Analytics and brochures

The UAE’s Corporate Tax Law has introduced beneficial provisions for Family Foundations, trusts, and similar entities, offering these structures the potential to attain tax-transparent status. However, while the law allows this benefit for entities deemed “similar,” it provides little guidance on what characteristics or features qualify an entity as such. This ambiguity raises critical questions about how to define similarity in the context of family wealth management, succession planning, and tax structuring.

On October 28, the Minister issued Decision No. 261, introducing pivotal updates under Article 5(2). This decision expands the scope of entities eligible for tax transparency, allowing any juridical person wholly owned and controlled by a Family Fondation (whether directly or indirectly through an uninterrupted chain of Unincorporated Partnerships) to apply for transparent status.

A fine and an order are measures established for a breach of antitrust legislation. They cannot be applied simultaneously. Yet, how one of them takes priority over the other is not regulated. Lately, instead of a fine, the Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) has started using the more stringent measure, namely orders, to transfer unlawfully gained income to the government purse. Pepeliaev Group’s partner Elena Sokolovskaya is trying to find out what explains this practice and what it is founded on.

We hosted a webinar focused on the essentials of identifying and substantiating R&D activities eligible for the 0% Corporate Tax rate. I’m sharing an article extract from that session, highlighting key principles to help organizations distinguish genuine R&D from routine business activities. Read more in the article of Andrey Nikonov, Senior Partner.

On 24 October 2024, the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) released essential guidance on Corporate Tax for real estate investments by individuals, addressing a complex area where real estate activities diverge from standard Corporate Tax rules and highlighting critical questions on licensing. Read more in the article of Andrey Nikonov, Senior Partner.

This brief explores the dual status of offshore companies, which have dual status under corporate legislation. On the one hand, they are legal entities acting independently. On the other hand, they possess the ‘capacity, rights and privileges of a natural person. Read more in the article of Andrey Nikonov, Senior Partner.