What Does Corporate Tax Filing Actually Cost in the UAE?
If you’ve been searching for corporate tax filing cost in UAE, you’ve probably seen wildly different numbers. Some firms quote AED 500. Others want AED 25,000. The FTA itself charges nothing for EmaraTax access. So what’s the real answer?
The cost depends on three factors: your revenue bracket, who files for you (DIY, generic agent, mid-tier firm, Big 4, or FTA-registered specialist), and how complex your structure is (mainland vs free zone, related-party transactions, multi-entity groups). Here’s the 2026 market landscape:
| Provider Type | Corporate Tax Filing Charges | What’s Included | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY (EmaraTax) | AED 0 | Portal access only — no computation, no review | Nobody — AED 500-5,000 penalty risk |
| Generic filing agents | AED 500 – 2,000 | Basic filing. Often not FTA-registered. Limited advisory | Simple nil returns only |
| Mid-tier accounting firms | AED 2,000 – 5,000 | Filing + computation. May include financial statement prep | Medium businesses |
| Big 4 / premium firms | AED 5,000 – 25,000 | Full advisory, planning, TP, audit. Monthly retainers | Multinationals, groups |
| Fastlane (FTA-registered) | AED 249 – 999 | Full computation, SBR, EmaraTax submission, advisory. Per return | All UAE businesses |
The gap between AED 249 and AED 5,000 for the same filing is enormous. The output is identical: a corporate tax return filed through EmaraTax with an FTA acknowledgment. The computation is governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 47/2022 — the rules don’t change based on your consultant’s fee.
💰 SBR Savings Example: How AED 249 Saves You Thousands
Scenario: A Dubai consultancy with AED 2.5M revenue and AED 400,000 net profit.
Without SBR: Taxable income = AED 400,000. Tax = (400,000 − 375,000) × 9% = AED 2,250.
With SBR elected: Revenue ≤ AED 3M qualifies for Small Business Relief under Ministerial Decision 73/2023. Tax = AED 0.
The catch: SBR is not automatic. You must elect it in your EmaraTax return. Miss the election, and you owe AED 2,250 in tax + filing costs. At Fastlane, SBR assessment and election is included in every AED 249 Basic plan.
Filing cost: AED 249. Tax saved: AED 2,250. Net saving: AED 2,001.
💬 Get Your Exact Filing Cost in 60 Seconds
WhatsApp us your revenue figure. We confirm your plan and price instantly — no commitment required.
Fastlane Corporate Tax Filing Charges: Complete Breakdown
Every Fastlane CT filing plan includes full tax computation, EmaraTax submission, and FTA acknowledgment. No hidden charges. No retainers. Pay per return.
| Plan | Revenue Bracket | Price | What’s Included | Documents Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | Under AED 3M | AED 249 | CT return filing, SBR assessment & election, EmaraTax submission, FTA acknowledgment, post-filing advisory | Revenue figure, EmaraTax credentials, trade licence |
| Business | AED 3M – 10M | AED 499 | Everything in Basic + detailed computation, P&L & BS review, deduction optimisation, GIDLR check, TP screening, loss carry-forward, priority 3-hr turnaround | Income Statement, Balance Sheet, EmaraTax credentials, trade licence |
| Enterprise | Above AED 10M | AED 999 | Everything in Business + audited financials review, QFZP assessment, tax group consolidation, TP docs, participation exemption, dedicated senior advisor, audit-ready file | Audited financials, P&L, BS, Notes, EmaraTax credentials |
Corporate Tax Filing Cost by Business Type
Your corporate tax filing charges depend on your business structure and revenue. Here’s what typical Dubai businesses should budget in 2026:
| Business Type | Typical Revenue | Fastlane Cost | Market Average | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer / sole proprietor | AED 1M – 3M | AED 249 | AED 1,000 – 2,000 | AED 751 – 1,751 |
| Startup / new LLC | Under AED 3M | AED 249 | AED 500 – 2,000 | AED 251 – 1,751 |
| SME trading company | AED 3M – 10M | AED 499 | AED 2,000 – 5,000 | AED 1,501 – 4,501 |
| Restaurant / F&B chain | AED 5M – 15M | AED 499 – 999 | AED 3,000 – 8,000 | AED 2,001 – 7,001 |
| Free zone QFZP | Any | AED 999 | AED 5,000 – 15,000 | AED 4,001 – 14,001 |
| Multi-entity group | AED 50M+ | AED 999/entity | AED 10,000 – 25,000 | AED 9,001+ |
Why Most Businesses Overpay for Corporate Tax Filing
The UAE corporate tax regime is new. Most businesses are filing for the first time in 2025-2026. This creates a knowledge gap that some firms exploit with inflated corporate tax filing fees:
❌ 5 Reasons Businesses Overpay
• “You need a full advisory engagement” — Most SMEs under AED 10M don’t need planning or restructuring. They need their return filed correctly. That’s AED 249-499, not AED 5,000.
