income is the starting point, and the applicable Corporate Tax adjustments determine how it translates into taxable income.
Are all business expenses deductible for Corporate Tax?
No. Deductibility depends on the expense, its purpose and the applicable rules. An amount appearing in the accounts does not, by itself, establish its tax treatment.
What if I find an error before submitting the return?
Investigate it, correct the relevant records or working papers, and review any affected figures before submission. If it concerns an earlier submitted return, assess the appropriate correction process separately.
Can an accountant help prepare a UAE Corporate Tax return?
Yes, where the accountant has suitable Corporate Tax knowledge and the work falls within the agreed scope. Confirm who will review the tax treatment and who has responsibility for submission.
Can a tax consultant review my records before filing?
Yes. The review can cover accounting information, significant transactions, supporting evidence and tax adjustments, depending on the agreed scope and information available.
How can I reduce mistakes when filing Corporate Tax?
Keep records current, reconcile accounts, document adjustments and arrange a final review. Use a clear checklist and follow up on unresolved questions. These steps support accuracy but cannot guarantee a particular outcome.
Before you approve the return
Ask the preparer to show how the final figures connect to the accounts and explain anything still unresolved. Confirm that someone is responsible for submission, payment and keeping the acknowledgements.
If your team needs help answering those questions, contact A&A Tax Consultants to discuss a review of your records and Corporate Tax position.
This article provides general information and does not constitute tax, accounting or legal advice. UAE tax filing requirements vary with the business and its circumstances. Refer to current UAE legislation and official guidance, and obtain professional advice where appropriate.