Businesses across the UAE have just filed their September 2026 corporate tax returns. What most owners do not ask next is: how long do I have to keep the invoices, contracts, and bank statements behind that return?
Under Article 56 of Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022, the record-keeping clock keeps running for years after the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has already processed the filing:
- 7 years from the end of the tax period, for general accounting and tax records.
- 10 years for capital assets (Capital Assets Scheme).
- 15 years for real estate assets.
- 7 years for transfer pricing documentation.
The Tax Procedures Law also lets the FTA reach back up to 15 years, instead of the standard 5-year audit window, in tax evasion or failure-to-register cases.
Failing to maintain proper records carries an FTA penalty of AED 10,000 for a first offence, rising to AED 20,000 if it happens again within 24 months, under Cabinet Decision No. 75 of 2023 - and without records, the FTA can issue its own estimated assessment instead of accepting the business's reported figures.
The full breakdown, including what documents an Article 56-ready file should contain, common mistakes that trigger the penalty, and how the VAT record rule interacts with corporate tax: https://qasproglobal.com/uae-corporate-tax-record-keeping-requirements-2026-7-year-rule-what-to-keep-and-fta-penalties/