• “We bundle accounting + filing” — Some firms won’t file unless you buy monthly accounting at AED 1,500-3,000/month. If you have an accountant, you’re paying twice.
• “Free zone filing is more complex” — It’s the same EmaraTax process. The QFZP assessment adds work but doesn’t justify 10x the price. Fastlane covers it at AED 999.
• “Our team is Big 4 trained” — Big 4 experience matters for multinational structuring. For an SME filing, an FTA-registered agent at AED 249 gives you the same compliant result.
• “You get what you pay for” — The output is identical: a filed return with FTA acknowledgment. The computation follows Decree-Law 47/2022 regardless of whether you paid AED 249 or AED 10,000.
The Real Cost of NOT Filing (Penalty Maths)
Before you delay filing to “save money,” here’s what the FTA charges for non-compliance under Cabinet Decision No. 129/2025 (effective 14 April 2026):
| Delay Period | FTA Penalty | vs Fastlane Cost | Overpay Factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miss 1 month | AED 500 | AED 249 | 2x the filing cost |
| Miss 3 months | AED 1,500 | AED 249 | 6x |
| Miss 6 months | AED 3,000 | AED 249 | 12x |
| Miss 12 months | AED 6,000 | AED 249 | 24x |
| Miss 24 months | AED 18,000 | AED 249 | 72x |
| Never registered | AED 10,000 (fixed) | AED 199 | 50x |
Every month you delay costs AED 500. Filing costs AED 249. The maths is simple.
DIY Filing (AED 0) vs Professional Filing (AED 249): The Real Comparison
❌ DIY Filing (AED 0)
- • EmaraTax portal is free — but computation isn’t
- • Missing SBR election = paying tax you don’t owe
- • Revenue mismatch with VAT = FTA audit trigger
- • Wrong QFZP declaration = 9% on all income
- • Error penalties: AED 500 – 5,000+ per mistake
- • No professional to defend if FTA queries
True cost: AED 0 + AED 500-5,000 in errors
✅ Fastlane Filing (AED 249)
- ✓ FTA-registered agent files on your behalf
- ✓ SBR assessed and elected on every return
- ✓ VAT-CT reconciliation eliminates audit triggers
- ✓ Full deduction schedule to minimise tax
- ✓ Zero-penalty guarantee — our error, we fix it
- ✓ Filed in 3 hours, same-day acknowledgment
Total cost: AED 249. Zero risk.
How to Choose a Corporate Tax Filing Provider
When comparing corporate tax filing charges across providers in Dubai, verify these 6 things before you pay:
| # | Question to Ask | Why It Matters | Fastlane |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Are you FTA-registered? | Only registered agents can file on your behalf. Unregistered agents may produce non-compliant returns. | Yes — TRN: 104218042400003 |
| 2 | Per return or monthly retainer? | Retainers of AED 1,500+/month mean paying for 12 months when you need 1 filing. | Per return — no retainer |
| 3 | Is SBR assessment included? | Missing SBR = paying thousands in unnecessary tax. Should be standard, not an add-on. | Included in all plans |
| 4 | Any hidden fees? | Watch for “document prep,” “compliance review,” or “advisory” charges on top. | Zero hidden fees |
| 5 | How fast? | Some firms take 2-4 weeks. Near deadlines, delays = penalties. | 3 hours |
| 6 | Post-filing support? | If FTA queries your return, will the provider respond? Many don’t include this. | Included — WhatsApp direct |
⚠️ Bottom Line: Filing Cost vs Penalty Cost
A business that pays AED 249 to file saves a minimum of AED 500 in month-1 penalties alone. Over 12 months of delay, penalties reach AED 6,000 — 24 times the cost of professional filing. The cheapest option is always filing on time. At Fastlane, you get the lowest price AND on-time compliance.