Claim VAT spent on your new residence

Where a UAE national owns or acquires land in the UAE on which he builds his own residence, he shall be entitled to make a claim to the FTA to repay the Tax on the expenses of constructing the residence [Executive Regulations article 66]

What is recoverable?

• Such expenses can be claimed:
• Cost of construction and building materials normally used in a residential building but not including furniture or electrical appliances
• Unfitted appliances and furniture are excluded and can’t be claimed

How to claim?

The claim must be submitted to FTA within 6 months of the earlier of:

• The date of the completion certificate
• The date of occupation by the owner or his family

FTA Conditions to claim VAT

A claim will only be valid if all the following conditions are met

• The claimant must be a UAE national and cannot be a company
• The claim must be related to the construction of a new building for the claimant or his family
• The building must be for residential use only, it cannot be a hotel or hospital which includes residential accommodation
• The building must be built with the intention to be used solely as a residence for the occupant or his family (if occupant plans to use the house for a year and then rented out, it will not qualify for input VAT refund)

If the last condition is breached the FTA may claim back any refunded input VAT.