Registration opens for tax agents

abu dhabi — The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has officially opened registration for individuals who are interested in working as tax agents and for tax accounting software vendors.

The FTA is also providing the necessary technical support to help these vendors as they assist UAE-based businesses to comply with tax regulations.

In a statement on Saturday, the FTA has defined standards and specifications that must be met by the tax agent, who is defined by Federal Law No. (7) of 2017 on Tax Procedures as any person registered with the authority in the register, who is appointed on behalf of another person to represent him before the authority and assist him in the fulfilment of his tax obligations and the exercise of his associated tax rights.

This step comes as part of the authority’s commitment to providing the necessary technical support and implement a tax system that adheres to international best practices. It allows taxable persons to fully meet their tax obligations, while saving them time and effort, and reducing the margin of error in calculating tax.

“At the FTA, we seek to set clear criteria for tax agents to help them carry out their mission of building strong relationships between the authority and taxable persons in the country.

Tax agents will be the mediators between the FTA and taxable persons in the UAE; they will be directly responsible for all their obligations and rights,” said FTA director-general Khalid Al Bustani.

The FTA requested all vendors wishing to register with the authority for the tax accounting software accreditation to review the requirements and guidelines related to accreditation on the FTA’s official website. It also urged vendors to submit the required documents, which include software vendor’s name; name of tax accounting software; version number of tax accounting software to be registered; date and validity of the listing; other vendor information (like trade licence number, address, etc.); contact details; and the required application form. Created to meet the requirements of compliance with value added tax, the tax agent’s post is a new profession to the local market and is expected to attract high demand from professionals working in accounting and legal services. The tax agent must be of good conduct and behaviour, never having been convicted of a crime or misdemeanour prejudicial to honour or honesty, irrespective of whether or not he may have been rehabilitated. He/she must hold a certified bachelor or master degree in tax, accounting or law from a recognised educational institution. If the applicant holds a bachelor degree in any other field, he/ she may submit a tax certification from an internationally recognised tax institute.

Applicants must also provide a certification of relevant and recent experience of at least three years in either tax, qualified accounting or law, and a certificate proving their verbal and written communication skills in both Arabic and English. Furthermore, they must pass the authority’s tax agent exam, provide a medical fitness certificate, as well as a copy of the liability insurance contract against professional errors. Candidates are to carry out their activity through a legal person licensed by the competent authorities.

“As a new profession in the local UAE labour market, the FTA’s conditions, qualifications and accreditation requirements for tax agents will set a benchmark for other businesses to follow while hiring for tax-related positions. These criteria will also work as a catalyst for the development of new job skills to meet the new employment opportunities that will result from implementing the tax system in the UAE,” Al Bustani said.

The FTA shall establish a special register for tax agents to file all matters pertaining to their job. No individual is permitted to practise the profession of tax agent without completing the registration and receiving accreditation from the FTA, as well as a licence from the competent authorities.

Any individual may appoint a tax agent to act on their behalf before the FTA with regards to their tax