diff --git a/erpnext/regional/united_arab_emirates/utils.py b/erpnext/regional/united_arab_emirates/utils.py
index 772bbf5914..a0425f6b1c 100644
--- a/erpnext/regional/united_arab_emirates/utils.py
+++ b/erpnext/regional/united_arab_emirates/utils.py
@@ -11,14 +11,17 @@ def update_itemised_tax_data(doc):
 
 	for row in doc.items:
 		tax_rate = 0.0
-		item_tax_rate = frappe.parse_json(row.item_tax_rate)
+		item_tax_rate = 0.0
+
+		if row.item_tax_rate:
+			item_tax_rate = frappe.parse_json(row.item_tax_rate)
 
 		# First check if tax rate is present
 		# If not then look up in item_wise_tax_detail
 		if item_tax_rate:
 			for account, rate in iteritems(item_tax_rate):
 				tax_rate += rate
-		elif itemised_tax.get(row.item_code):
+		elif row.item_code and itemised_tax.get(row.item_code):
 			tax_rate = sum([tax.get('tax_rate', 0) for d, tax in itemised_tax.get(row.item_code).items()])
 
 		row.tax_rate = flt(tax_rate, row.precision("tax_rate"))