Preparation help, not a filing service

Get your VAT return ready

A step-by-step checklist to prepare your VAT201 return before you file — so nothing's missing when you sit down on EmaraTax.

0 of 8 ready

Sales invoices for the period
All standard-rated, zero-rated and exempt sales, dated within the return period. Purchase & expense invoices
Valid tax invoices with a TRN — only these support input VAT recovery. Credit and debit notes issued or received
These adjust your output/input VAT totals for the period. Import records (if any)
Customs declarations for goods imported under your TRN — VAT is often reverse-charged. Reverse-charge transactions
Services bought from outside the UAE — you self-account for VAT on these. Bad debt relief claims (if any)
Unpaid invoices over 6 months old may qualify to reclaim output VAT already paid. Your output VAT total calculated
Use the VAT calculator to check individual figures. Your input VAT total calculated
Remember: entertainment and most passenger-vehicle VAT is not recoverable.

The core formula

Output VAT (charged on sales)A

− Input VAT (paid on purchases)B

= Net VAT due (or refundable)A − B

If B is bigger than A, you have a refund or credit position instead of a payment due.

Where people get it wrong

Five common VAT return mistakes

Missing TRNs on invoices

An invoice without a valid TRN doesn't support input VAT recovery — check before filing, not after an audit.

Reclaiming entertainment VAT

VAT on client entertainment and most employee entertainment isn't recoverable — a frequent audit finding.

Wrong emirate on the return

VAT201 asks you to split supplies by emirate — get this wrong and your return doesn't match your records.

When you're ready

File on the official portal

This page prepares you — it does not submit anything to the FTA. When your numbers are ready, file form VAT201 directly on EmaraTax before your deadline.