Steps to follow for filing Value Added Tax (VAT) in the UAE

 

  1. Determine VAT registration requirements: Assess whether your business meets the criteria for mandatory VAT registration. If your annual taxable supplies exceed the threshold set by the UAE Federal Tax Authority (currently AED 375,000), you must register for VAT.
  2. Classify your supplies: Categorize your goods and services based on their VAT treatment. The main classifications are standard-rated supplies (5% VAT), zero-rated supplies (0% VAT), and exempt supplies (no VAT).
  3. Calculate taxable value: Determine the value of goods or services on which VAT is applicable. This is typically the selling price or consideration received for the supply of goods or services.
  4. Calculate VAT amount: Multiply the taxable value by the applicable VAT rate (5% for standard-rated supplies) to calculate the VAT amount. VAT amount = Taxable value * VAT rate
  5. Determine the total invoice amount: Add the VAT amount to the taxable value to calculate the total amount payable by the customer. Total amount = Taxable value + VAT amount
  6. Maintain proper records: Keep detailed records of all VAT-related transactions, including sales, purchases, and expenses. Ensure that you have invoices, receipts, and other supporting documents for VAT calculation and reporting purposes.
  7. Issue VAT-compliant invoices: Ensure that your invoices meet the requirements set by the UAE Federal Tax Authority. Include all necessary details, such as VAT registration number, VAT amount, and a clear indication of the VAT treatment for each supply.
  8. File VAT returns: Prepare and submit VAT returns to the UAE Federal Tax Authority within the specified deadlines. VAT returns typically cover a specific period (e.g., quarterly) and require reporting of VAT collected from customers and VAT paid on purchases.
  9. Settle VAT liability: Pay the VAT liability to the UAE Federal Tax Authority within the designated time frame to avoid penalties or interest charges.
  10. Conduct periodic VAT audits: Regularly review your VAT processes and documentation to ensure compliance with VAT regulations. Consider engaging tax professionals or consultants to perform VAT audits and provide guidance on adherence to VAT rules.

It’s important for businesses to understand and effectively manage the impact of VAT on their operations. Seeking guidance from experts in VAT regulations can help businesses navigate the complexities of VAT and ensure compliance while minimizing any adverse effects on their operations.

Kaplan offers an internationally certified VAT Diploma in UAE. This VAT course will provide you with a deep understanding of the regulation and provide strategies for tax computation. It is available in both classroom and online formats, and it is offered in English and Arabic. By enrolling in this VAT training, you will have the opportunity to learn from experienced tax experts and benefit from valuable study materials and resources. Speak to our program advisers to know more! 

Impact of VAT on Businesses

Value Added Tax (VAT) can have several impacts on businesses. Here are some ways in which VAT can impact businesses:

Financial Impact: VAT imposes an additional cost on businesses as they are required to collect VAT from their customers and remit it to the tax authorities. This can affect cash flow management, especially for businesses with tight profit margins, as they need to allocate funds for VAT payments.

Pricing and Margins: VAT affects pricing strategies and profit margins. Businesses must consider the impact of VAT on their prices to ensure that they cover the cost of VAT while remaining competitive in the market. VAT can also impact profit margins, especially if businesses are unable to pass on the full VAT burden to customers.

Compliance and Administrative Burden: Businesses are responsible for VAT registration, maintaining proper records, issuing VAT-compliant invoices, and filing regular VAT returns. This administrative burden can require additional resources and time, particularly for smaller businesses that may have limited staff or expertise in VAT compliance.

Impact on Sales and Consumer Behaviour: The introduction of VAT can influence consumer behaviour and purchasing decisions. Customers may become more price-sensitive and adjust their spending patterns based on the VAT rate and the resulting price increase. This can impact the demand for certain products or services, potentially affecting sales volumes for businesses.

Competitive Landscape: VAT can impact the competitive dynamics within an industry. Businesses that can efficiently manage VAT and pass on the VAT burden effectively may gain a competitive advantage. Conversely, businesses that struggle with VAT compliance or fail to adjust prices accordingly may face challenges in the market.

Supply Chain Considerations: VAT can impact the supply chain of businesses, particularly for those involved in international trade. Cross-border transactions may involve import and export VAT considerations, which can have implications for customs procedures, documentation requirements, and cash flow management.

It’s important for businesses to understand and effectively manage the impact of VAT on their operations. Seeking guidance from experts in VAT regulations can help businesses navigate the complexities of VAT and ensure compliance while minimizing any adverse effects on their operations.

Kaplan offers an internationally certified VAT Diploma in UAE. This VAT course will provide you with a deep understanding of the regulation and provide strategies for tax computation. It is available in both classroom and online formats, and it is offered in English and Arabic. By enrolling in this VAT training, you will have the opportunity to learn from experienced tax experts and benefit from valuable study materials and resources. Speak to our program advisers to know more! 

