Unincorporated Partnerships, Foreign Partnerships, and Family Foundations

Introduction

There is a significant development in the realm of taxation in relation to unincorporated partnerships, foreign partnerships, and family foundations. In this article, we will delve into the key aspects of the Ministerial decision and explore its implications. 

Unincorporated Partnerships not to be considered as a Taxable Person in its Own Right 

Article 2 of the decision addresses the conditions under which an Unincorporated Partnership will not be considered a Taxable Person in its own right except if it is a juridical person.  

Treatment of Unincorporated Partnerships as a Taxable Person

Article 3 focuses on the treatment of Unincorporated Partnerships (referred to as “UIP”) as Taxable Persons. It establishes that if an application is approved for a UIP to be treated as a Taxable Person under the UAE Corporate Tax Law, the application becomes irrevocable, barring exceptional circumstances with the approval of the FTA. The UIPs must notify the FTA within 20 business days of any partner joining or leaving the partnership, ensuring transparency and proper tax administration. 

Conditions for Foreign Partnerships 

Article 4 pertains to Foreign Partnerships where certain conditions need to be met. These include the submission of an annual declaration to FTA confirming compliance with the prescribed conditions. Also, the existence of adequate arrangements for sharing tax information between the State and the jurisdiction under which the Foreign Partnership was established. 

Taxation of Foreign Partnership Partners 

Additionally, Article 4 stipulates that each partner in a Foreign Partnership will be subject to taxation if they would be liable to pay taxes on their distributive share of income in the jurisdiction where they are tax residents. This provision ensures that partners’ tax obligations are aligned with their respective jurisdictions, promoting fairness and avoiding double taxation. 

Conditions for Family Foundations 

Article 5 highlights that if one or more beneficiaries of a family foundation are public benefit entities, certain conditions must be met. These conditions include beneficiaries not deriving income that would be deemed Taxable Income if derived in its own right. If this condition is not met, such income is to be distributed to the beneficiaries within six months from the end of the relevant Tax Period.  

Publication and Application

The final article, Article 6, emphasizes that the must be published and will come into effect the day after its publication. This ensures its official implementation and awareness among taxpayers, facilitating compliance with the taxation regulations outlined within the decision. 

Conclusion

The Ministerial Decision plays a crucial role in clarifying the taxation treatment of Unincorporated Partnerships. 

Want to understand the taxability of Unincorporated Partnership in the UAE? Read here.

FAQs

1. Can a UIP be treated as a Taxable Person in its own right? 

An Unincorporated Partnership cannot be treated as a Taxable Person in its own right unless it is a juridical person. 

 2. Can an application for treating Unincorporated Partnership as a Taxable Person in its own right be revoked? 

The application for treating an Unincorporated Partnership as a Taxable Person in its own right is irrevocable, except under exceptional circumstances and approval of FTA. 

3. By when should an Unincorporated Partnership notify FTA of any partner joining it? 

The Unincorporated Partnership should notify within 20 days of any partner joining it. 

4. By when should an Unincorporated Partnership notify the FTA of any partner leaving it? 

The Unincorporated Partnership should notify within 20 days of any partner leaving it.

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