The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) on Tuesday issued a directive on an exceptional basis providing an alternative date of May 28, 2020 for the deadline of submitting value-added tax (VAT) returns and the payment of due tax for the tax period ended March 31, 2020, enabling taxable persons to meet their tax obligations without facing any difficulties.

This decision has been taken to support VAT registrants and the unprecedented intensive precautionary measures undertaken by the UAE to curb the spread of the novel Covid-19 coronavirus imposing restrictions on the movement of individuals and vehicles implemented in certain areas of the UAE, which coincided with deadlines for filing VAT returns.

In a press statement issued on Tuesday, the FTA confirmed that, as per the directive, VAT registrants who have monthly tax periods must submit their returns, and settle the payable tax for the tax period from March 1 to 31, 2020, no later than Thursday, May 28, 2020.

Meanwhile, VAT registrants having quarterly tax periods must submit their returns and settle the payable tax for the tax period from January 1 to March 31, 2020, by Thursday, May 28, 2020.

The FTA urged VAT registrants to ensure the data they include in their VAT returns is accurate, and to also ensure that the FTA receives the payable tax for the tax period ending March 31, 2020, by Thursday, May 28, 2020, calling on all registrants to continue to abide by all other tax obligations as usual.

This exceptional directive for the deadline pertains only to VAT Returns for the tax periods that ended on March 31, 2020, and does not affect any other tax periods where the deadline for filing tax returns and settling of payable taxes does not fall in April 2020.