Career Pathways with the ESG Certification

Obtaining the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) certification from the CFA Institute opens up a range of exciting and impactful career opportunities in the rapidly growing field of sustainable finance. Here are some potential career pathways you can pursue with the CFA Institute ESG certification:

Sustainable Investment Analyst: Utilize your ESG expertise to analyze investment opportunities through a sustainability lens. Evaluate companies and assess their environmental and social performance to make informed investment decisions.

ESG Research Analyst: Work with financial institutions, asset managers, or research firms to provide in-depth analysis of companies’ ESG performance, helping clients make sustainable investment choices.

Corporate ESG Advisor: Join organizations to help them integrate ESG principles into their business strategies. Advise on sustainability reporting, risk management, and stakeholder engagement.

Portfolio Manager – Sustainable Funds: Manage investment portfolios that focus on sustainable assets. Apply your ESG knowledge to construct and oversee investment strategies that align with clients’ values.

Ethical and Impact Investing Specialist: Guide clients towards investments that align with their ethical values and have a positive impact on society and the environment.

ESG Consultant: Partner with businesses to develop and implement ESG strategies, aiding in their sustainability initiatives and compliance with global standards.

ESG Data Analyst: Collect, analyze, and interpret ESG data to provide insights to financial institutions, asset managers, and investors, aiding in decision-making.

ESG Compliance Officer: Ensure companies adhere to ESG regulations and standards, assisting in the development of ethical business practices.

Sustainability Manager: Work within organizations to design and manage sustainability programs, aligning business operations with ESG goals.

ESG Reporting Specialist: Assist organizations in preparing comprehensive and transparent ESG reports for stakeholders, regulators, and investors.

Climate Risk Analyst: Assess financial risks and opportunities associated with climate change, helping institutions navigate the challenges posed by environmental factors.

ESG Auditor: Review companies’ ESG practices and reporting to ensure accuracy, transparency, and compliance with industry standards.

ESG Policy Analyst: Work with government agencies, NGOs, or advocacy groups to analyze and influence policies related to sustainability and responsible investing.

Sustainable Finance Entrepreneur: Launch your own consultancy or startup focused on providing ESG advisory services, sustainable investment solutions, or ESG data analytics.

As the importance of ESG continues to grow, professionals with CFA Institute ESG certification are well-positioned to make a meaningful impact on both the financial industry and the broader global sustainability agenda. The diverse career opportunities in this field offer a chance to align your skills and passion with creating a more sustainable and responsible future.

At Kaplan we offer an OnDemand ESG certification that provides you with videos and study resources to help you prepare for the exam and gain the certification. Speak to our program advisers to learn more about this program.

The Real Value of the CFA Charter

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The demand for CFA in UAE has seen an exponential rise over the past decade. Attaining a CFA Charter is considered a key indicator of solid financial knowledge and can often be observed as a crucial decision-making criterion by employers when hiring for various roles within the finance industry.

While CFA has always been much coveted and sought after in the arena of professional development, the demand for it has only increased in the last few years due to the alarmingly low pass rates. The low pass rates make the qualification a worthy and exclusive achievement in the finance industry especially among early to mid-career professionals.

However, it is also no secret that working towards earning this qualification is a challenging task. It requires an average of 900 hours of total study time from aspirants and intense dedication despite which most candidates are met with disappointment in their attempts with a pass rate as low as about 22%.

These statistics often lead aspirants to question the overall value of CFA, opting for the CFA classes and whether or not it is truly worth pursuing. Here is a compilation of the key-value additions that CFA offers to help you understand the true worth of the qualification and assist you in making your decision with better awareness.

 

Higher salary

A boost in salary is perhaps the most commonly known and often mistaken as the only perk to come with the CFA Charter.

According to the CFA Institute’s 2019 survey, CFA salaries are 40% more than their peers and roughly 25% more than MBA holders annually. Therefore, when compensation is the criteria for deciding among aspirants between CFA vs MBA, the former stands at a clear advantage.

Qualification Standardization

The CFA Charterholders enjoy a very high international career mobility. There is little relevance or emphasis paid on the fact where they have attained the charter since it’s a standard form of professional development recognized by employers and countries around the world.

Also, when seeking employment, CFA Charterholders have a higher chance of securing placements since employers across the world acknowledge the dedication and efforts that are involved in earning the charter.

Return-on-Investment

The CFA also has proven to be a very good return on investment, especially when pitched against an MBA degree. While an average MBA may require you to shell out an average of $180,000 and two years of time to pursue the full-time degree, a CFA charter can be attained within a comparatively affordable range of $2500 to $8000.

It is also important to note that most professionals who choose to pursue the CFA qualification, continue their jobs full-time and therefore it does not pose a hindrance to their careers.

In addition, the CFA Institute also presents scholarship opportunities to aspiring candidates who need financial assistance that includes an enrollment fee waiver and a significant discount on registration costs.

