UAE Exempts Digital Asset Transfers And Conversions From VAT

According to Cointelegraph, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has introduced amendments to its value-added tax (VAT) regulations, exempting transfers and conversions of digital assets, including cryptocurrencies. The UAE’s Federal Tax Authority (FTA) published these changes on October 2, with the new rules also covering VAT exemptions for managing investment funds and other virtual asset services. These exemptions will be applied retrospectively from January 1, 2018, as noted by business consultancy PwC. PwC explained that in the UAE, virtual assets are defined as representations of value that can be digitally traded or converted and used for investment purposes, excluding fiat currencies and financial securities. The auditing firm advised businesses dealing with virtual assets to review their retrospective VAT positions and pay special attention to input tax recovery. UAE-based bookkeeping and tax company Finanshels highlighted that input VAT recovery allows registered businesses to claim back VAT paid on eligible business purchases. PwC also mentioned that correcting historic returns might require voluntary disclosures from virtual asset companies. In addition to VAT exemptions, the UAE has been enhancing its regulations on virtual assets. On September 9, Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) and the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), the UAE’s federal financial agency, agreed to mutually supervise virtual asset service providers (VASPs). This agreement allows VASPs operating in Dubai to acquire a license from VARA and service the wider UAE by being registered with the SCA by default. Furthermore, VARA has tightened its rules on crypto marketing. On September 26, the regulator mandated that firms promoting digital asset investments include a prominent disclaimer stating that virtual assets may lose their value in full or in part and are subject to extreme volatility.