Covid impact: UAE reduces penalties on VAT, excise tax Waheed Abbas/Dubai (KT file) The new provisions will be applicable 60 days as from April 28, 2021. The UAE has reduced old penalties on value-added tax (VAT) and excise tax in order to help companies and individuals better cope with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to newly-released Cabinet Decision No. 49 of 2021, tax payers who currently have penalties pending can see those reduced to 30 per cent, provided they settle them before December 31, 2021. Going forward, late payment penalties will be reduced to four per cent per ...