VAT in UAE | Goods & Services Under Zero Rated VAT & Exempted VAT

1. Pay Zero Or No Vat On These Types Of Goods & Services In UAE 6th September 2017 Value Added Tax Last Sunday, 27th of August, the Federal Decree-Law Number 8 of 2017 for the Value-Added Tax has been issued by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. With 5% rate, the UAE has one of the lowest value-added tax (VAT) rates in the world. The implementation of VAT is set to be on 1 January 2018, being imposed on certain goods and services. However, the law laid out a couple of exemptions and zero-rated goods and services. What Does Zero Rated VAT Mean? Any goods and services are subject to zero rated when those are exported to a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country that hasn’t implemented VAT just yet. This includes the passengers and goods that are transported internationally, as well as a transfer that starts or even ends in the UAE or cross any part of its region. Difference between Zero-Rated VAT vs Exempted VAT Simply put, a zero-rated VAT is a supply of goods and services that are taxable but VAT is imposed at 0%. VAT-registered businesses that produce zero-rated supplies/services have the right to claim their input tax deductions that they have obtained in the course of producing the

2. aforementioned taxable supplies. On the other hand, an exempt VAT is the supply of goods or services that are not subjected to any VAT rate. Good & Services Under Zero Rated Tax Based on the Article 45 of Federal Decree-Law Number 8 of 2017, there are 14 goods and services that are subject to zero-rated VAT. i) Direct or Indirect Exports The first on the list is the direct or indirect export outside the UAE to states in the GCC that do not implement VAT, as clearly stated in the executive regulation of this decree-law. ii) International Transport International airfares will be under the zero rate as it is stated that goods and services that are transported internationally starting or ending in the UAE or crossing any party of its region, which includes services related to such transport, will have zero rates applied on them. (7.) The goods and services for consumption on board, or anything at all that is meant to be consumed by any means of transport, any installations or addition thereto or any other use during transportation shall be included in this application as well. iii) Air Passenger Transport As mentioned on the third number in Article 45, the transport of air passenger in the country is also included “if it is considered an “international carriage” pursuant to Article (1) of the Warsaw Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules Relating to International Carriage by Air 1929.” iv) Supply of Air, Sea and Land Means of Transport In accordance with the Executive Regulations of this Decree-Law, the supply of air, sea, and land means of transport for the transportation of passengers and goods. v) Goods & Services Related to the Supply of the Means of Transport The supply of goods and services for the operation, repair, maintenance, or conversation of the aforementioned means of transport are also under zero rate. vi) Aircraft & Vessels for Rescue Aircrafts and vessels that are intended for rescue and assistance by air or sea will have zero Aircrafts and vessels that are intended for rescue and assistance by air or sea will have zero rated applied on them. vii) Supply of Goods and Services Related to the Transfer of Goods or Passengers

3. The goods and services for consumption on board, or anything at all that is meant to be consumed by any means of transport, any installations or addition thereto or any other use during transportation shall be included in this application as well. viii) Investment in Precious Metal The eight on the list is the supply or import of investment precious metals. With accordance to the Executive Regulation of this Decree-Law, it will specify the precious metals as well as the basis of the standards by which the aforementioned goods are classified as for investment purposes. ix) Sale of the Residential Building In accordance with the controls specified in the Executive Regulations of this Decree-Law, residential buildings in its first three years of completion, may it be for sale or lease in whole or in part, shall be under zero rate. x) Charitable Buildings Supplies If the buildings are for the purpose of being used by charities, the first supply shall have zero rated applied on them (sale or lease). xi) First Supply for Residential Building Buildings that are converted from non-residential to residential will be under zero rate as well in its first supply (sale or lease). xii) Oil & Gas Crude oil and natural gas are under zero rate as the number 12 on the list. xiii) Educational Services As per the Executive Regulation of this Decree-Law, zero rated shall apply on educational services and related goods and services for nurseries, preschool, elementary education, and higher education institutions that are owned or funded b the federal or local government. xiv) Healthcare services The last on this list is, in accordance with the Executive Regulation of this Decree-Law, the supply of preventive and basic health care services and related goods and services. Goods and Services Exempted from VAT There are only four items that are listed as exempted from VAT as per Article 46 of the Federal Decree-Law Number 8 of 2017: i). Financial services that are specified in the Executive Regulation of this Decree-Law

4. ii). Supply of residential buildings through sale or lease, other than that which is zero-rated according to Clauses (9) and (11) of Article (45) of this Decree-Law iii). Supply of bare land iv). Supply of local passenger transport Conclusion It has been discussed before that the implementation of VAT can support the UAE government in its goal to strengthen the economy and enhance the services for the public. The rest of the countries in the GCC are expected to follow the UAE and Saudi in executing the VAT between 1 January 2018 to 1 January 2019. For more information regarding VAT or if you need a consultation, please contact us here. value added tax in uae, vat consultants in dubai, vat consultants in uae, vat exemptions, vat implementation, vat in dubai, vat in uae, vat registration, vat services, zero rated vat