The primary purpose of ESR is to establish, maintain, and illustrate the presence of onshore and free zone companies that undertake the respective Core Income Generating Activities to meet the Economic Substance Test.
By the Economic Substance Regulations, ESR filing UAE requires the Licensees and Exempted Licensees to file a Notification to their respective Regulatory Authorities for the relevant Financial Year in which the business carries the relevant Core Income Generating Activity. For ESR Notification Filing they are required to submit:
Exempted Licensees are also compelled to file the ESR Notification and along with that, submit supporting documents in order to qualify their exemption.
Read also : Economic Substance Reporting & Guidance in UAE
Exempted Licensees that are tax residents in a jurisdiction outside the United Arab Emirates should submit the following documents:
However, when a business is unable to provide adequate evidence in order to verify its exemption position, the Regulatory Authorities change the status of the business and repute them as a Licensee.
The time period for the submission of notification is different from that of an Economic Substance Report. The Ministry of Finance Portal is used for ESR Notification Filing which is done within the period of six months from the end of the relevant Financial Year. Also, the Licensees who have submitted an ESR Notification directly to their respective Regulatory Authorities should re-submit a Notification electronically on the Ministry of Finance Portal once available.
Read also : Economic Substance Regulations Notification Form
Businesses are required to meet the requirements of the Economic Substance Test and file the ESR Report which entails the submission of information and documentation mentioned in the Economic Substance Regulations within the period of the relevant Financial Year. In accordance with the Ministerial Decision 57 of the year 2020, ESR Reporting should be done within twelve months from the end of the respective Financial Year.
After ESR Reporting, the National Assessing Authority issues its decision showing whether the Licensee has met the Economic Substance Test requirements within six years of the end of the relevant Financial Year.
For ESR Reporting UAE, companies that undertake the Relevant Activities are required to report;
ESR Reporting UAE is to be submitted by the companies to the respective Regulatory Authority each respective financial year to show that they are carrying out the Relevant Activity. Under Economic Substance Regulations, it is compulsory to submit the details of the Relevant Activity, revenue, expenditures, and resources that show whether the Economic Substance Test of UAE is met.