The FTA Acknowledgement — What It Looks Like
After your CT return is submitted on EmaraTax, the FTA sends a confirmation email to the registered email address. Here's what to expect:
Dear [Company Name],
Please be informed that your Corporate Tax Return for the Tax Period [Start Date]–[End Date] has been successfully submitted with reference number [XXXXXXXXXX].
For more details, please login to your EmaraTax profile through the following link: (https://tax.gov.ae/en/default.aspx).
Kind regards,
Federal Tax Authority
That's it. No PDF to download. No certificate to print. No additional action required from you. The email is your proof of filing. Save it.
✅ What "successfully submitted" means: The FTA has received your return. It's been recorded in their system against your TRN. You've met your filing obligation for this tax period. Unless the FTA contacts you with a specific request, there is nothing else to do until the next tax period.
Will the FTA Come Back and Ask Questions?
This is the #1 anxiety for first-time filers. The short answer: probably not.
For small businesses — especially those filing under Small Business Relief (SBR) with revenue under AED 3 million — the FTA typically processes the return as submitted with no follow-up. There's nothing complex to query: revenue is below the threshold, taxable income is deemed zero, no tax is payable.
However, the FTA reserves the right to request additional information or conduct a tax audit at any time — even years after filing. This applies to all taxpayers, not just first-timers. If they do reach out, don't panic: contact your tax agent and respond within the FTA's stated timeline.
💡 Pro tip: Keep your supporting documents for at least 7 years after filing. This includes: sales records/invoices, bank statements, expense receipts, and the FTA acknowledgement email itself. If the FTA ever audits your return, you'll need these documents readily available.
Your First Tax Period Might Be Shorter Than 12 Months
Many first-time filers are surprised that their first tax period doesn't run a full calendar year. Here's why:
Your first corporate tax period starts from the beginning of the financial year in which your licence was issued — or the licence issuance date itself, depending on the FTA's determination. If your licence was issued in March 2025 and your financial year ends in December, your first tax period runs from 01/03/2025 to 31/12/2025 — just 10 months.
This is called a stub period or short year. It's completely normal. After the first period, all subsequent periods are the full calendar year (January to December, or whatever your chosen financial year-end is).
A free zone founder launched their business in November 2025. Their licence was issued in March 2025 but they only started selling in November. First tax period: 01/03/2025–31/12/2025. Total revenue for the period: AED 2,860. Under Small Business Relief, taxable income = zero, tax payable = zero. But the return still had to be filed — and it was, with a simple SBR election. Cost: AED 249.
"I Only Made AED 2,860 — Do I Really Need to File?"
Yes. Every CT-registered company must file a return for every tax period — regardless of how much (or how little) revenue you earned. This includes:
AED 0 revenue: File a nil return under SBR. Read our guide on CT filing with no activity →
AED 1–3,000,000 revenue: File under SBR. Taxable income deemed zero. No tax payable. But the return must be filed.
Above AED 3,000,000: Full CT return required. 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000.
The penalty for not filing is AED 500 per month — regardless of whether any tax is actually payable. A return that costs AED 249 to file on time can cost AED 6,000+ in penalties if left unfiled for a year.
When Is Your Next Filing Due?
Your next CT return covers the next full tax period and is due 9 months after the financial year end.
| Tax Period | Financial Year End | Filing Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| FY 2025 (first period, e.g. Mar–Dec 2025) | 31 December 2025 | 30 September 2026 |
| FY 2026 (full year, Jan–Dec 2026) | 31 December 2026 | 30 September 2027 |
| FY 2027 (full year, Jan–Dec 2027) | 31 December 2027 | 30 September 2028 |
Mark the deadline in your calendar now. Or better — subscribe to Fastlane's annual CT package (AED 249 SBR / AED 499 non-SBR) and we track the deadline for you.
Never Miss a CT Deadline — Annual Package from AED 249
We filed your first return. Let us handle every one after that. Fixed annual price, deadline tracking, FTA submission — all included.
What You DON'T Need to Do After Filing
Don't log in to EmaraTax to "check." The acknowledgement email is your confirmation. Logging in repeatedly doesn't speed anything up or change the status.
Don't call the FTA to confirm. The email with the reference number is the confirmation. No follow-up call is needed.
Don't prepare financial statements after the fact. If you filed under SBR, financial statements weren't required for the return. You may still need them for free zone renewal purposes, but that's separate from CT filing.
Don't pay anything to the FTA (for SBR filers). If your return was filed under Small Business Relief, taxable income is zero and no tax is due. There's no payment to make.
What You SHOULD Do After Filing
Save the FTA acknowledgement email. This is your proof of timely filing. Keep it accessible.
Save your supporting documents. Sales data, bank statements, expense records — keep for 7 years minimum.
Note your next deadline. 9 months after your next financial year end. For December year-end: 30 September of the following year.
Consider subscribing to an annual package. If filing was stressful this year, lock in a fixed-price package for next year so it's handled automatically. CT filing from AED 249 →
Check if you need VAT registration. If your taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000 in any 12-month period, VAT registration is mandatory — that's a separate compliance obligation. VAT registration from AED 199 →
Start maintaining proper books. Next year's return will be easier if you keep records throughout the year instead of scrambling at filing time. Monthly accounting from AED 499/month →
Written & Reviewed by Nithin — FTA-Registered Tax Agent (TRN: 104218042400003)
Based on actual first-time CT filings processed by Fastlane in 2025–2026 for UAE free zone and mainland companies. The FTA acknowledgement format and process described reflects current EmaraTax behaviour as of April 2026.