The Email You Received from IFZA
If your IFZA trade license is up for renewal, you've likely received an email that looks like this:
Dear [Your Company Name],
As part of your Trade License renewal, please use our Simplified Financial Statement form, if your business meets the below criteria for the most recently completed Financial Year:
• Annual turnover of AED 3 million or less
• Fewer than 9 employees during the financial year
Simply fill in the numerical fields at the link below.
Start here: [Click Here]
If you require any assistance, or if you do not meet the criteria above and need to submit an Audited Financial Statement, please reach out to your Professional Partner.
This is a new requirement effective from 30 September 2025. All IFZA licensees — whether an FZCO or a Branch — must now submit financial statements during every trade license renewal. This wasn't required before, so many IFZA companies are seeing this for the first time.
Do You Qualify for the Simplified Form?
The simplified form is only available if your company meets BOTH of these criteria:
| Criterion | Requirement | If Not Met… |
|---|---|---|
| Annual turnover | AED 3 million or less for the completed financial year | Full audited financial statements required |
| Employee count | 9 employees or fewer at any point during the financial year | Full audited financial statements required |
Both criteria must be met. If your turnover was AED 2 million but you had 15 employees at some point during the year, you don't qualify for the simplified form — you need audited financials. If you had 3 employees but AED 5 million in turnover, same result — audited financials required.
💡 What counts as an "employee"? IFZA defines an employee as any individual performing work or services under an executed Employment Contract — whether directly sponsored by your company or otherwise — provided they operate under the company's supervision and contribute to its business operations. Freelancers on service agreements may not count, but visa-sponsored staff always do.
💡 What counts as "turnover"? Turnover means the gross amount of income derived during the financial year — determined using market-related principles similar to UAE Corporate Tax Law. All income from all business activities must be included. This is your total revenue, not your profit.
How to Fill the Simplified Financial Statement Form
IFZA provides a specific template for the simplified form. You must use IFZA's template — no other format is accepted. The link is provided in the renewal email or can be accessed through your IFZA portal.
Step 1: Confirm Your Financial Year
The form covers your most recently completed financial year as of your license renewal date. Your financial year is set at incorporation and specified in your Articles of Association (Section 75 of the AOA). Most IFZA companies use a calendar year (January–December), but some use March–March or June–June.
Example: If your license renews in April 2026 and your financial year ends 31 December, you'll fill in figures for FY2025 (1 January 2025 – 31 December 2025).
Step 2: Choose the Right Accounting Standard
For the simplified form (turnover ≤ AED 3 million), IFZA requires Cash Basis of accounting. This means you record income when cash is received and expenses when cash is paid — not when invoices are issued. This is simpler than accrual-based IFRS.
| Annual Turnover | Accounting Standard | Format Required |
|---|---|---|
| ≤ AED 3 million | Cash Basis | IFZA Simplified Financial Statement template |
| > AED 3 million but < AED 50 million | IFRS for SMEs | Full Audited Financial Statements |
| ≥ AED 50 million | Full IFRS | Full Audited Financial Statements |
Step 3: Fill in the Numerical Fields
The IFZA template asks for specific financial figures from your completed financial year. While the exact fields may vary, expect to provide:
Revenue/turnover: Total income received during the financial year. On cash basis, this is the actual cash received from customers — not invoiced amounts.
Expenses: Total business expenses paid during the financial year. Categories may include rent, salaries, professional fees, marketing, travel, and other operating costs.
Net profit/loss: Revenue minus expenses.
Assets: Bank balances, receivables, equipment, and any other assets as of the financial year end.
Liabilities: Amounts owed to suppliers, loans, and any other obligations as of the year end.
Equity: Share capital plus retained earnings.
If your bookkeeping is on accrual basis (recording invoices when issued, not when paid), you'll need to convert the figures to cash basis for the simplified form. This means: revenue = cash received (not invoiced), expenses = cash paid (not accrued). If you're unsure, your accountant can make the conversion. Or let Fastlane handle it from AED 999 + VAT →
Step 4: Electronic Signature
The financial statements must be electronically signed by the authorised signatory — your company's Manager, Director, or Shareholder. IFZA does not accept unsigned submissions.
