Do you have a university or higher education institute in the UAE? You need to know what are the different classifications for VAT for your school? It is possible for you to have all the three types of Value added taxes - Standard Rated ( 5% ), Zero Rated ( 0%) & Exempt. This makes the VAT treatment slightly more complicated.

We have already explained the tax treatment for schools nurseries and pre-schools, to read more on that click here.

A university or higher education institute may have various types of income sources. You can see below how each income is treated for tax purposes.

The education services are to be zero-rated if the university of the higher education institution -

1. The institution is either owned by the federal or local government or receives more than 50% of its annual funding directly from the federal or local government, and
2. The curriculum and the educational institution are recognized by the competent federal or local government entity

If the institute qualifies, the following may also be zero rated -

1. Supply of goods or services where the supply is directly related to the zero-rated educational service; and
2. Supply of printed or digital reading materials that are related to the recognized curriculum

This means no additional VAT to be charged, i.e. this sale is taxable at 0% VAT. This way no additional tax burden will be on parents paying for the tuition fees.

                                                           

If your university or higher education institute does not qualify as per the above-discussed criteria, then the tuition fees will be charged at five percent VAT.

In this category, you charge 5% in addition to the actual charges. Some of the incomes that fall in this tax category are as follows -

1. Any supplies made to persons who are not enrolled in your university or higher education,
2. Electronic devices, food and beverages,
3. Field trips which are not directly related to the curriculum,
4. Extracurricular activities provided for an additional charge,
5. Rental of halls/auditoriums,
6. Courses to employees of corporates which are not in accordance with the curriculum recognized by the competent federal or local government entity, and
7. Clothing required to be worn, for example laboratory coats, irrespective of whether or not supplied by the higher education institute as part of the supply of educational services.