The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) announced that requests from UAE nationals wishing to recover Value Added Tax (VAT) incurred on the construction of their new homes are to be submitted exclusively through the new feature on the e-Services platform .Launched in January 2020, the new feature allows the UAE nationals to recover VAT more easily, the Authority explained in a press statement, that applicants must switch from email application to the e-Services platform, which is set to save their time and expedite the procedures for VAT recovery.

The press release also stated that the new platform offers the best and easiest way for UAE nationals to recover the VAT they incurred on the construction of their new homes, noting that the system was launched following a series of tests confirmed it was fully functional, accurate, and efficient.

The new platform is available on the FTA website; it is easy to use and only requires a few simple steps, the Authority asserted. UAE nationals who are deemed eligible to recover VAT incurred on the construction of their new homes will receive an email listing the documents they are required to submit to complete their application. Once the documents are verified, the applicant is notified and the Authority proceeds to confirm that the amount to be refunded matches the sum of the Tax Invoices submitted. Following final approvals, the refund amount is transferred to the applicant’s bank account.

The statement revealed that the Authority had conducted a survey with UAE nationals looking to recover the VAT they incurred on building their new homes, as well as with Tax Agents. The poll inquired about the efficiency of the new platform, where respondents’ observations were taken into consideration. The FTA stressed that the new platform was designed in accordance with the latest standards to ensure its efficiency, speed, ease of use, and clarity of procedures.

The Federal Tax Authority went on to list the four documents required to submit a request through the new platform, namely, a copy of the applicant’s family book, a building permit included in the certificate of completion issued by the Municipality, a copy of the Emirates ID of the applicant, and a document indicating the date from which the building has been occupied .