Networking

With an impressively wide global network of more than 170,000 members, the CFA Institute offers exclusive opportunities to its Charterholders to connect and engage in member-only events. CFA networking is often seen to be highly effective among job-seekers in the industry.

Regional and local CFA societies regularly organize invitation-based meets to expand professional networks and educational seminars thereby enhancing the scope for continued professional development.

Career Progression

Those professionals who make it through the rather difficult journey of taking the exams and becoming certified Charterholders reap attractive rewards for their hard work. Based on the CFA employment statistics for the period ranging from 2015-2019, it was observed that the number of CFAs hired by the top 10 companies significantly increased year after year. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley depicted the most consistent growth by hiring over 13% more CFAs annually.

It is also commonly observed in the recent hiring trends that employers tend to have a higher regard for CFA applicants since they acknowledge the potential employee’s dedication, hard work, and commitment to personal growth, therefore, making them an attractive prospect to contribute to a firm’s success.

 

Ultimately, all these factors associated with the CFA qualification empower professionals to significantly boost their careers and open more opportunities for future success! The choice is yours to make, and if you are looking to enroll in CFA course in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or anywhere in the Middle East, contact Kaplan Professional to know how we can help you!

Failed the CFA exam? Plan your next steps

Each year, roughly 250,000 candidates appear for the CFA exams around the world in an attempt to claim what is widely considered the “gold standard” within the investment community, the CFA charter.

It is no surprise that the intense difficulty of the CFA exams leads to the majority of the candidates failing at least once. It is, without a doubt, a highly disappointing and disheartening place to be in. However, it is important to see the bigger picture and not lose perspective when attempting to gain a qualification as coveted as the CFA. On the brighter side, candidates gain experience and can appear for their next attempt with a higher level of confidence.

The recently held CFA exams in November 2021 have shown a consistent trend across all three levels, alarmingly low pass rates. While the Covid-19 pandemic may be considered as a contributing factor to this phenomenon, it is important to focus on what are the ideal next steps one must take to ensure that they achieve success in the next attempt.

 

Better prepared for next attempt

The average CFA candidate spends about four years before gaining the charter, which shows that most fail at least one exam on their journey. While it may lead one to believe that 300 hours of study have been wasted, it is important to remember that a significant part of the preparation for the next attempt has already been completed leading the thought of “wastage” to turn into “investment”.

Can you attempt again?

Candidates are allowed to appear for each level of the CMA exam a maximum of six times, a policy that was instituted in 2021. Also beginning with the 2021 exams, candidates can take an exam up to two times per calendar year but cannot take the exam in windows that are consecutive or less than 6 months apart.

Plan your next attempt

The first step to deciding when to retake the exam is to assess your previous exam preparation experience. How many hours did you spend preparing? Did you consistently stick to a structured study plan? Are there other study materials that could help you pass your next exam? Examine how you will approach exam prep differently going forward, reflect on your own personal/professional goals, and consider the various exam window options offered by CFA Institute to determine when to retake the CFA exam.

In general, we recommend retaking the exam as soon as possible, especially if you can do so in the same calendar year. Registering for the next possible exam is best for the following reasons:

  • Momentum is on your side. Even if you have been taking a break since your last exam, all of the effort you put into preparing for it is relatively fresh.
  • The longer you wait to retake the exam, the higher the likelihood that you will forget the material that you have already learned.

It is particularly important to retake the exam in the same calendar year, if at all possible, since CFA Institute changes the CFA curriculum on an annual basis. Retaking the exam before these annual updates will give you a higher probability of passing because you will be more familiar with the curriculum being tested.

Studying for the next attempt

Regardless of which exam you decide to sign up for, we have some recommendations for approaching the next exam attempt:

  • Carefully review your exam results and use them as a diagnostic tool to help guide your studies on the next attempt.
  • Organize your study plan to focus on weak areas first. Your study plan should be weighted heavily toward practicing the material using the SchweserPro QBank and end-of-chapter questions in the CFA curriculum.
  • After doing additional practice, if you are still performing poorly, revisit the CFA SchweserNotes and OnDemand class videos to relearn the concepts with which you are struggling.

Continue this process until one month prior to the exam and then focus on a well-structured final review process.

For final review, focus heavily on practicing what you have learned, but with the CFA Schweser Mock Exams rather than the SchweserPro QBank. After completing a mock exam, thoroughly review the answer explanations for the questions you answered incorrectly. Make certain you understand the logic behind the correct answer. Also, be sure to use the OnDemand Review videos to sharpen your exam strategy and ensure you retain information for the exam.

Finally, get help through our InstructorLink tool if you are still struggling with the material. We want you to succeed on the CFA exams and are always ready to help. If you are looking to enroll in CFA course in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or anywhere in the Middle East, contact Kaplan Professional to know how we can help you!