Federal Tax Authority launches app for UAE citizens to recover VAT on home construction
‘Maskan’ offers UAE citizens a faster, seamless procedure to recover VAT
Abu Dhabi: The UAE’s Federal Tax Authority (FTA) announced Tuesday the launch of its new application, Maskan. This application allows UAE citizens to recover the Value-Added Tax (VAT) they incurred on the construction of their new homes. The 100 per cent paperless service is part of the FTA’s contribution to developing faster, more efficient digital services and reducing the number of documents required for the service execution.
“The Federal Tax Authority launched this initiative as part of its strategy to implement the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to develop government services and adopt highly efficient business models focused on eliminating bureaucracy in procedures,” FTA said in a statement.
The Maskan application is among the projects within the federal government performance agreements for 2023-2024.
How does it work?
The full launch of the Maskan application’s smart features will be rolled out over two stages: The first has already been activated, allowing Emirati applicants to create their file and enter tax invoices related to the purchase of supplies for the construction of their home by uploading files or attaching photos.
The FTA announced that the second phase will begin before the end of July 2024. This phase will introduce all application features, allowing citizens to scan a barcode from the app to upload tax invoices from registered outlets to their accounts. This replaces the old system of submitting paper invoices, which are prone to loss or damage and could disqualify citizens from reclaiming tax on eligible purchases.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, Director General of the FTA, said, “The platform offers transparent and streamlined procedures to expedite the process for refunding taxes that Emirati citizens incurred on the construction of their new homes.”
“Moreover, the launch falls under the FTA’s continuous development plans, designed to keep pace with the government’s digital strategy to drive smart transformation,” Al Bustani added.
Abdullah Al Bastaki, Executive Director of the Information Technology Sector at the Federal Tax Authority, explained that the launch of the Maskan came within the framework of the Authority’s commitment to the Zero-Government Bureaucracy (ZGB) programme, which the UAE government launched to enhance efficiency in public services.
The FTA participated in the programme, which targets eliminating 2,000 government procedures within a year and reducing the time taken for government services by 50 percent.