A VAT refund rejection in the UAE does not always mean the process is over. In this case, the key role was played by the work of an accredited Tax Agent and proper communication with the Federal Tax Authority.

Background: VAT Refund Rejected

The client had independently submitted a VAT refund application for export transactions.

The result: the application was rejected by the tax authority.

The main reasons included:

• changes in the requirements for confirming export transactions;

• incorrect argumentation of the client’s position;

• lack of structured communication with the tax officer.

What We Did

After joining the case, we:

• rebuilt the submission strategy;

• analysed several tax periods;

• prepared and submitted a consolidated refund application.

Refund amount: over AED 1.4 million.

Our Role as an FTA-Accredited Tax Agent

We acted as the client’s accredited Tax Agent and took over full communication with the Federal Tax Authority.

This included:

• obtaining access to the client’s tax portal;

• handling all official correspondence;

• supporting every stage of the review process.

What Was Critical in This Case

In situations like this, the document package alone is not enough.

The key factors are:

• correct interpretation of FTA requests;

• understanding the logic of the tax review;

• properly structured responses;

• full control over communication.

Without this, even a strong case may result in another rejection.

Full Support Throughout the Process

We:

• prepared and structured the documents;

• developed the response strategy;

• controlled every message sent to the Federal Tax Authority;

• gave the client clear instructions on what to do — and what to avoid.

Result

Following the review, the Federal Tax Authority approved the refund.

Refund amount: over AED 1.4 million
Timeline: 5 working days after approval

Key Takeaway

If your VAT refund application in the UAE has been rejected, this is not necessarily the end of the process.

In many cases, the issue can be resolved through:

• the right strategy;

• professional communication;

• support from an accredited Tax Agent.