Why proper bookkeeping matters under UAE law
Under Federal Decree-Law 47/2022 on Corporate Tax and Federal Decree-Law 8/2017 on VAT, every taxable person in the UAE must maintain accounting records that let the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) verify tax liabilities at any time. From 2026, the FTA has intensified desk audits and cross-matching between VAT returns, corporate tax filing submissions and bank data, so books that are incomplete, inconsistent, or maintained only at year-end create real financial exposure.
Records must be retained for a minimum of 7 years, and larger or more complex entities are expected to prepare financial statements consistent with IFRS or IFRS for SMEs. Poor bookkeeping doesn't just risk penalties — it makes corporate tax registration, audits, bank facility applications and investor due diligence far harder than they need to be.
FTA-compliant businesses must keep invoices, ledgers, contracts and supporting documents for at least 7 years from the end of the relevant tax period — longer for real estate-related records.
Who needs ongoing bookkeeping support
- Mainland LLCs and sole establishments in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman and RAK filing VAT or preparing for corporate tax filing
- Free zone companies in IFZA, DMCC, Meydan, SHAMS and JAFZA that must still track revenue thresholds for Qualifying Free Zone Person status
- Growing SMEs that have outgrown spreadsheets and need a proper general ledger
- Startups needing clean books ahead of investment rounds or bank account opening
- Companies switching accountants and needing books rebuilt or reconciled
What our monthly bookkeeping service includes
- Bank and credit card reconciliation on a monthly cadence
- Sales and purchase invoice recording with correct VAT treatment
- Accounts payable and receivable tracking with ageing reports
- Fixed asset register and depreciation schedules
- Monthly management accounts: P&L, balance sheet, cash flow summary
- Chart of accounts mapped to Corporate Tax and VAT reporting categories
- Support ahead of VAT filing and corporate tax filing deadlines
All deliverables are reviewed by a tax expert before they reach you, and every engagement is run fully online — no in-person meetings required, though we're happy to visit Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman or RAK offices if preferred.
Cloud accounting tools we use
We work in the platform you already use, or help you migrate to one. Our team is proficient in Zoho Books, Xero and QuickBooks Online, and we configure UAE-specific VAT codes, multi-currency handling and automated bank feeds from day one.
| Platform | Best for | Typical setup time |
|---|---|---|
| Zoho Books | SMEs already on the Zoho ecosystem | 2–3 business days |
| Xero | Companies needing strong third-party app integrations | 3–5 business days |
| QuickBooks Online | Businesses with US/UK group reporting needs | 2–4 business days |
Step-by-step onboarding process
- 1Free discovery call to understand transaction volume, entity structure and current bookkeeping status
- 2Document collection: trade licence, bank statements, existing ledgers, prior VAT/CT filings
- 3Chart of accounts setup or review, mapped to VAT and Corporate Tax categories
- 4Historical data migration or opening balance reconciliation
- 5Assignment of a dedicated tax expert and bookkeeper as your point of contact
- 6First monthly close delivered within 10 business days, with review call
- 7Ongoing monthly cadence with WhatsApp support and quarterly check-ins
Documents we typically need
- Valid trade licence and Memorandum of Association
- Bank statements (all accounts, all currencies)
- Sales invoices, purchase invoices and expense receipts
- Payroll records if applicable — see our payroll management service
- Prior year financial statements or trial balance, if available
- Existing accounting software export, if switching providers
Transparent, volume-based pricing
Bookkeeping fees scale with transaction volume, not guesswork. Use our pricing page or packages for full package comparisons, and speak to us for a fixed monthly quote once we understand your invoice count and bank activity.
| Monthly transactions | Indicative monthly fee (AED) |
|---|---|
| Up to 50 | From AED 799 |
| 51–150 | From AED 1,299 |
| 151–300 | From AED 1,999 |
| 300+ | Custom quote |
All fees are fixed and quoted upfront — no hidden charges, and every plan includes a tax expert review before delivery.
Consequences of poor or missing records
FTA penalties for failing to maintain adequate accounting records start at AED 10,000 for a first offence and AED 20,000 for repeat failures, on top of estimated tax assessments that assume the worst-case liability when records can't substantiate your filings. Weak bookkeeping also delays VAT registration, VAT deregistration and any future audit or due diligence process.
A Dubai trading company with disorganised records failed to substantiate AED 180,000 of input VAT claims during an FTA audit. The claims were disallowed, triggering AED 9,000 in tax plus penalties — costs that clean monthly bookkeeping would have avoided entirely.
Free zone bookkeeping considerations
Companies in IFZA, DMCC, Meydan, SHAMS and JAFZA must maintain books that clearly separate qualifying and non-qualifying income to preserve 0% Corporate Tax treatment on qualifying activities. This requires disciplined revenue tagging from the point of invoicing — something we build directly into your chart of accounts during onboarding, alongside guidance from our tax advisory team.
Why choose Tax Easy UAE
- 100% online service — no office visits required across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman or RAK
- Every deliverable reviewed by a tax expert, not just a data-entry clerk
- Fixed, transparent AED pricing with no year-end surprises
- 30-minute WhatsApp response commitment during business hours
- Seamless handoff into corporate tax registration, VAT registration and financial reporting