A VAT health check is a structured review of how a business handles UAE VAT day to day: registration, invoicing, input VAT claims, returns and record keeping. Rather than waiting for an FTA query or an annual audit to surface a problem, a business runs its own compliance review, finds the gaps first, and fixes them on its own timeline. Our free health check is a self-assessment version of that review: 25 questions, scored instantly, with the option to talk to our team about anything it flags.
What does our UAE VAT Health Check cover?
The assessment is split into five weighted sections, scored out of 100 in total:
15 ptsVAT RegistrationWhether you registered on time, TRN and business details on invoices, and whether voluntary registration still meets the conditions.
25 ptsSales & Tax InvoicesWhether every taxable sale has a compliant tax invoice, mandatory fields are complete, VAT rates are correct, and credit notes are issued when invoices change.
25 ptsPurchases & Input VATWhether input VAT is only claimed with a valid tax invoice, personal and blocked expenses are excluded, and reverse charge and import VAT are accounted for correctly.
20 ptsVAT ReturnsWhether returns and payments go in before the deadline, and whether VAT is reconciled before filing and prior periods are reviewed for errors.
15 ptsRecord KeepingWhether records are retained for the required period, every transaction traces back to supporting documents, and compliance gets reviewed periodically.
What VAT issues can a health check identify?
Based on how you answer, the assessment can flag issues such as:
Late VAT registration relative to the mandatory threshold
Sales going out without a compliant tax invoice, or with missing mandatory fields
Incorrect VAT rates applied to sales
Input VAT claimed without a valid supporting tax invoice
Reverse charge or import VAT not accounted for correctly
Late VAT returns or late VAT payments
No reconciliation before filing, or no review of prior periods for errors
Poor document retention that would be hard to defend in an FTA review
What happens after the health check?
Once you've answered all 25 questions, you get a compliance score out of 100, a risk grade from A to F, and a breakdown of how each of the five sections scored individually. If any answers point to a known risk, they're listed as risk flags so you know exactly what to prioritise first. You can download the full result as a PDF, and, whatever the score, you can book time with our team to talk through what it means for your business.
When should you speak to someone about your VAT?
The self-assessment is a good starting point if you're not sure where you stand. It's usually faster to talk to us directly if:
You've already received a query, notice or audit request from the FTA
You've missed a VAT filing or payment deadline
You registered late, or you're unsure whether you should be registered at all
You're dealing with reverse charge, import VAT or cross-border supplies
You just want a second opinion on your VAT setup before you file
Talk to us about your VAT
No need to finish the questionnaire first. Book a slot whenever you're ready.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is a VAT health check in the UAE?
It's a review of how a business handles UAE VAT: registration, invoicing, input VAT claims, returns and record keeping, to catch problems before the FTA does. Ours is a free 25-question self-assessment that scores your business across five compliance areas.
What does the Maaliya VAT Health Check cover?
Five areas: VAT registration, sales and tax invoices, purchases and input VAT, VAT returns, and record keeping. Each is weighted, and the total score is out of 100.
How long does the VAT Health Check take?
Most people finish the 25 questions in around five minutes. You can go back and change an earlier answer at any point using the Back button.
Is the VAT Health Check free?
Yes, in full: the questionnaire, your score, risk grade, area breakdown and the PDF download all cost nothing.
Do I need to create an account to use it?
No. There's no sign-up to take the assessment. To view your results and get a copy, we ask for your name, company and email address at the end.
What happens to the answers I enter?
Your answers are scored in your browser. If you enter your name, company and email to unlock your results, we use those details to send you a copy and to follow up if you'd like our help. We don't share them beyond Maaliya.
Is this the same as an FTA audit?
No. This is a self-assessment based on your own answers, not an official FTA audit and not tax advice. It's meant to show you where to look, not to replace a proper review of your records.
Can a VAT health check identify VAT return mistakes?
It can flag common patterns behind return mistakes: late filing, late payment, filing without reconciling first, or never reviewing prior periods for errors. It won't catch every possible error in a specific return; for that, talk to our team.
How often should a UAE business review its VAT compliance?
At minimum, before each return is filed, and again whenever something changes: new products or services, cross-border supplies, a change in registration status, or new staff handling invoicing.
What should I do if the health check finds a problem?
Start with whatever's flagged as a critical or high risk. If you'd rather not tackle it alone, you can schedule a VAT consultation with our team directly from your results, or reach us by WhatsApp, call or email.
Can I speak to someone instead of taking the assessment?
Yes. You don't need to complete or even start the questionnaire: schedule a consultation, WhatsApp us, call us, or email us any time on this page.