The Amendments to the Economic Substance Regulations

The Economic Substance Regulations, which is also known as “ESR” was formally introduced to the United Arab Emirates through Cabinet of Minister Resolution No. (31) of 2019, on 30th of April 2019. The aforementioned regulation aims to combat harmful tax practices while complying with the global standards. Similarly, the Ministry of Finance introduced the so-called “Relevant Activities” which plays a vital function in complying with the Economic Substance Regulation.

What do you mean by Relevent Activities?

Entities carrying out Relevant Activities shall demonstrate their Economic Substance here in the UAE and comply with the submission of the notification and Economic Substance Report to their Regulatory Authorities. The Relevant Activities are as follows:

• Banking Business
• Insurance Business
• Fund Management Business
• Financial or Leasing Business
• Intellectual Property
• Headquarters Business
• Shipping Business
• Holding Company Business
• Distribution and Services Business

ESR UAE: Amended

A revised legislation overhauling the ESR has been issued by the UAE this 2020. The amendment in the ESR UAE was formally introduced through Cabinet of Minister Resolution No. (57) of 2020 on 10th of August 2020. The ESR guidelines was similarly updated through Ministerial Decision No. (100) of 2020 on 19th of August 2020.

Changes in the Amended ESR:

The Amended ESR points out the following changes:

An entity which will fall under Exempted Licensee is still eligible in submitting the ESR Notification, providing with sufficient evidence of becoming an Exempted Licensee.

1. The Definition of Licensee:
   • The amended ESR clearly states the new classification of Licensee which includes (a) a juridical person (incorporated inside or outside the State) or (b) an unincorporated partnership; UAE registered, which includes a Free Zone and a Financial Free Zone and carries on a Relevant Activity.
   • A parent company which is registered in the UAE shall file all their Relevant Activities as well as the Relevant Activities conducted by their UAE branches. For this reason, UAE branches will be no longer a “Licensee” as they will be already an extension of their parent company.
   • A UAE branch of a foreign company shall file their own ESR (if they carry out a Relevant Activity) unless the Relevant Income of the UAE branch is subject to tax in the foreign company’s authority.
   • A parent company in the UAE shall not consolidate the activities and income of the foreign branch for purposes of the Regulations, provided the Relevant Income of the foreign branch is subject to tax in the jurisdiction where the branch is located.
2. Exempted Licensee:
   • Entities that are tax resident in jurisdiction outside the UAE
   • Investment Funds
   • Entities that are wholly owned by UAE residents, likewise not part of a multinational group and only carry out business activities in the UAE
   • UAE branches of a foreign head office / parent which relevant income is subject to tax in the foreign head office / parent jurisdiction.
3. Changes to some Relevant Activities:
   • Distribution and Service Centre
     • purchasing component parts or materials for goods, or goods ready for sale from a Foreign Connected Person; and reselling such component parts, materials or goods
     • providing services to a Foreign Connected Person
   • High Risk Intellectual Property Licensee
     • The business did not create the intellectual property asset.
     • The business acquired the intellectual property asset from either
       • - Connected Person, or
       • - in consideration for funding research and development by another person situated in a foreign jurisdiction; and
     • The business licenses or has sold to a Connected Person the intellectual property asset or earns separately identifiable income from a Foreign Connected Person in respect of the use or exploitation of the intellectual property asset.

ESR Notification

The amended Economic Substance Regulations confirm that ESR notifications must be filed within six months of the Licensees financial year-end.

Similarly, businesses that already submitted the ESR to their Regulatory Authorities will be required to do the re-submission of their notification on the Ministry of Finance portal. The guidance for the resubmission is not yet confirmed.

ESR Report Filing

All the Economic Substance Reports must be submitted within twelve months from the end of the Financial year.

Ministry of Finance Portal

The amended Economic Substance Regulations verify that the filing will be done electronically on the Ministry of Finance Portal.

The re-submission of the notification for those who already conformed with the ESR submission will likewise be done after the portal goes live.

Update as of November 2, 2020: portal will be live by first week of December; deadline of notification and report is no later than 31st December 2020.