Date and Place of Supply on UAE VAT

The tax which has been levied and needs to be assessed, will require a specific date to be established for the transaction for taxpayer and tax administration to carry out the quantification. This article provides for the manner of determining the 'Date of Supply'.

The Date of supply shall not be entirely left at the discretion of the taxable person. Taxable persons first need to look into which clause of this article is applicable for a supply and then ascertain the date so stated under that clause.

Article 25 of Decree Law: Tax shall be calculated on the date of supply of Goods or Services, which shall be earlier of any of the following dates:

1. The date on which Goods were transferred, if such transfer was under the supervision of the supplier.

2. The date on which the Recipient of Goods took possession of the Goods, if the transfer was not supervised by the supplier.

3. Where goods are supplied with assembly and installation, the date on which the assembly or installation of the Goods was completed.

4. In case of import of Goods, the date on which the Goods are imported under the Customs Legislation.

5. The date on which the Recipient of Goods accepted the supply, or a date no later than 12 months after the date on which the Goods were transferred or placed under the Recipient of Goods disposal, if the supply was made on a returnable basis (approval basis).

6. In case of supply of Services, the date on which the Services were completed.

7. The date of receipt of payment or the date on which the Tax Invoice was issued.

A more brief view of the above discussion can be depicted below:

Date of Supply in case of Continuous supply of Services

The date of supply of Goods or Services for any contract that includes periodic payments or consecutive invoices is the earliest of any of the following dates, provided that it does not exceed one year from the date of the provision of such Goods and Services:

(a) The date of issuance of any Tax Invoice.
(b) The date on which payment is due as shown on the Tax Invoice.
(c) The date of receipt of payment.

Article 26 - Date of Supply in Special Cases

Place of Supply

Place of supply is most important because it is the determination of the place of supply that provides the information as to which state is entitled to collect the tax in respect of the taxable supply effected by the taxable person on the date of supply.

When a transaction is referred to as 'supply made', it can refer to the location of the supplier at the time of affecting the outward supply or refer to the location of the goods at the time of affecting the supply.

Place of supply is important to know whether tax is payable in UAE or not. If place of supply is within UAE then VAT is applicable on those supplies and the taxable person shall be liable to discharge VAT as prescribed. This article puts the places of supply in three categories, namely:

• where supply is made within UAE.
• where supply is made outside UAE but within GCC.
• where supply is made to the Rest of the World (RoW)

Determining Place of Supply for Goods:

Of all the important aspects to be determined, place of supply is most important because it is the determination of the place of supply that provides the information as to which state is entitled to collect the tax in respect of the taxable supply effected by the taxable person on the date of supply.

1. The place of supply of Goods shall be in the UAE if the supply was made in the UAE, and does not include Export from or Import into the UAE.

2. The place of supply of installed or assembled Goods if exported from or imported into the State shall be:

a. In the State if assembly or installation of the Goods was done in the State.

b. Outside the State if assembly or installation of the Goods was done outside the State.

3. The place of supply of Goods that includes Export or Import shall be as follows:

a. Inside the State in the following instances:

i. If the supply includes exporting to a place outside the Implementing States.

ii. If the Recipient of Goods in an Implementing State is not registered for Tax in the state of destination, and the total exports from the same supplier to this state does not exceed the mandatory registration threshold for said state.

iii. The Recipient of Goods does not have a Tax Registration Number in the State, and the total exports from the same supplier in an Implementing State to the State exceed the Mandatory Registration Threshold.

b. Outside the State in the following instances:

i. The supply includes an Export to a customer registered for Tax purposes in one of the Implementing States.

ii. The Recipient of Goods is not registered for Tax in the Implementing State to which export is made, and the total exports from the same supplier to this Implementing State exceeds the mandatory registration threshold for said state.

iii. The Recipient of Goods does not have a Tax Registration Number and the Goods are imported from a supplier registered for Tax in any of the Implementing States from which import is made, and the total imports from the same supplier to the State do not exceed the Mandatory Registration Threshold.

4. Goods shall not be treated as exported outside the State and then re-imported if such Goods are supplied in the State and this supply required that the Goods exit and then re-enter the State according to the instances specified in the Executive Regulation of this Decree-Law.

The whole discussion about the place of supply in each of the three categories identified above, has been summarised in the table below for ease of understanding.

Place of Supply of Goods 'in UAE'

Where place of supply is 'in UAE' the supply will be liable to VAT notwithstanding the destination of journey of the goods.

Place of Supply of Goods 'Outside UAE'

Where place of supply is 'outside UAE' the supply will not be liable to VAT as it would be an export as per article 45 and kindly refer to Chapter V for detailed discussion on export.

Determining Place of Supply for Water and Energy:

Supply of water and energy (specified forms) does not follow the general principles of place of supply in view of the significance of economic activity involving water and energy.

The place of supply in case of supply of Water and Energy can be determined from the below table:

Determining Place of Supply for Services:

Place of supply of services will be the place of residence of supplier of Services.

The place of residence of supplier of service shall be:

a) Place of establishment of the supplier who has a single location in GCC.
b) Fixed establishment located elsewhere and most proximate to the supply of services.
c) Place of the usual residence.

Article 30- Determining Place of Supply for certain Special Cases:

Article 30: As an exception to what is stipulated in Article (29) of this Decree-Law, the place of supply in special cases shall be as follows:

1. Where the Recipient of Services has a Place of Residence in another Implementing State and is registered for Tax therein, the place of supply shall be the Place of Residence of the Recipient of Services.

2. Where the Recipient of Services is in Business and has a Place of Residence in the State, and the Supplier does not have a Place of Residence in the State, the place of supply shall be in the State.

3. For the Supply of Services related to Goods, such as installation of Goods supplied by others, the place shall be where said Services were performed.

4. For the Supply of means of transport to a lessee who is not a Taxable Person in the State and does not have a TRN in an Implementing State, the place shall be where such means of transport were placed at the disposal of the lessee.

5. For the Supply of restaurant, hotel, and food and drink catering Services, the place shall be where such Services are actually performed.

6. For the Supply of any cultural, artistic, sporting, educational or any similar services, the place shall be where such Services were actually performed.

7. For the Supply of Services related to real estate as specified in the Executive Regulation of this Decree-Law, the place of supply shall be where the real estate is located.

8. For the Supply of transportation Services, the place of supply shall be where transportation starts. The Executive Regulation of this Decree-Law shall specify the place of supply for transportation Services if the trip includes more than one stop.

Article 31- Determining Place of Supply for Telecommunication and Electronic Services:

For telecommunications and electronic Services specified in the Executive Regulation of the Decree-Law, the place of supply shall be:

a) In the State, to the extent of the use and enjoyment of the supply in the State.
b) Outside the State, to the extent of the use and enjoyment of the supply outside the State.

The actual use and enjoyment of all telecommunications and electronic Services shall be where these Services were used regardless of the place of contract or payment.

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The author is a member of ICAI who is currently he is working as partner in M/s N A V & Co. Chartered Accountants, handling the Corporate Compliance and Legal Department. He can also be reached at cadeepakbharti@yahoo.com.