A Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for a Tax Registration Number (TRN) in the UAE

Tally Solutions | Updated on: August 22, 2024

• What is TRN?
• Before Starting Application
• VAT Registration Form Sections
• How can TallyPrime help?

What is TRN?

TRN stands for Tax Registration Number is a unique number consisting of 15 digits, which the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) in UAE differentiates any business from the others. TRN number or Tax Registration Number is issued one time for a business, so even a company have different activities or branches will have only one (TRN).

Any entity that has a TRN number must declare it in all invoices, documents, and financial transactions such as VAT Return Filing, Tax Invoice, Tax Credit notes, etc.  Only entities that received their TRN certificate are allowed to charge VAT from their customers.

Before starting application

With some easy and accurate steps, you can start online VAT registration in UAE and receive your TRN number and certificate.

• Visit https://eservices.tax.gov.ae and click Sign up option on the top right corner

• Fill in the sign-up form

• An auto-email will be sent to verify your registered email address

• Confirm your email, log in to your e-service account

• Click Register for VAT in your dashboard, then navigate the Getting Started Guide. After reading the guide, tick Click here to confirm you have read the getting started guide, then click Proceed

• An online form containing 8 sections will be opened

• During VAT registration, different color indicators will track application progress: in progress sections by brown and completed sections by green.

• Moving to the following sections is only allowed when mandatory details are completed

VAT registration form Sections

Section (1): About the applicant

On what basis are you applying for registration: select the appropriate option applicable to your business:

A natural person: That includes individuals and individuals operating in a partnership where the partnership itself does not have a specific legal form.

A legal person: That includes companies, partnerships, clubs, charities, associations, government entities, international organizations, and other entities with similar characteristics.

Do you hold a Trade License in the UAE?: Any license issued by an authorized issuing body in the UAE, including UAE Free Zone. If you have one or more select Yes, otherwise, select No.

Are you registering mandatorily or voluntarily?: Registration criteria is as the following:

• (Mandatory registration): Businesses resident in the GCC, if you are making supplies of goods or services in the UAE and either your turnover was more than AED 375,000 in the last 12 months, or expect that will be more than AED 375,000 in the next 30 days.
• (Voluntary registration): You are eligible to apply if either your turnover or expenses were more than AED 187,500 in the last 12 months; or expect it will be more than AED 187,500 in the next 30 days.
• All Designated Government Bodies and Designated Charities: Must register for VAT purposes.
• Businesses resident outside the GCC: When you are making or expect to make supplies of goods or services in the UAE and there is no other person who is required to account for the VAT due in the UAE on your behalf.

Are you also applying to create or join a Tax group?: Select YES if it is applicable. Else, select No. Click Save and continue. If you would like to visit the section later and complete it, click save as draft.

Section (2): Details of the applicant

Name of the applicant: Write the legal and trade names in English and Arabic. For an individual, write the full name. For a legal person, write the legal name listed on your license. A trade name is which a person conducts business.

Identification of the applicant

Write all details like the following:

After saving, click Add Owner Details. If your Trade License(s) do not include information of all the owners.

Submit documents providing the requested details. If you have more than one Trade License under the legal entity name, first save the trade license then add another.

Details of the Manager of the business (CEO or equivalent)

Name of Manager: Write the name in Arabic and English as written in the Trade License. If no manager is listed in the license, write the CEO name or equivalent position.

Nationality: Select the manager nationality as in his passport, then write passport number, select passport expiry date and upload a copy of the passport.

Is the manager resident in the UAE?: Select Yes and write Emirate ID number, expiry date of Emirate ID and upload a copy of Emirates ID, otherwise select No, then Click Save and Continue.

Section (3): Contact details

Write the address and contact details where the daily activities of your business are carried out. If your business is outside UAE, write the contact details of your tax agent in UAE.

Section (4): Banking details

Write your bank account details accurately such as IBAN (Account Number), BIC (Bank Identifier Code) name of the bank, bank branch name, account holder’s name ...etc.

Be sure of the following:

• Your Bank Account is held with a bank established in UAE
• Your account name matches the legal name of the entity you are registering.
• If you are in the process of opening a bank account, provide copies of any relevant correspondence received from your bank
• Currently, e-Dirham is the only default payment option and by default selected in the form
• If you are unsure whether or not your bank provides an electronic payment facility, check first

Section (5): Business relationships

If you or any of your directors or partners, currently or in the past 5 years have been involved in any other business resident in the UAE. Select Yes If it is applicable and provide details, otherwise select No.

Section (6): About the VAT registration

Business activities of the applicant: Choose from the drop-down list, that best describes your current or intended main business activities. In Add any other activities (or proposed activities) select the other business activities.

Actual or estimated financial transaction values: Write the turnover value in AED for the past 12 months. Upload a document as evidence of value such as an audit report, audited, or non-audited financial statement, Self-prepared calculation sheet or Revenue forecast, then write the Expected turnover in the next 30 days.

Do you expect the VAT on your expenses to regularly exceed the VAT in your taxable supplies?: select Yes if your tax paid on purchases is higher than the tax collected on sales. Otherwise, select No. This helps the UAE government to understand whether or not you will be in a position for VAT payment or VAT refund.

Do you also expect to make exempt supplies?: Select Yes if it is applicable otherwise select No.

Customs registration information: Write details if you are registered in any UAE Customs department and upload a copy of the custom number, otherwise select No.

Exception from VAT Registration:

Businesses making only zero-rated supplies can select Yes, otherwise select No. The following supplies are eligible for zero-rated supplies in UAE:

• Exports
• Certain international transportation services
• Certain aircraft or vessels
• Certain investments in precious metals
• First supply of certain buildings
• Crude oil and natural gas
• Certain educational services and
• Certain health care services

Section (7): Declaration

This is divided into 2 sub-sections:

Sub Section (A) Authorized Signatory:	Sub Section (B) Communication Preference:
Write details of the authorized person to represent the business including Job Title, Name, Passport details, Emirates ID, contact details, etc, and upload a copy of a document as evidence of authorization.	Select the preferred communication and language.

Tick the declarations under Checklist for completion, then click Save and review.

Section (8): Review & submit

Review and verify all details and information you have provided, to complete registration process, then click Submit for Approval

How can TallyPrime help?

Whether you are a legal person or an individual, TallyPrime can easily manage your VAT requirements for UAE VAT. Right from generating VAT-compliant invoices to return filing, TallyPrime contains all that is required to be VAT compliant while you focus on your business growth.

The built-in capability of error detection and correction ensures that you file an accurate VAT return always. Depending on the location of your business, you can record transactions with relevant taxes for designated zones.

TallyPrime helps your business with its integrated features including:

• Easy and quick to configure the tax details via VAT Rate Set-up
• Ease of managing reverse charge transactions with complete visibility of liability booked and liability yet to be booked
• Account and manage VAT on advance receipts with the help of an advance receipt report
• Generate an Audit File as prescribed by Federal Tax Authority (FTA) at a click of a button

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