FTA signs agreement to promote tax-related education and training

The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with City University Ajman to enhance collaboration, strengthen their strategic partnership, and exchange expertise to drive development in the local community.

The MoU also aims to provide services that promote growth in local, federal, and private institutions, spread tax awareness in the community through academic and training channels, and offer incentives and facilities to encourage the pursuit of tax-related education and training.

The agreement was signed by Khalid Ali Al Bustani, Director-General of the Federal Tax Authority, and Imran Khan, President of City University Ajman, at the FTA headquarters in Dubai.

The MoU aims to intensify collaboration to organise specialised training courses in the areas of Value Added Tax (VAT) and Corporate Tax, in addition to integrating tax-related content into specialised academic curricula in accounting, law, and other relevant disciplines. This includes curriculum development for bachelor’s and postgraduate programmes to include tax content.

The objectives of the agreement also include fostering collaboration in research, studies, and surveys, as well as cooperation to provide scholarships and discounts for bachelor’s and master’s programmes and professional courses.

“The memorandum of understanding that the Federal Tax Authority has signed with City University Ajman provides an effective framework for cooperation to promote tax culture and encourage lifelong learning in this promising field,” he Al Bustani said.

“This aligns with the Authority’s plans to establish a tax environment that encourages compliance and adheres to the highest standards of governance and transparency, through continuous awareness campaigns that reach out to all segments of the community, and familiarise them with tax legislation and procedures.”

“This agreement is a step forward that opens up new horizons for cooperation between our two institutions towards enhancing professional skills among those working in the tax field and related sectors,” the FTA Director-General added.

“It sets the stage for developing specialised tax-related academic and training content, building on the Authority’s commitment to strengthening its strategic partnerships with government and private-sector entities, as well as academic institutions, given their essential role in the successful implementation of the tax system. This, in turn, serves to support the UAE’s vision to increase reliance on the knowledge economy and employ effective tools to assess talent, develop it, and accelerate career advancement.”

For his part, Imran Khan stated: “This collaboration is an important step forward towards enhancing transparency, promoting a contributory approach, providing an environment that encourages tax compliance, and spreading a tax culture on a large scale among university students.”

“This is achieved through training courses that Ajman City University organises jointly with the Federal Tax Authority, in addition to tax-related academic content integrated into the university’s curriculum, and programmes designed to provide our students with practical and intellectual skills that will benefit them in their future professional lives.”

The Federal Tax Authority was established by Federal Decree-Law No. (13) of 2016 to help diversify the national economy and increase non-oil revenues in the UAE through the management and collection of federal taxes based on international best practices and standards, as well as to provide all means of support to enable taxpayers to comply with the tax laws and procedures.

Since its inception in 2017, the FTA has been committed to cooperate with the competent authorities to establish a comprehensive and balanced system to make the UAE one of the first countries in the world to implement a fully electronic tax system that encourages voluntary compliance, with simple procedures based on the highest standards of transparency and accuracy – beginning from registration, to the submission of tax returns, to the payment of due taxes through the Authority’s website.

Meanwhile earlier Khalid Ali Al Bustani, Director-General of the Federal Tax Authority (FTA), urged business sectors subject to Corporate Tax to register in the system as soon as possible and play their part in the seamless implementation of the Corporate Tax Law, which is now in force and applies to financial years starting on or after June 1st, 2023.

Al Bustani emphasised that early registration allows business sectors ample time to fulfil their tax obligations, asserting that the Authority sought to streamline registration procedures through the EmaraTax digital tax services platform, which is available 24/7, and allows users to complete their registration in minutes following a few simple steps. Taxpayers can also seek assistance from Tax Agents authorised by the FTA, who are listed on the official website. The FTA opened registration for Corporate Tax in May for public joint-stock companies, private joint-stock companies, limited liability companies, and private companies residing in the UAE.

Al Bustani made his remarks during a workshop organised by the Federal Tax Authority in Ras Al Khaimah to raise awareness among business sectors in the emirate about compliance requirements for Corporate Tax. The workshop was attended by Yousef Ali Mohammed, Director-General of the Department of Finance of the Government of Ras Al Khaimah; and Muhammad Hassan Al-Sabab, Acting Director-General of Ras Al Khaimah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, along with officials from various relevant entities in the emirate, and a remarkable turnout of approximately 280 stakeholders.

The workshop in Ras Al Khaimah marked the fourth in-person event in the FTA’s awareness campaign focusing on the ‘The General Principles of Taxation of Corporations and Businesses’, which included a series of workshops in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ajman. The sessions are set to continue until the end of the year and include business sectors across all seven emirates.

“Our ongoing awareness campaign includes virtual workshops and in-person sessions to reach all stakeholders and taxpayers subject to Corporate Tax,” Al Bustani said. “This is in line with the Authority’s extensive plans to enhance tax awareness among business sectors by maintaining continuous communication. Our goal is to keep them informed of all updates and tax procedures, and to note their feedback in order to ensure compliance with tax legislation.”

“We invite all stakeholders to participate in the “The General Principles of Taxation of Corporations and Businesses’ awareness campaign and encourage them to utilise the educational platform on the Authority’s website, which introduces them to Corporate Tax, provides ongoing support for taxpayers subject to it, and offers informative virtual workshops in Arabic and English covering various aspects of Corporate Tax,” Al Bustani added.