Accounting Services
Accounting in the UAE requires more than recording transactions. With Corporate Tax filing obligations, FTA VAT compliance, QFZP substance documentation, and annual audit requirements all drawing on the same underlying financial data, the quality of your management accounts directly affects your regulatory position. Affinitas provides accounting and bookkeeping services that integrate compliance filing with management reporting — giving you accurate financial data and a consistent CT and VAT position in a single engagement.
The accounting team works alongside the CT and VAT advisory practices. VAT returns, Corporate Tax filings, and management accounts are co-ordinated rather than treated as separate engagements — reducing duplication and ensuring the numbers are consistent across every submission to the FTA.
What Affinitas Provides
Affinitas structures each accounting engagement around the UAE regulatory calendar. The scope covers:
- Corporate Tax integration: Management accounts structured from the outset to support the CT return — qualifying income classification, QFZP substance documentation, and intercompany transaction records built into the bookkeeping process.
- VAT compliance: Return preparation, FTA submission, and reconciliation with management accounts each quarter. VAT registration managed where required.
- Management reporting: Quarterly P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow — formatted for management decisions and consistent with CT and VAT submissions.
- Regulatory calendar management: VAT filing dates, CT deadlines, and audit submission windows tracked and initiated in advance — not reactively.
- Fixed-fee pricing: Scope and fees agreed at engagement start. No hourly billing or per-transaction charges beyond the agreed package parameters.
Accounting Services Offered
| Service | Description | Regulatory link |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Bookkeeping | Transaction recording, bank reconciliation, accounts payable and receivable | Underpins CT and VAT returns |
| Quarterly Financial Statements | P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow in IFRS-compatible format | Required for annual audit and CT filing |
| VAT Returns and Filing | Accurate VAT calculation and FTA submission | Avoid FTA penalties for late or incorrect filing |
| Corporate Tax Return | CT return preparation co-ordinated with management accounts | FTA CT filing deadline compliance |
| Payroll Management | Salary processing, WPS compliance, payroll records | MOHRE and bank compliance |
| Accounting Software Setup | Zoho Books implementation, chart of accounts, invoice and report configuration | Audit trail and FTA-ready records |
Services in Detail
- Monthly Bookkeeping and Reconciliation. Transaction recording against the agreed chart of accounts, monthly bank reconciliation, and accounts payable and receivable management. Reconciliation is performed against bank statements — errors and omissions identified before they reach the quarterly close.
- Quarterly Financial Statements. P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow prepared quarterly in IFRS-compatible format. Structured to support the annual audit and the CT return — the same numbers, consistently applied.
- VAT Returns and Filing. VAT return preparation from the management accounts, FTA portal submission, and reconciliation of input and output tax. Affinitas manages the full filing cycle and responds to FTA queries.
- Corporate Tax Return Preparation. CT return prepared from the management accounts with qualifying income classification, disallowable expense identification, and QFZP computation where applicable. Co-ordinated with the CT advisory team.
- Accounting Software Setup and Support. Zoho Books implementation, chart of accounts configuration, invoice and quotation templates, and user training. Ongoing support for month-end close and report generation.
Additional services available depending on your structure and requirements:
- Transfer pricing documentation (intercompany transaction records)
- QFZP substance documentation for qualifying income computation
- Budgeting and forecasting
- Consolidated accounts for multi-entity groups
Accounting Packages
Affinitas offers fixed-fee accounting packages scaled to your transaction volume and regulatory obligations. All packages include monthly bookkeeping, quarterly management accounts, VAT return filing, and a monthly review call. Packages are billed quarterly in advance.
For businesses new to the UAE, the engagement includes FTA Tax Registration Number (TRN) registration, accounting software setup, and configuration of invoicing and reporting workflows. Corporate Tax return preparation is included in the Platinum package and available as an add-on for other tiers.
Contact us for a package quote based on your transaction volume and regulatory scope.
When to Engage Accounting Support
The right moment to engage external accounting support is before the regulatory calendar forces the issue. Common triggers:
- Corporate Tax registration required — and the management accounts are not structured to support the CT return
- First VAT return filing period approaching with no return preparation in place
- Annual audit required by the free zone authority and financial statements are not audit-ready
- QFZP eligibility being assessed and qualifying income documentation is missing
- Management accounts needed for banking, investor reporting, or a group consolidation
FAQ: Accounting and Corporate Tax in the UAE
What accounting services does Affinitas provide?
Monthly and quarterly bookkeeping, management accounts, VAT registration and return filing, Corporate Tax return preparation, payroll management, and accounting software setup. All engagements are structured around the UAE regulatory calendar — VAT, CT, and audit deadlines managed as a co-ordinated programme.
How does Affinitas integrate accounting with Corporate Tax?
The accounting team works alongside the CT advisory practice. Management accounts are structured from the outset to support the CT return — qualifying income classification, QFZP substance documentation, and intercompany transaction records built into the bookkeeping process. This eliminates the reconciliation gap that arises when CT and accounting are handled separately.
When must a UAE business register for VAT?
Businesses with taxable supplies exceeding AED 375,000 annually are required to register for VAT. Voluntary registration is available if annual taxable supplies exceed AED 187,500. Affinitas manages the FTA registration process and all subsequent VAT return filings.
How often must VAT returns be filed?
VAT returns in the UAE are typically filed quarterly. The FTA may assign specific filing periods based on the nature of your business. Late or incorrect filings attract FTA penalties — Affinitas tracks the filing calendar and prepares each return in advance of the deadline.
What penalties apply for VAT non-compliance?
Penalties for failing to comply with VAT regulations include late payment fines and penalties for incorrect filings. The FTA has significantly increased enforcement activity since 2023. Accurate and timely submissions are the only reliable way to avoid penalties.
Are accounting records required for the Corporate Tax return?
Yes. UAE Corporate Tax requires taxable persons to maintain financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS (or IFRS for SMEs, where applicable). The CT return is prepared from these financial statements. Businesses without audit-ready accounts at the CT filing date face filing delays and potential FTA penalties.
Get in Touch
Affinitas provides accounting, bookkeeping, VAT, and Corporate Tax services as an integrated engagement for UAE-registered businesses. Contact us to discuss your accounting requirements and the package that fits your structure.