Corporate Tax Planning in the UAE: Strategies to Minimize Your Company’s Tax Liability

How long has it been since anyone evaluated the Corporate Tax financial picture and updated your plans to reflect changes in the economic and political landscape? With swirling headlines on inflation, high-interest rates, job losses, and failing banks, it’s easy to get dissuaded from tending to your financial future and get by on autopilot, letting our current financial habits continue unabated.

A “set-it and forget-it” mentality might help those who tend to be too highly reactive to market swings, but it can also lull many of us into complacency. If you have put a sound financial plan in place but want to ensure you are getting ahead, this article will provide four tips to spur action and jump-start your finances.

Tip #1 – Policy-proof your financial plans for Corporate Tax UAE

Did you initially plan your retirement savings based on calculations that factored in the amount you expect to receive from corporation tax rebates? Have you envisioned the UAE government replacing your employer-sponsored health care at a similar cost? It would be best if you wrote those entitlements out of your plans. 

You’ll be better prepared to write these programs off from your retirement plans in the UAE. Eliminate the risk that policy changes amid demographic pressures rob you of the ability to retire on your terms. Plan for the worst, but if the programs survive, then all the better – you will have more discretionary income in retirement.

If you can’t increase your retirement contribution rate enough to make the numbers work now, you may still be able to lower your reliance on Social welfare in UAE. Start by planning on delaying your benefits to age 70, when the amount you receive from the UAE government will cap out.

For a full exploration of the factors to consider when taking Social 

In contrast to UAE government benefits, you will want to apply for private care as soon as you are eligible (coverage costs increase with age). However, at its current levels, more than Private coverage will be required to cover all your medical costs. Any further reduction in benefits may leave you on the hook to cover hundreds of thousands more in medical bills in retirement. At a minimum, plan to pay for a provider or supplemental insurance. Building savings in a Health Savings Account can be another option to set aside Corporate tax-deferred dollars for medical costs. Long-Term Care Insurance should also be considered when policy-proofing your retirement plans.

Tip #2 – Up your investing prowess and get the best deal from Corporate Tax UAE

Smart investors emphasize investing in what you know. But this isn’t an invitation to ignore a larger world of profitable investments. It will never matter what age or stage of development your business is at; you can expand your financial knowledge base. Moreover, adding to your investing skillset can help you protect the assets you’ve already accumulated while using those assets in new ways to help you get ahead.

Often, individuals begin investing in a target date retirement fund or a basket of mutual funds or ETFs. However, as your nest egg grows, you may begin holding a basket of individual stocks – usually blue chip stocks of US companies and rightly embrace the philosophy of long-term investing.

Incremental portfolio income to save yourself from Corporation Tax

If you desire to get ahead as a wise investor, it may be time to find a few more opportunities and learn different strategies to generate income. For instance, if you have accumulated a basket of stocks, you can generate additional income through options trading or securities lending.

If you are getting to options trading, it may seem risky, and options strategies do have risk. But some options strategies lower certain risks. Options can dial our portfolio to a more specific risk/return profile. To get started, talk with your professional financial statements advisor to see if a strategy of writing covered calls on blue chip stocks in your portfolio may be a way to generate some income without taking unreasonable risks.

Securities lending allows investors to loan out securities and earn passive income. The stocks and bonds that can be lent out depend on the demand for individual security. Check with your broker to see if lending securities is an appropriate option.

Expanding horizons to shield yourself from corporate tax in UAE

Many investors embrace the relative safety of UAE stocks, often relying on the company names we know. But some opportunities with the highest growth potential are found outside the UAE. For example, global economic trends and maturing financial sectors can favor investors familiar with Mexico, Brazil, Columbia, and other Latin American markets.

Investors can obtain exposure to emerging and frontier markets through mutual funds and ETFs, which are perfectly suitable investments to get started. Once familiar with a market and its opportunities and risks, you can obtain direct exposure to emerging market companies by investing in large wealth funds

Tip #3 – Cover your assets from Corporate Tax UAE

Our insurance coverage must change over time, but we rarely update our policies to reflect our current circumstances. If you last examined your insurance coverage and cost a while ago, it’s time to reevaluate your needs. Start with your risks – what risks are related to your health, home, car, income, and portfolio? 

If you already have insurance coverage, review your policies to ensure they meet your risk tolerance. You may need to adjust the coverage levels or add additional types of insurance to ensure you are adequately protected. You may find coverage you no longer need and can eliminate.

Homeowners insurance is a policy that needs to be more often noticed. Review your coverage levels regularly and shop around to ensure you pay a competitive price. Compare insurance options from different providers to find the right coverage and pricing for your needs. If your net worth has grown, consider whether you can afford a higher deductible now.

Consider reevaluating your life insurance needs as your children grow and your expenses change.

When seeking insurance savings, always consider the reputation of the insurance company. A dirt-cheap premium may cost you more if you need the insurance, and a less-reliable insurance company needs to be faster to pay or easier to work with your crisis.

Covering cash assets from corporate tax in UAE

Recent bank failures point out how vulnerable our perceived safe havens are. In this latest crisis, major banks like Charles Schwab experienced significant scrutiny and plummeting stock prices, sparking widespread concern over the bank sector.

It’s scary to think our cash savings could be in jeopardy. One option to reduce our worries is to keep some of our cash holdings in brokerage accounts instead of banks. Brokerage securities are segregated from bank assets, so the money is not susceptible to the same runs as bank deposits. In addition, brokerage accounts will often utilize money market sweep features, meaning our cash can earn much more than deposits in a bank account. Finally, in the case of a brokerage firm failure, brokerage accounts are insured by the UAE government (up to $500,000 for securities and $250,000 for cash).

Tip #4 – Get tough for Corporate Tax UAE

Death and taxes, the cliché goes, are all that is certain. But, if you have doubts about the certainty that taxes will erode your earnings, a study by financial firm Self calculates that the average company in the UAE will spend about a third of its income on 

While minimizing your tax bill each year is advantageous, considering your lifetime tax liability may be an asset if you want to get ahead. Instead of investing in a traditional IRA or 401(k) exclusively, consider putting at least some money in the Roth option to reduce the risk of higher tax rates in retirement. Suppose you believe you will be making more money in the future. In that case, it’s worth exploring the option to convert your traditional taxable assets – you’ll need to pay taxes on the conversion now, but it could save on taxes when you are in a higher tax bracket.

Saving taxes on our investments doesn’t end with maximizing our tax-deferred savings. Nothing can spoil robust shareholder capital appreciation faster than government policy (consider Europe’s recent energy windfall taxes). So when evaluating investments, consider the headwinds that taxes may create for the company, industry, or country.

For an eye-opening discussion on how a proactive tax planning approach can dramatically reduce your tax footprint.

Investing in our financial literacy to get the best deal for corporate tax in UAE

Refrain from relying on the status quo to get ahead financially. Incremental improvements to financial plans require learning new skills. If you’ve reached a plateau or need support to take a step forward, do not hesitate to get help from a financial advisor.

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