Do the product movements agree with the excise return?
Return preparation needs operational records as well as the accounting ledger, because declarations feed the reported figures.
| Record set | Check before approval |
|---|---|
| Products and quantities | Use consistent product identifiers and units across the product master, warehouse records and declarations; investigate changes in classification. |
| Imports, production and transfers | Confirm that the relevant movements have been declared and reconcile differences between operational reports and the return. |
| Exports and proposed deductions | Keep the evidence and approvals required for the specific treatment; a stock adjustment alone does not establish a tax deduction. |
| Return and payment | Review the pre-populated values, resolve exceptions and obtain management approval before filing; confirm payment responsibility separately. |
Check the assigned reporting period and deadline in EmaraTax rather than assuming a warehouse report is the complete tax record.
The scope identifies which declarations our team prepares and which records must come from your warehouse or logistics provider.
Work to the assigned reporting period
The FTA's current guide describes a standard calendar-month tax period and filing and payment by the 15th day of the following month, with the stated next-working-day rule and possible different periods in applicable cases. We check your actual account and deadline. See the FTA guide, chapter 11.
The preparation timetable allows for information from outside the finance department. Product movements may be recorded in warehouse systems or by logistics providers before they appear in the ledger. We agree the data cut-off and query process so that the return can be checked against the complete period activity.
Reconcile the declarations with the movements
We compare the relevant import, production, transfer and other activity records with the declarations that feed the return. Pre-populated figures still require review; missing or incorrect source declarations can affect the resulting tax position. The FTA guide explains that declaration data populates the return and must be verified by the taxpayer. Read the return-preparation requirements.
We use product identifiers and consistent quantities to compare the reports, investigate differences and distinguish timing issues from omitted activity. Opening and closing stock can provide an additional check. The engagement states which declarations we prepare and which your operational team or another authorised party is responsible for supplying.
Support deductions and product-specific treatment
A damaged item, an export or a warehouse difference does not automatically create a deduction. We review the applicable evidence and procedure before including a proposed adjustment. Lost and damaged excise goods have a specific declaration process, which should be considered on its facts. See the FTA service for lost and damaged goods.
For sweetened drinks, we review the product classification and the information supporting the current tiered volumetric calculation. Changes to product composition, certificates or registrations should reach the return preparer promptly. See the current FTA sweetened-drink model. A recurring return process should not continue using an obsolete product assumption simply because it was used in a previous period.
Keep a complete period record
We provide the draft return and reconciliation points for management approval, then support authorised filing. The period file includes the submitted information, acknowledgement and records supporting material adjustments. Payment responsibility is explicit. If the review uncovers an earlier error or incomplete product registration, we identify the additional work rather than silently treating it as part of a routine filing.
Documents and records to prepare
Tick the records you already have. The final request depends on your entity, the period and the work agreed. Please do not send financial records through this website.
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How the work starts
Collect the movement record
We obtain the period declarations and product information from the responsible operational and finance contacts.
Reconcile and review
We investigate differences, assess supporting evidence and prepare the draft tax position.
Approve and submit
Management approves the return before authorised filing, with payment and outstanding actions clearly assigned.
What affects the scope and fee?
- Number of products and movements
- Imports, production and designated-zone complexity
- Condition of stock and declaration records
- Adjustments, deductions and historical corrections
We set out the deliverables, responsibilities and fee in the proposal. Work outside that scope is discussed before it is added.
Excise tax returns FAQs
Can we rely on the figures automatically shown in EmaraTax?
They should be checked against your actual activity and the declarations submitted. A return can inherit an error or omission from its source information. We reconcile the relevant records and investigate differences before presenting the draft for approval, rather than treating a pre-populated figure as evidence that every movement has been reported correctly.
Who needs to provide the information for the return?
Usually more than the accountant. Warehouse, logistics, purchasing or production teams may hold the quantity and movement records needed to explain the tax position. We agree named contacts and a document timetable at onboarding. Your proposal also identifies any declarations handled by third parties so missing information can be followed up promptly.
Can damaged or lost stock simply be deducted?
No automatic deduction should be assumed. The circumstances, evidence and applicable declaration or approval procedure need review. We ask for the incident record and stock information, then assess the treatment within the agreed scope. A physical stock write-off in the accounts is not by itself a complete excise-tax explanation.
Do you also maintain our inventory records?
Only if that work is separately agreed. Excise return preparation uses and reconciles the records supplied; it is not automatically a warehouse-management or stocktaking service. If the underlying quantities cannot be supported, we explain the additional reconciliation or inventory work required before relying on them for a tax return.
What happens if an earlier declaration or return is wrong?
We identify the transaction, period and resulting effect, then assess the appropriate correction procedure under current requirements. Historical correction is recorded separately from the current filing. Where the issue affects product records or several declarations, we explain the connected actions so that correcting one item does not leave another inconsistency unresolved.
Sources and further reading
Original page research: 5 October 2026. Service comparison and preparation checklist updated: 9 October 2026. Requirements can change; check the linked authority guidance for the latest position.
- FTA Taxable Persons Guide for Excise Tax, January 2026
- FTA declaration of lost and damaged excise goods
- FTA tiered volumetric model for sweetened drinks
- FTA excise goods registration requirements
