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Does Software Development Qualify for 0% QFZP? | Fastlane

We’re a free-zone software company, so our development income is 0%” — the assumption most tech founders start with, and for a company selling internationally it’s usually wrong. Software development isn’t a qualifying activity, so your 0% depends entirely on who your customer is: 0% only to a Free Zone Person who’s the beneficial recipient; non-qualifying to overseas or mainland customers, counting against the de minimis ceiling. Breach it and QFZP is lost for five years — and what to do if you don’t qualify (ordinary 9%/AED 375k, or nil under Small Business Relief).

VAT on Online Courses for Overseas Students | Fastlane

All my students are abroad, so my courses are 0% VAT” — the assumption online course sellers make, and it’s not safe. Education has its own VAT rules, and the treatment turns on how the course is delivered, not just where the student sits: live tutor-led teaching can be a zero-rated export, pre-recorded courses are usually electronically-supplied and out of scope abroad, and anything sold to a UAE student is 5%. Why zero-rated and out-of-scope aren’t the same, the records to keep, and the “qualifying educational institution” rule most sellers don’t meet.

Renew or Liquidate a One-Visa IFZA Company? | Fastlane

A dormant one-visa IFZA company hits its renewal date — pay to renew, or close it for good? Real 2026 numbers on both routes (renew ~AED 18,100/year vs liquidate AED 7,499 once, about 2.5× cheaper), Fastlane’s honest opinion on when each wins, and the timeline catch — liquidation runs over months, with Corporate Tax deregistration alone adding ~60 days.

IFZA Compliance Inspection: What to Submit | Fastlane ·

An IFZA compliance inspection: the four documents IFZA wants, why a passport won’t do and “no activity” still needs a full submission, what each piece costs (financials AED 999, business plan AED 500, both AED 1,500), and how to clear it before the deadline.

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Does Software Development Qualify for 0% QFZP? | Fastlane

VAT on Online Courses for Overseas Students | Fastlane

Renew or Liquidate a One-Visa IFZA Company? | Fastlane

IFZA Compliance Inspection: What to Submit | Fastlane ·