FTA records more than 3.44 million tourist tax refund transactions in the nine months of 2023

He Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has achieved a significant milestone in its tourism tax refund programme, with the total number of electronic transactions exceeding 15.43 million since the system’s implementation almost five years ago, it said General Director of the TLC.

During the first nine months of the current year alone, more than 3.44 million transactions were processed, reflecting the program’s growing popularity among tourists. Khalid Ali Al Bustani said.

He attributed the program’s success to its efficiency and ease of use. It noted that the number of self-service tax refund kiosks available to tourists has increased to 87, up from 81 in September 2022. In addition, the number of registered sales outlets connected to the digital system has reached 15,880, providing tourists tourists more options to claim their tax refunds.

Al Bustani also highlighted the TLC’s commitment to support newly built citizens’ homes by refunding the value added tax (VAT) paid. Since the start of the program in 2018, the FTA has approved more than 21,947 refund requests, worth approximately AED 1.8 billion.

He explained that since its launch, the electronic system for refunding value added tax to tourists has undergone continuous development and updating. The advanced digital tourist tax refund system was recently launched, which works completely paperless and digitally at a rate of 100%. It stands as a global pioneer and continues its role in reinforcing the sophisticated civilized characteristics of the United Arab Emirates, considering it one of the most important destinations on the world tourism map.

Al Bustani expressed his satisfaction with the notable success of the electronic tourism Value Added Tax (VAT) refund system. The system has witnessed a significant increase in transactions, processing a cumulative total of 15.43 million transactions since its implementation almost five years ago until September 2023. This represents substantial growth compared to the 10.63 million transactions recorded in September 2022. In particular, the number of transactions executed between September 2022 and September 2023 reached approximately 4.81 million, exceeding the 3.44 million transactions processed during the first nine months of the current year.

He General Directorate of ALC emphasized that the success of the system aligns with the Federal Tax AuthorityThe strategy of developing an integrated platform of electronic systems. This strategy aims to improve the quality of life of citizens, residents and visitors, contributing to the government’s vision of establishing the UAE as one of the best and most progressive countries in the world. The authority remains committed to ongoing development efforts to stay at the forefront of technological advancements.

Al Bustani He also highlighted the efficiency of the self-service kiosks dedicated to the refund of tourist VAT. These kiosks streamline the tax refund process, allowing tourists to complete the entire procedure in less than two minutes.

News source: Emirates News Agency