What is the FTA Tax Audit process like?
Taxpayers in the UAE undergoing a VAT audit will receive a notification from the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) at least five days prior to the audit. To ensure a smooth and successful audit process, taxpayers are required to keep all VAT return documents and supporting evidence, and must have employees responsible for accounting and taxation records present during the audit.
These records include:
- Receipts and Invoices
- Tax credit notes
- Import Export Proofs
- Other Declarations
- Tax records
The tax auditors require the mentioned documents to conduct their assessment. They scrutinize payments, receipts, and all documentation related to VAT transactions for any discrepancies. Suspicious information or any missing data is noted down and further scrutinized for irregularities.
How Often does the FTA conduct the VAT Audits?
The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) does not have a specific month or date for conducting VAT audits in the UAE. The FTA can conduct VAT audits of a taxpayer’s liability at any time based on its discretion. Delayed VAT return submissions, incorrect returns, tax evasion cases, and non-compliance issues may also increase the chances of being audited by the FTA.
The frequency of VAT audits conducted by the FTA is at their discretion, and it can vary from multiple times a year to just once. Typically, taxpayers receive a notification from the FTA at least five days before the audit. However, if there are any suspicions of non-compliance or tax evasion, the FTA may conduct the audit without prior notification.
What does the FTA check during a routine VAT Audit UAE?
During a VAT audit, the FTA examines the following areas:
- Verifying whether taxpayers use a proper accounting system to maintain records accurately and generate basic reports according to the UAE VAT laws.
- Reviewing if the correct VAT rate is applied to products and services sold to customers.
- Checking if the correct VAT rate is imposed on products and services purchased from suppliers, along with proper invoices and evidence.
- Investigating whether taxpayers have filed timely and accurate VAT returns or not.