Step 5: Submit via the IFZA Electronic Form
Submit the completed form through the electronic submission link provided during the renewal process. IFZA will review the submission as part of your license renewal.
Need Help Filling the IFZA Financial Statement?
Fastlane prepares IFZA financial statements — simplified or audited — from AED 999 + VAT. We handle the numbers, the template, and the submission.
What If You Don't Qualify for the Simplified Form?
If your company doesn't meet both criteria (turnover > AED 3 million OR more than 9 employees), you must submit full Audited Financial Statements. Here's what that means:
Any registered UAE auditor can prepare the audited financial statements. You're not limited to IFZA-approved auditors — any auditor registered with the UAE Ministry of Economy is permitted.
The statements must follow the appropriate standard: IFRS for SMEs (if turnover is between AED 3 million and AED 50 million) or full IFRS (if turnover is AED 50 million or more).
Already have audited reports for the FTA? Good news — IFZA confirms that if you already have audited financial statements prepared for your corporate tax filing, you can submit the same report for your IFZA license renewal. No need to prepare separate statements.
Fastlane provides IFZA financial statements and audit reports from AED 999 + VAT — covering both simplified and audited formats.
Dormant Companies — What Do You Submit?
If your IFZA company had zero activity during the financial year — no revenue, no expenses, no transactions — you still need to submit financial statements. A dormant company with AED 0 turnover and 0 employees qualifies for the simplified form. Fill in zeros across all fields, sign electronically, and submit.
The key point: IFZA doesn't exempt dormant companies from the financial statement requirement. Every licensee — active or dormant — must submit during renewal.
This is similar to the corporate tax requirement: even dormant companies must file a CT return (under Small Business Relief) to avoid AED 500/month penalties.
The Bigger Picture: What Changed in September 2025
Before 30 September 2025, IFZA did not require financial statements as part of the license renewal process. Companies simply paid their renewal fees and received a new license. No financial reporting, no audit, no compliance check.
That changed. IFZA now requires annual submission of financial statements during every trade license renewal. This aligns with the broader UAE regulatory push for financial transparency — driven by corporate tax implementation, AML compliance, and international standards.
What this means for IFZA companies in practice:
You need to maintain proper books. Even if you're a small company using the simplified form, you need records of your income, expenses, assets, and liabilities. "I don't have any accounts" is no longer an option at renewal time.
Budget for accounting. If you haven't been maintaining books, you'll need to catch up before renewal. Monthly accounting from AED 499/month ensures your books are always ready.
Plan ahead. Don't discover this requirement 3 days before your license expires. Start preparing your financial statements at least 2–4 weeks before your renewal date.
Quick Reference: The 14 IFZA FAQs Summarised
| # | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Who must submit? | All IFZA licensees (FZCO or Branch) |
| 2 | When effective? | 30 September 2025 onwards |
| 3 | Period covered? | Most recently completed financial year |
| 4 | How to verify financial year? | Check Articles of Association (Section 75) |
| 5 | Accounting standard? | Cash Basis (≤3M), IFRS for SMEs (3M–50M), IFRS (50M+) |
| 6 | Simplified form criteria? | ≤ AED 3M turnover AND ≤ 9 employees |
| 7 | Employee definition? | Anyone under an employment contract, sponsored or not |
| 8 | Turnover definition? | Gross income from all business activities |
| 9 | Is there a template? | Yes — IFZA-provided template only (no other format) |
| 10 | When are audited statements needed? | If simplified criteria not met |
| 11 | Which auditor? | Any registered UAE auditor |
| 12 | Must it be signed? | Yes — electronically by authorised signatory |
| 13 | How to submit? | Via electronic form during renewal process |
| 14 | Can FTA reports be used? | Yes — if audited reports for FTA exist, they can be submitted |
IFZA Financial Statements from AED 999 + VAT
Simplified or audited. Cash basis or IFRS. Template completion, electronic signing, and submission guidance included.
Written & Reviewed by Nithin — FTA-Registered Tax Agent (TRN: 104218042400003)
Nithin is the Founder of Fastlane Management Consultancy and has prepared financial statements for hundreds of IFZA companies. This guide reflects the IFZA license renewal requirements effective from 30 September 2025.