Asan Tata— October 31, 2026Paying a tax bill is rarely the best part of running a business. In the UAE, it has just become a little more flexible. The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has added two new payment methods to its platform: Tabby and Jaywan. Taxpayers can now settle their dues through these channels, alongside the payment options that were already available.
The change was reported on 30 October 2026. It matters most for small businesses and freelancers who manage cash flow month by month. A large tax payment no longer has to leave the bank account in one go, at least where the new channels allow it. At the same time, the new options do not change how much tax is owed, or when it is due. They only change how the payment can be made.
This guide explains what has changed, how Tabby and Jaywan work, and what to check before you use them.
Quick Answer
The Federal Tax Authority now accepts Tabby and Jaywan as payment methods on its platform. Tabby is a buy now, pay later service. It pays the full amount to the authority first, and the customer then repays Tabby in instalments under agreed terms. Jaywan is the UAE’s national domestic card scheme, run under the Central Bank of the UAE. It gives cardholders another way to pay through local payment channels.
The new options sit alongside existing FTA payment routes, including bank transfer through a generated IBAN (GIBAN) and card payment through the MagnatiPay gateway. The tax amount and the due date shown in EmaraTax do not change because of the payment method. If you choose Tabby, check the instalment terms, any charges, and the repayment dates shown at checkout before you confirm.
What Has Changed
The FTA collects federal taxes in the UAE, including value added tax (VAT), excise tax, and corporate tax. Taxpayers normally manage their accounts through EmaraTax, the FTA’s online portal at eservices.tax.gov.ae. Payments made there must be linked to the correct tax type and liability, so the money is allocated to the right account.
Until now, the most common ways to pay were a bank transfer using a GIBAN, or a card payment through MagnatiPay. The addition of Tabby and Jaywan widens that list, following a wider move across UAE government services toward more digital and flexible payment options.
It is worth being precise about what was announced. The report of the change says the FTA has added Tabby and Jaywan to its platform. It does not publish a separate instalment period or transaction limit for FTA tax payments. Those details, if they apply, will appear in the payment flow itself. Do not assume that the terms used by another government body apply to the FTA.
What Is Tabby?
Tabby is a buy now, pay later platform that operates across the Middle East and North Africa. In simple terms, it splits a payment into smaller parts. The customer does not pay the full amount at once. Tabby settles the full amount with the seller, or in this case the government body, and the customer repays Tabby over time.
Tabby is not new to UAE government payments. In November 2025, the Ministry of Finance agreed that federal government fees and fines could be paid through Tabby in monthly instalments. Under that arrangement, Tabby pays the full amount to the government entity, and the customer repays Tabby under pre-agreed terms. The ministry said it had secured the best possible commission rate, and that any commission would be paid only by customers who choose the instalment service.
Other federal bodies followed in 2026. In July 2026, MOHRE added Tabby for its fees and fines, with instalments over four to 12 months and a maximum of Dh20,000 per transaction. In the same month, ICP added Tabby for its services, with instalments over three to 12 months, up to Dh20,000, subject to a credit assessment. These are the terms reported for those two bodies. They are not stated as the FTA’s terms.
For a taxpayer, the practical point is cash flow. A business that owes a large VAT amount in a slow month can spread the payment instead of draining its working capital. The risk is equally clear: an instalment plan is still a debt, and missed repayments can bring extra charges.
What Is Jaywan?
Jaywan is the UAE’s national domestic card scheme. It was launched by the Central Bank of the UAE to strengthen the country’s own payments system. In plain language, it is a home-grown card network, similar in purpose to the international card networks, but built for local use.
Jaywan cards are issued by UAE banks and can be used through payment channels that accept the scheme, including point-of-sale terminals, ATMs, and online payment pages. The scheme is part of the UAE’s push toward a more cashless economy, where more government and private payments move away from cash.
Jaywan has already been adopted for government payments beyond tax. In August 2026, the Ministry of Finance approved Aani and Jaywan as new payment channels for federal service fees and fines. Aani is the UAE’s national instant payment platform, also supervised by the Central Bank. It lets people transfer money instantly using a mobile number, Emirates ID, email address, QR code, or IBAN. Jaywan was also activated on DubaiPay, the platform used for Dubai government fees and services.
For residents, the benefit is simple. If your bank has given you a Jaywan card, you may now be able to use it where the FTA payment page offers it. Keep the payment receipt, as with any card payment.
How to Pay Your Tax with the New Options
The exact screens may vary, but the broad steps through EmaraTax are as follows.
Step 1: Log in to EmaraTax
Go to eservices.tax.gov.ae and log in with your registered details. Open the account for the correct tax type, such as VAT or corporate tax. Check the amount due and the period it relates to before you start a payment.
