What Is a TRN in the UAE and How Do You Verify One?
What a Tax Registration Number is, how to check a supplier's TRN on the FTA website and why it matters for recovering input VAT.
By Countify's ACCA/FCCA chartered certified accountants
What is a TRN?
A Tax Registration Number (TRN) is the 15-digit number the Federal Tax Authority issues when a business registers for tax. VAT-registered businesses must show their TRN on every tax invoice, and must show the customer's TRN too where the customer is VAT registered.
How to verify a TRN
The FTA provides a free TRN verification service on its website (tax.gov.ae). Enter the 15-digit number and the service confirms whether it is valid and shows the registered name of the business in English and Arabic.
Check that the name returned matches the supplier on the invoice. A valid TRN belonging to a different business is a warning sign.
Why it matters
You can only recover input VAT on a valid tax invoice from a VAT-registered supplier. If a supplier charges VAT but is not registered, or uses someone else's TRN, the FTA can deny your input tax claim. Verifying new suppliers takes a minute and protects your VAT return.
What a valid tax invoice shows
- The words "Tax Invoice".
- The supplier's name, address and TRN.
- The customer's name, address and TRN where the customer is registered.
- A sequential invoice number and the date of issue.
- A description of the goods or services, the unit price, quantity and any discount.
- The VAT rate, the VAT amount in AED and the total amount payable.
Finding your own TRN certificate
Your VAT and corporate tax registration certificates can be downloaded at any time from your EmaraTax account. If your licence, name or address has changed, update your registration so the certificate stays accurate.
How Countify can help
Our bookkeeping team checks supplier invoices and TRNs as part of every VAT return, so input tax claims are supported before they reach the FTA.
This guide is general information and reflects the rules at the time of writing. UAE tax rules change, so check the latest FTA guidance or speak to us before acting.
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