The last three months of the year decide how much tax work you face in spring. If you run a business in the United States, the UAE, or both, a few steps now can save you time, penalties, and stress.
This checklist covers the basics for each country. Use it to plan your next meeting with your accountant.
US Business Owners
File Any Extended Returns
If you extended your 2025 personal return, it is due October 15, 2026. Interest on unpaid tax builds from the original April deadline. File as soon as your numbers are ready.
Review Your Estimated Payments
Self-employed owners and many pass-through business owners pay estimated tax each quarter. The fourth payment for 2026 is due January 15, 2027. Compare what you have paid so far with what you expect to owe. If you underpaid, an extra payment now can reduce penalties.
Clean Up Your Books Before December 31
Reconcile every bank and credit card account through September. Fix miscategorized expenses now, while you still remember what they were. Your accountant can plan only with accurate numbers.
Business owners who look for tax services augusta ga in January often find their books need weeks of cleanup first. Advisors at BJM Group, a group of CPA firms in Georgia and Florida, recommend a year-end planning meeting in October or November. That leaves time to act before the tax year closes.
Decide on Big Purchases
If you plan to buy equipment, vehicles, or software, timing matters. Ask your accountant how the purchase affects this year’s return versus next year’s. Do not buy something only for the deduction. Buy it because the business needs it.
Prepare for 1099s
Collect a W-9 from every contractor you paid this year. Form 1099-NEC is due to the IRS and to contractors by January 31. Missing W-9s are the most common reason these forms run late.
Keep the Right Records
The IRS generally asks you to keep records for at least three years after you file. Some situations require longer. Store receipts, bank statements, and payroll records in one place you can search.
UAE Business Owners
Understand Corporate Tax
The UAE introduced federal corporate tax for financial years starting on or after June 1, 2023. The standard rate is 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000. Income up to that amount is taxed at 0%.
Registration is required for businesses in scope, including many free zone companies. Free zone status can carry special rules, so confirm yours with an advisor.
Check Your VAT Position
UAE VAT is 5%. Registration is mandatory once your taxable supplies pass AED 375,000 in a 12-month period. Voluntary registration is open from AED 187,500.
Review your sales for the last 12 months. If you are close to the threshold, plan your registration before you cross it. Late registration carries penalties.
Keep Records for Five Years
UAE rules require businesses to keep accounting and tax records for at least five years. This includes invoices, contracts, and bank statements. Keep digital copies backed up outside your office.
Founders looking for an accountant dubai startups can work with usually ask one question first: do I need to register for corporate tax and VAT? The team at BJM Dubai suggests starting with your trade license, your free zone status, and your last 12 months of revenue. Those three facts answer most of the question.
If You Operate in Both Countries
Cross-border owners face extra steps. US citizens and green card holders file US returns no matter where they live. You may also need to report foreign bank accounts through an FBAR if your combined balances pass $10,000 at any point in the year.
Keep your US and UAE records separate. Use the same currency conversion method every year. Write down which method you used so you can explain it later.
Your Year-End Action List
- File any extended returns by October 15.
- Reconcile your books through September.
- Review estimated tax payments for the year.
- Collect W-9s from all US contractors.
- Check your UAE corporate tax and VAT registration status.
- Book a planning meeting with your accountant before mid-December.
Start with the item that carries the nearest deadline. Then work down the list.