Step 2: Choose the liability and amount
Select the liability you want to pay. Enter the amount shown as due. Paying the wrong tax type, or the wrong period, can delay allocation, even if the money leaves your account.
Step 3: Pick Tabby or Jaywan at checkout
On the payment page, look for Tabby or Jaywan among the payment methods. If you pick Tabby, read the plan shown to you: the number of instalments, the amount of each instalment, the dates, and any charges. If you pick Jaywan, enter your card details as you would for any online card payment.
Step 4: Confirm and keep the receipt
Confirm the payment only after you have read the terms. Save or print the receipt, and check in EmaraTax that the payment has been allocated to the right liability. If it does not appear, keep the receipt and contact the FTA through its official channels. Do not pay the same liability twice while the first payment is still being processed.
Other Ways to Pay the FTA
The new methods do not replace the older ones. Many taxpayers will still prefer them, and for large amounts they may be the only practical route.
| Payment method | How it works | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer (GIBAN) | Transfer from your bank to your generated IBAN for the FTA | Use the payment reference number from EmaraTax so the money is allocated correctly |
| Card via MagnatiPay | Pay online with a Visa or Mastercard debit, prepaid, or credit card | The FTA’s gateway for online card payments; eDirham is no longer accepted |
| Tabby | Tabby settles the full amount; you repay in instalments | Check the instalment terms and charges shown at checkout for tax payments |
| Jaywan card | Pay with a UAE domestic scheme card | Use it where the payment page offers Jaywan as an option |
| Exchange house | Pay over the counter at a licensed exchange house | Carry your GIBAN, tax registration number, and the amount due |
The GIBAN route deserves a short warning. Every tax type has its own GIBAN, and the payment reference number generated in EmaraTax must be included. Without it, the payment may not be matched to your account, even though the money has left your bank.
What Has Not Changed
Three things stay exactly the same. First, the tax itself does not change. The amount due is set by your return and the law, not by the payment method. Second, the due date does not move. Paying through Tabby does not extend a deadline. The payment must still be made, and allocated, on time. Third, late payment can still bring penalties. A flexible payment method is not a waiver.
It is also important not to confuse a payment plan with a tax reduction. Tabby spreads the cost of paying. It does not reduce the tax, and it does not settle the liability for less than the amount owed. Anyone who promises a discount on a tax bill in exchange for a fee should be checked against the FTA’s own guidance.
Who Benefits Most, and Who Should Be Careful
Small businesses with uneven income are the most likely to benefit. A retailer with a strong season and a quiet season, or a freelancer paid late by a client, may prefer to split a tax bill rather than miss it.
Caution is needed in three cases. If the tax amount is large, check whether an instalment plan is offered for that amount, and what the total cost will be after any charges. If cash flow is already tight, a new monthly repayment can make the next month harder, not easier. And if the payment is close to its deadline, allow extra time, since a failed card payment still leaves the original due date in place.
As a rule, use instalments to manage timing, not to spend money you do not have. If the business cannot afford the repayments, paying in full from available funds, or seeking advice early, is safer than a plan that fails halfway.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay my UAE tax bill through Tabby?
Yes. The FTA has added Tabby as a payment method on its platform, as reported on 30 October 2026. Choose Tabby at checkout in EmaraTax and read the plan terms shown before you confirm.
Does Tabby reduce the amount of tax I owe?
No. Tabby pays the full amount to the FTA, and you repay Tabby. The tax liability itself stays the same, and any charges for the instalment service are separate from the tax.
What is a Jaywan card?
Jaywan is the UAE’s national domestic card scheme, launched by the Central Bank of the UAE. Banks in the UAE issue Jaywan cards, which can be used on payment channels that accept the scheme, including online government payment pages.
Can I still pay by bank transfer or card?
Yes. Bank transfer using your GIBAN, and card payment through MagnatiPay with Visa or Mastercard, remain available. The new methods are additions, not replacements.
What happens if I pay the wrong tax type?
The payment may not be allocated to the right liability. Always check the tax type and period in EmaraTax before paying, include the payment reference number for GIBAN transfers, and keep your receipt if you need to ask the FTA to correct an allocation.
Do the new payment methods change my tax deadline?
No. The due date shown in EmaraTax still applies. A payment plan changes how you pay, not when the tax is due, so complete the payment in good time.
Disclaimer
This article is general information only, not tax or financial advice. Payment options, instalment terms, and charges can change, and the terms shown at checkout in EmaraTax are the ones that apply to your payment. For your own tax position, check the FTA’s official guidance or speak to a qualified tax adviser in the UAE.
Last Updated: 31 October 2026
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