06/06/2026
HOW TO APPLY REVERSE CHARGE MECHANISM ON METAL SCRAP TRADING / VAT 5% APPLY ON MET SCRAP TRADING ?
Recently, we have been receiving many enquiries regarding the charge mechanism related to metal scrap trading.
Below, we explain in detail the process of metal scrap trading from the perspective of both the buyer and the seller.
Usually, there are two parties involved in normal trading:
Buyer and Seller
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From the Seller’s Side
There are two treatments:
• Treatment 1:
If the seller is selling to a VAT-registered buyer, the supplier does not charge VAT or report output VAT.
Treatment 2:
If the seller is selling to an unregistered buyer, the seller must charge 5% VAT.
In general, VAT is not charged on scrap sales under the reverse charge mechanism, but the transaction must still be reported in the FTA VAT return. Therefore, scrap can be sold without VAT, subject to certain conditions.
What are the conditions?
1. The seller must collect a declaration from the buyer confirming that the scrap is being purchased for the purpose of resale, manufacturing, or reproduction etc..
2. The buyer must be a VAT-registered person in the UAE.
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From the Buyer’s Side
The buyer is required to record the transaction under the reverse charge mechanism.
What is the reverse charge mechanism?
It means that the buyer is responsible for accounting for VAT instead of the seller. The buyer must calculate VAT on the purchase, but no VAT is paid to the seller.
From an accounting perspective, the buyer should record both output VAT and input VAT, which will offset each other, resulting in a nil VAT impact, subject to eligibility.