Input Tax Claim on Motor Vehicles in UAE

Input Tax Claim on Motor Vehicles in UAE

Can we claim input tax on “motor vehicle”, where effective logbook and tracking is available?

For getting an answer to the subject, we need to analyse the negative section i.e. Article (53) stating instances where input tax cannot be claimed. Reference article re-produced hereunder for effective analysis and interpretation.

The Executive Regulations of the Federal Decree-Law No (8) of 2017 on Value Added Tax

Article (53) - Non-recoverable Input Tax

1. Input Tax shall be non-recoverable if it is incurred by a Person in respect of the following Taxable Supplies:

a. Where the Person is not a Government Entity as specified in a Cabinet Decision in accordance with Article (10) and (57) of the Decree-Law, and there is provision of entertainment services to anyone not employed by the Person, including customers, potential customers, officials, or shareholder or other owners or investors.

b. Where a motor vehicle was purchased, rented or leased for use in the Business and is available for personal use by any Person.

c. Where Goods or Services were purchased to be used by employees for no charge to them and for their personal benefit including the provision of entertainment services, except in the following cases:

1) where it is a legal obligation to provide those Services or Goods to those employees under any applicable labour law in the State or Designated Zone.

2) it is a contractual obligation or documented policy to provide those services or goods to those employees in order that they may perform their role and it can be proven to be normal business practice in the course of employing those people;

3) where the provision of goods or services is a deemed supply under the provisions of the Decree-Law.

2. For the purposes of this Article:

a. The phrase “entertainment services” shall mean hospitality of any kind, including the provision of accommodation, food and drinks which are not provided in a normal course of a meeting, access to shows or events, or trips provided for the purposes of pleasure or entertainment.

b. The phrase “motor vehicle” shall mean a road vehicle which is designed or adapted for the conveyance of no more than 10 people including the driver. A motor vehicle shall exclude a truck, forklift, hoist or other similar vehicle.

3. Provision of catering and accommodation services shall not be treated as entertainment services where it is provided by a transportation service operator, such as an airline, to passengers who have been delayed.

4. A motor vehicle shall not be treated as being available for private use if it is within any of the following categories:

a. a taxi licensed by the competent authority within the State;
b. a motor vehicle registered as, and used for purposes of an emergency vehicle, including by police, fire, ambulance, or similar emergency service;

a vehicle which is used in a vehicle rental business where it is rented to a customer.

Concluding comments:

For the purpose of VAT Law (as updated in the Executive Regulations), only below category of vehicles are considered to be used for the purpose of business i.e.:

a. Road vehicle which is designed or adapted for the conveyance of more than 10 people including the driver.
b. A truck, forklift, hoist or other similar vehicle.
c. a taxi licensed by the competent authority within the State;
d. a motor vehicle registered as, and used for purposes of an emergency vehicle, including by police, fire, ambulance, or similar emergency service;
e. a vehicle which is used in a vehicle rental business where it is rented to a customer.

Kindly note, although for the above category of vehicle can be constituted as being “used for business purpose” with standard rule of substantiation.

As highlighted above, there is no mention of motor vehicle in the category of car or equivalent segment, which can be categorised as used for business purpose (other than taxi, or for the purpose rental business).

Disclaimer: Content posted is for informational & knowledge sharing purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice related to tax, finance or accounting. The view/ interpretation of the publisher is based on the available Law, guidelines, and information. Each reader should take due professional care before you act after reading the contents of that article/ post. No warranty whatsoever is made that any of the articles are accurate and is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for tax or accounting advice.

You can access Law including Guidelines, Cabinet & FTA Decisions, Public Clarifications, Forms, Business Bulletins for all taxes (Vat, Excise, Customs, Corporate Tax, Transfer Pricing) for all GCC Countries in the Law Section of GCC FinTax.