9 September 2026 · Dubai FAQ
Chasing Unpaid Invoices in Dubai
For Dubai SMEs, the practical path is to keep clean aged-receivables records, decide realistically when a debt is bad, write it off in the accounts, and (once six months have passed since supply) notify the customer and claim the VAT back via Box 1. Good documentation (the invoice, the write-off, the debt age and the notification) is what turns a bad debt into a defensible VAT reclaim rather than an FTA query.
Exiloz Management & Tax Consultant · Dubai-based FTA-focused advisory · VAT, corporate tax & accounting
Track your debtors
You cannot claim what you do not track.
- Keep aged-receivables reports.
- Flag debts over six months.
- Decide realistically when a debt is bad.
- Write it off in the accounts.
Time it and document it
Documentation wins the claim.
- Notify the customer of the write-off.
- Wait until six months from supply.
- Claim the VAT in Box 1.
- Keep the full evidence pack.
Related guides
Frequently Asked Questions
For Dubai owner-managed businesses.
When should a Dubai SME write off a debt?
When it is genuinely irrecoverable; you can then claim VAT relief once six months have passed since supply and the customer is notified.
What documentation do I need?
The original invoice, the write-off in the accounts, the age of the debt, and proof of notifying the customer.
Can I claim before six months?
No. More than six months must have passed since the date of supply.
Can Exiloz run our receivables VAT?
Yes. We track your aged debts and reclaim VAT where it qualifies.
Turn bad debts into VAT reclaims
Exiloz tracks your Dubai receivables and reclaims the VAT you are owed.