The Federal Tax Authority announced that the comprehensive features of the 'Maskan' application, designed to enhance efficiency and speed in the VAT recovery process through straightforward and transparent procedures, will be fully implemented in the second phase following the initial rollout two days ago.
The initial phase of Maskan enables UAE citizens to recover Value Added Tax incurred during the construction of their new homes using entirely paperless, digital methods. Applicants can establish their own files and input tax invoices related to home construction supplies by uploading documents or attaching photos and submitting their refund requests.
The second phase, scheduled to commence before the end of July 2024, will introduce all functionalities of Maskan, allowing citizens to scan a barcode from the app to upload tax invoices directly from registered outlets into their accounts, eliminating the need for traditional paper invoices which are prone to loss or damage.
The digital platform, developed in alignment with transformative projects, adheres to the latest standards to ensure operational efficiency and speed, offering UAE citizens a streamlined, faster, and more integrated process for recovering VAT on home construction. Khalid Ali Al Bustani, Director General of the FTA, highlighted that the launch of the Maskan digital platform is part of efforts to realize the vision of the wise leadership to create a modern housing system that promotes citizen happiness and high-quality living.
Al Bustani emphasized that the app launch is in line with the FTA's ongoing development plans to align with the government's digital strategy, aiming to provide sustainable, innovative services that reflect the excellence of the government system. Abdullah Al Bastaki, Executive Director of the Information Technology Sector at the FTA, noted that Maskan is part of the Authority's commitment to the Zero-Government Bureaucracy (ZGB) program, enhancing public service efficiency.
The FTA anticipates that the new app will greatly improve citizen satisfaction with the VAT refund service, featuring capabilities such as unified login access, personal QR code generation, and automatic calculation of eligible VAT refunds. The application is integral to the federal government's transformative projects for 2023-2024, aiming to propel the UAE towards future competitiveness and economic innovation.
The FTA is actively involved in a government program targeting the elimination of 2,000 government procedures within a year and reducing service times by 50%, fostering strong private sector partnerships to accelerate the implementation of Zero Bureaucracy.
