To check your corporate tax registration status, log in to EmaraTax, open your taxable person and look at the Corporate Tax tile. It shows whether your application is a draft, submitted, under review, waiting for more information, approved or rejected. Once it's approved, your corporate tax registration certificate is in your EmaraTax correspondence. You can download it as a PDF free of charge. This guide walks through both, explains what each status means, and covers what to do when the certificate isn't where you expect it.
Before you start: what you need
- Your UAE Pass login, or the email and password used to create your EmaraTax account
- Access to the taxable person your business was registered under. If an agent or employee applied for you, they may need to give you access.
- The application reference number generated when the registration was submitted. It's useful if you need to contact the FTA.
How to check corporate tax registration status on EmaraTax
- Log in to the EmaraTax portal with UAE Pass or your EmaraTax credentials.
- On the taxable person list, find your business and click View.
- Find the Corporate Tax tile on the dashboard. The status of your registration application is shown there.
- Open your correspondence / notifications to read any message the FTA has sent about your application.
The FTA also emails the registered contact whenever the status changes. Check the inbox entered in the application, including the spam folder.
What each status means and what to do
Status shown | What it means | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
Draft | Started but not submitted | Finish and submit before your registration deadline |
Submitted / pending | Received by the FTA | Keep your application reference number and wait |
Under review | The FTA is checking your details | No action needed unless you're contacted |
Additional information requested | The FTA needs more details or documents | Reply within the time stated in the FTA's message |
Approved | Registration complete, number issued | Download your certificate |
Rejected | The application was refused | Read the reason, fix it and apply again |
The exact labels on EmaraTax may be worded slightly differently. If your application was returned or rejected, our guide to why corporate tax registrations get rejected covers the most common reasons and fixes.
How long should "under review" take?
The FTA's guidance points to a review of about 20 business days once it has a complete application. A request for more information pauses that clock until you reply. If more than 20 business days have passed without any request, check your correspondence tab first. If there's nothing there, contact the FTA with your application reference number, or ask your tax agent to follow up.
How to download your corporate tax registration certificate
- Log in to EmaraTax and select the taxable person.
- Open My Correspondences, or the documents / correspondence area of your corporate tax record.
- Find the item called Corporate Tax Registration Certificate.
- Click Download to save the PDF.
The soft copy is free. Save it with your trade licence, MOA and VAT certificate so it's ready when someone asks for it.
What the certificate shows
The corporate tax registration certificate typically shows:
- Your legal name as registered with the FTA
- Your corporate tax registration number
- The effective date of registration
Check that the legal name matches your trade licence exactly. If anything is wrong, it has to be corrected through an amendment, and the FTA expects changes to be updated within 20 business days. See how to amend your corporate tax registration.
Can't find your certificate? Common causes
Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
No certificate in correspondence | Application not yet approved | Check the status on the Corporate Tax tile |
Status says approved, but no certificate | You're viewing a different taxable person | Go back to the taxable person list and open the right one |
You can't see the business at all | Someone else registered it under their login | Ask your agent or colleague to share access or the PDF |
Certificate shows an old name or address | Details changed after registration | Submit an amendment, then download the updated certificate |
Approved weeks ago, still nothing | Possible system issue | Contact the FTA with your reference number |
Who will ask for your corporate tax registration certificate?
- Banks: during account opening and periodic KYC reviews
- Free zone authorities: at licence renewal
- Auditors and accountants: for year-end files
- Large customers and government entities: during supplier onboarding and tenders
Some will ask for your "TRN". Make sure you give the corporate tax number, not your VAT number. Our guide to corporate tax TRN vs VAT TRN explains the difference.
How Takween Advisory Can Help
If your application is stuck in review, was returned, or you can't find your certificate, a registered tax agent can usually sort it out quickly. Takween Advisory handles the full corporate tax registration in Dubai, from the first application to the issued certificate. We also reply to FTA requests on your behalf. Book a free consultation and we'll check where your application stands.