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Can you claim VAT on laundry servicesin the UAE?

Last reviewed

Can you recover the VAT?
Depends
VAT charged
5%
Corporate tax
Deductible

Recoverable for uniforms and business linen. Blocked for personal laundry.

Still being confirmed. Laundry during a business trip is commonly treated as a travel cost, but the FTA hasn't confirmed this. Claim it only as part of a business trip, with a receipt showing VAT and a TRN.

When you can claim the VATand when it's blocked

You can claim

  • Recoverable for uniforms and for linen used at business premises.
  • Laundry during a business trip is commonly treated as part of travel costs.

You can't claim

  • Personal laundry is blocked.

Worked examplesand why they land that way

  1. Recoverable

    Weekly uniform cleaning for hotel staff

    Cleaning uniforms the job requires is a business cost, so the 5% is recoverable.

What to keepand what to watch

Documents you need

Tax invoice.

Corporate tax

Deductible. Deductible when business-related.

GL account: Cleaning and laundry

Common mistakes

Claiming VAT on an employee's personal laundry.

Questions peopleask about this

Is laundry on a business trip recoverable?

It's commonly treated as part of travel costs, but the FTA hasn't confirmed this. Claim it only as part of a business trip, with a receipt showing VAT and a TRN.

What about linen at business premises?

Laundry for linen used at business premises is recoverable.

Is personal laundry ever recoverable?

No. It's a personal benefit, so the VAT is blocked.

Relatedexpenses

Rules thisanswer relies on

Legal basis: Exec. Reg. Art. 53(1)(c)

Sources

General treatment for VAT-registered UAE mainland businesses making fully taxable supplies. Free zones, partial exemption, government entities, and the facts of a specific purchase can change the answer. This guide isn't tax advice.