UAE Bookkeeping from AED 500 per Month, FTA Audit-Ready
Accurate, up-to-date books every month so your VAT returns file on time, your auditors have what they need, and your business decisions are based on real numbers. The UAE Tax Procedures Law requires 7-year record retention. The FTA can request records at any time. Penalties for inadequate records start at AED 10,000. From AED 500 per month.
Who Needs Professional Bookkeeping in the UAE
Every UAE business with tax obligations needs proper financial records under the UAE Tax Procedures Law. Records must be maintained for 7 years and the FTA can request them at any time during an audit. Beyond the legal requirement, accurate monthly books are the foundation for timely VAT returns, CT return preparation, external audit, and informed business decisions. A missed transaction in January compounds through every reconciliation until year-end, and unwinding one bad year of bookkeeping costs far more than maintaining clean records throughout.
| Business Situation | Why Bookkeeping Is Urgent |
|---|---|
| VAT-registered business | VAT returns require accurate input and output VAT records per period. Bad books mean wrong returns and FTA penalties. |
| CT-registered entity | CT return is prepared from financial statements. No books means no CT return, penalty AED 500 per month. |
| Free zone company (QFZP) | QFZP status requires audited accounts. Auditors need complete books to sign off. |
| Business with in-house admin handling accounts | Reconciliation errors compound. One bad year takes months to unwind before an audit. |
| Owner doing their own accounts | Owner time is worth more than bookkeeping cost. Delegate the ledger, focus on revenue. |
Source: UAE Tax Procedures Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 28 of 2021. Records retention: 7 years mandatory for all taxable persons.
How Our Bookkeeping Service Works
System Setup and Migration
We set up or migrate your chart of accounts in your preferred platform: Xero, QuickBooks Online, Zoho Books, or Tally. If you have a transaction backlog, we catch it up before going live on the monthly retainer. Backlog work is quoted separately and completed before the retainer starts.
Monthly Close
Each month we post all transactions, reconcile bank and credit card statements, allocate expenses, and close the period. You receive a profit and loss statement and balance sheet within 5 business days of month-end. All records are mapped to VAT treatment: standard-rated, zero-rated, exempt, or out-of-scope.
VAT and Compliance-Ready Output
At quarter-end we hand off VAT-reconciled data to file your return, or we file it directly if you are on our VAT Return plan. Year-end we coordinate with your external auditors and provide the trial balance, general ledger, and supporting schedules in the format they request. All records maintained for FTA audit readiness.
Monthly Retainer. No Setup Fee for New Companies.
Billed monthly, cancel with 30 days notice. Fee based on transaction volume.
Starter
- ✓Up to 100 transactions per month
- ✓Bank reconciliation (1 account)
- ✓Monthly P&L and balance sheet
- ✓VAT-coded transaction mapping
- ✓Xero or QuickBooks (client licence)
- ✓Email support
Growing Business
- ✓Up to 500 transactions per month
- ✓Bank reconciliation up to 3 accounts
- ✓Monthly management accounts
- ✓Payroll journal posting
- ✓Accounts payable and receivable tracking
- ✓Dedicated bookkeeper plus monthly review call
Full-time in-house bookkeeper in Dubai: AED 5,000 to 8,000 per month. Our service delivers the same monthly output for a fraction of the cost.
Why CalcUAE for Bookkeeping
VAT-Coded from Day One
Every transaction is coded to the correct VAT treatment as it is posted. At quarter-end your VAT return data is already reconciled, not scrambled together the night before the deadline.
FTA Audit-Ready
All bookkeeping is maintained with FTA audit-readiness in mind. Proper VAT coding, 7-year retention policy, and reconciliation to filed VAT returns. We provide records in FTA-requested format if you receive an audit notice.
Backlog Catch-Up Available
Behind on your books? We quote backlog work separately and complete it before starting the monthly retainer. Typical backlog: AED 200 to 500 per month of transactions.
Connects to Your Tax Filings
Bookkeeping, VAT return filing, and CT return filing are handled by the same team. No handover between your bookkeeper and your tax agent. One consistent set of records, one team.
UAE Bookkeeping: Common Questions
What accounting software do you support?
We work in Xero, QuickBooks Online, Zoho Books, and Tally. If you use a different platform, contact us. We have experience with most UAE-common accounting systems. If you do not currently use any system, we recommend Xero or QuickBooks Online and can set up your account and chart of accounts from scratch.
How do you get access to my bank statements?
You share monthly bank statements by secure file transfer, or we can set up read-only bank feed access via your bank's portal where available. We never have direct access to your bank accounts or the ability to initiate transactions.
Can you handle backlog catch-up?
Yes. We quote backlog work separately at AED 200 to 500 per month of catch-up depending on transaction volume. We complete the backlog before starting the monthly retainer so your records are clean from the date the retainer begins.
Do you handle payroll?
We post payroll journals and reconcile the payroll liability account as part of the bookkeeping service. Full payroll processing including WPS submissions and payslips is available as an add-on to any bookkeeping plan. Contact us to discuss payroll volume and requirements.
Will my records be ready for an FTA audit?
Yes. All bookkeeping is maintained with FTA audit-readiness as a baseline requirement. This means proper VAT coding on every transaction, reconciliation of books to filed VAT returns each quarter, and records maintained in a format the FTA accepts. If you receive an FTA audit notice, we provide the full records package in the format the FTA requests.
How long must UAE businesses keep financial records?
The UAE Tax Procedures Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 28 of 2021, requires taxable persons to maintain financial records for a minimum of 7 years. This applies to all VAT-registered and CT-registered businesses. The FTA can request records from any of these 7 years during an audit. We maintain your records for the full 7-year retention period as part of the ongoing bookkeeping service.
Clean Books from Next Month
Tell us your transaction volume and current software. We send a fixed monthly quote within 24 hours. From AED 500 per month.
WhatsApp +971 55 963 0486