⭐ UAE Corporate Tax – Exam-Favorite: Related Party vs Connected Person

🔹 1️⃣ Related Party (RP)

Who are they?
Parties that have control, common ownership, or significant influence over each other.

📌 Examples

  • Parent & subsidiary companies
  • Sister companies under same owner
  • Company & shareholder
  • Company & director
  • Company & close family of owner

👉 Rule:
Transactions must be at arm’s length (market price)
✔ Expense allowed only to the extent of market value


🔹 2️⃣ Connected Person (CP)

Who are they?
Individuals connected to the business who can influence decisions.

📌 Examples

  • Owner / shareholder
  • Director
  • Manager
  • Close relatives (spouse, parents, siblings, children)

👉 Rule:
Expense is allowed ONLY IF:

  • It is wholly & exclusively for business AND
  • It is at market value

❌ Otherwise → fully or partially disallowed


🧠 KEY EXAM DIFFERENCE (Must Remember)

PointRelated PartyConnected Person
Applies toCompanies & personsOnly individuals
Main testArm’s lengthBusiness purpose + market value
Excess amountDisallowedDisallowed
Common exam trickOverpriced rentPersonal salary/fees

✍️ SUPER COMMON

Rent paid to owner’s brother at above market rate is…?

Related party transaction
✔ Excess over market value disallowed


Salary paid to owner’s wife without proof of work is…?

Connected person expense
Fully disallowed


🔥 One-Line Memory Trick

“RP = Price test | CP = Purpose + Price test”

If you remember this line, you’ll nail 90% of questions.


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