Journey B, part 6: The tax manager prepares the VAT return and submits it for sign-off

Steps

1. 1

   Check the quarter's transactions

   Open Tax Intelligence. Two rows belong to the quarter. The sale you recorded, MST-2026-0147, for 100,000 dirhams. And the supplier bill from Journey A for 80,000, which arrived from Accounting already classified.

2. 2

   Set the company's emirate

   Select Setup, then VAT Config. The VAT return asks for sales by emirate, so the company's emirate must be set. In Emirate choose Dubai, then select Save configuration. You do this once.

   • Select Setup
   • Select VAT Config
   • Select Select…
   • Choose Dubai
   • Select Save configuration
3. 3

   Open the workpaper

   Select More, then VAT Workpaper. This working paper lists every transaction behind every box of the return. Under Tax period, select 2026-Q3, then Generate Workpaper.

   • Select More
   • Select 2026-Q3
   • Select Generate Workpaper
4. 4

   Agree the workpaper to the return

   Read the table Agreement with the VAT return. For each box it shows the total of the transactions listed, the figure on the return, and the difference. Box 1, standard rated supplies, is 100,000. Box 9, standard rated expenses, is 80,000. Every difference is zero, so the return is fully supported. Download Excel gives the same workpaper to an auditor.

5. 5

   Open Returns and choose the quarter

   Select Back to Tax, then Returns. The VAT Return section opens with the filing frequency, Quarterly. Under Quick select, choose Q3. Period Start and Period End fill in as 1 July and 30 September 2026.

   • Select Returns
   • Select Q3
6. 6

   Compute the return

   Select Compute VAT Return. Three figures appear. Tax due on the sale, 5,000 dirhams. Recoverable tax on the purchase, 4,000. Net amount payable, 1,000. The line underneath gives the period and the due date, 28 October 2026, and the status Draft.

   • Select Compute VAT Return

   

7. 7

   Read the return form

   Scroll down to FTA Form 201, Box Layout. FTA is the Federal Tax Authority. This is the return exactly as it is keyed into the authority's EmaraTax portal. Box 1b, Dubai, holds the sales, because you set the emirate. Box 9 holds the purchase. Box 14 is the tax payable, 1,000.

8. 8

   Select Submit and Lock

   Scroll back to the status line and select Submit and Lock. The window explains that filing is a sign-off under your organisation's approval policy. Supporting documents is required.

   • Select Submit & Lock
9. 9

   Attach the computed return and add a comment

   Under Supporting documents, choose the file that shows what you are asking to have signed, here VAT-201-Q3-2026-computed-return.pdf. Leave the FTA filing reference empty: the return has not been submitted to the authority yet. In Comment, write a line for the person who signs next.

   • Upload Supporting documents *: VAT-201-Q3-2026-computed-return.pdf
   • Type Comment: Q3 2026 return agreed to the workpaper. Ready for finance sign-off.
10. 10

    Confirm, and give your reason as the preparer

    Select Confirm, File and Lock. Because you computed this return, the window now asks for a Self-approval justification and reminds you that it is flagged in the audit log. Type the reason.

    • Select Confirm, File & Lock
    • Type Self-approval justification *: I prepared this return. The finance manager gives the second sign-off.…
11. 11

    Confirm again and read the approval progress

    Select Confirm, File and Lock again. The return is still a Draft. Approval progress shows one of two steps complete: step one, approved by you and marked Self-approved with justification; step two, Finance sign-off, is the current step. The return now waits in the finance manager's Approvals inbox. Nothing is filed until he signs.

    • Select Confirm, File & Lock