Structuring & Compliance

Tax & Reporting Notes

Practical notes on tax alignment, filing obligations and documentation discipline — for businesses and investment structures navigating multi-jurisdiction tax and reporting requirements.

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Tax & Reporting Topics

  • UAE corporate tax — scope, exemptions & compliance
  • CRS and FATCA reporting obligations
  • Transfer pricing documentation requirements
  • VAT registration and compliance by jurisdiction
  • BEPS and global minimum tax developments
  • Annual financial statement and audit requirements
What We Cover

Topics & Content Areas

UAE Corporate Tax Guide

A practical guide to UAE corporate tax — scope of the tax, exempt persons and income categories, qualifying free zone entity conditions, transfer pricing obligations, filing requirements and the interaction with existing structures.

CRS & FATCA Reporting

A guide to Common Reporting Standard and FATCA reporting obligations — who is a reporting financial institution, what must be reported, to which authority, and how multi-entity holding structures are treated under each framework.

Transfer Pricing Notes

Guidance on transfer pricing documentation requirements for multi-entity structures — the arm's length principle, intercompany agreement standards, master file and local file requirements and the jurisdictions where documentation is mandatory.

VAT Compliance by Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction-specific VAT registration and compliance notes — UAE VAT (5%), UK VAT (20%), EU VAT (OSS and standard), with guidance on when registration is triggered and how financial and holding company services are treated.

BEPS & Global Minimum Tax

Notes on OECD BEPS implementation and the global minimum tax (Pillar Two) — which jurisdictions have enacted what, which entities are in scope, and the implications for existing holding structures with low-tax jurisdictions.

Financial Statement & Audit Requirements

A guide to financial statement preparation and audit requirements across key jurisdictions — which entities must prepare audited accounts, to what standard (IFRS, UK GAAP, local GAAP), within what timeframe and for whose benefit.

About This Section

How to Use These Resources

Tax and reporting obligations are among the most consequential ongoing compliance requirements for multi-entity structures — and among the most commonly misunderstood.

Our notes are designed to give you a clear, practical understanding of what you are required to do, in which jurisdiction and by when — so you can engage the right specialists with the right brief and avoid the costly consequences of non-compliance.

Tax & Reporting Topics We Cover

  • UAE corporate tax — 9% standard rate, 0% QFZP conditions
  • UK corporation tax and personal tax for non-residents with UK assets
  • EU withholding taxes and parent-subsidiary directive
  • CRS reportable accounts — financial institutions and non-financial entities
  • FATCA obligations for non-US entities with US-connected ownership
  • Transfer pricing — arm's length requirement across all intercompany transactions

Our Notes Are NOT

  • A substitute for qualified tax advice in your jurisdiction
  • Legal advice on your specific compliance obligations
  • Representations about how tax authorities will interpret your structure
  • Comprehensive coverage of all applicable tax legislation

Our Notes ARE

  • Practical frameworks for understanding your obligations
  • Starting points for engaging tax specialists effectively
  • Plain-language explanations of complex regulatory frameworks
  • Up-to-date with material changes as they occur
UAE CT
Corporate tax guide — scope, exemptions, QFZP conditions
CRS/FATCA
Reporting obligations mapped for multi-entity structures
TP
Transfer pricing documentation requirements by jurisdiction
Note
These are informational — not tax advice
Finding What You Need

How to Navigate

01

Identify Your Tax Question

Find the note relevant to your specific tax or reporting question — UAE corporate tax, CRS, transfer pricing or VAT.

02

Understand the Framework

Each note explains the legislative framework and its application — giving you context for your own situation.

03

Identify Your Obligations

Use the notes to map your specific obligations — what you must file, where, when and in what form.

04

Engage Tax Specialists

These notes are informational — for specific tax advice on your structure, engage qualified tax advisers in the relevant jurisdictions.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked

UAE corporate tax applies to all businesses in the UAE, including free zone entities. However, Qualifying Free Zone Persons (QFZPs) can benefit from a 0% rate on qualifying income. The conditions for QFZP status are specific — adequate substance, qualifying activities, arm's length dealings. Our UAE corporate tax guide covers the conditions and how to assess whether your entity qualifies.
CRS (Common Reporting Standard) is an OECD multilateral framework under which 100+ countries exchange financial account information automatically. FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) is a US unilateral framework requiring foreign financial institutions to report on US persons. Both can apply to the same accounts simultaneously — FATCA to US persons, CRS to all other reportable persons.
It depends on the jurisdiction and the entity type. UK companies above the small company threshold must have audited accounts. ADGM entities must prepare financial statements (audit required for certain entity types). BVI companies have no mandatory audit requirement but are increasingly expected by banks and investors to have accounts. Our guide maps audit requirements by jurisdiction.

Need Tax Advice on Your Specific Structure?

GACM coordinates with qualified tax advisers in each relevant jurisdiction. Speak with our team about the tax implications of your structure.

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