The Most Cost-Effective Way to Outsource Your Accounting
For a UAE business that doesn't have an in-house accountant, the choice is usually between paying month-to-month or committing to an annual subscription. Both options give you the same scope. The annual subscription saves you AED 500.
Annual Accounting Subscription
What's Included — Everything You Need
Annual Package Inclusions
- Monthly bookkeeping — IFRS-compliant double-entry accounting for all transactions
- Sales & purchase entry — invoices recorded against customers and suppliers
- Bank reconciliation — monthly matching of bank statement to ledger
- Expense recording — properly categorised and supported with receipts
- Monthly trial balance — ready for review and decision-making
- Quarterly VAT 201 returns — 4 filings per year, full input/output reconciliation
- Annual corporate tax return — SBR election or full return as applicable
- EmaraTax submissions — VAT and CT filings handled end-to-end
- FTA acknowledgement & follow-up — confirmations stored for your records
- Deadline tracking — VAT quarterly + CT annual deadlines never missed
- Email support — questions answered through the year
The Math — Annual vs Monthly Billing
| Billing Option | Cost Per Month | Annual Total | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly billing | AED 499 | AED 5,988 (12 × 499) | — |
| Annual subscription | Effective AED 457/month | AED 5,488 | AED 500 |
✅ AED 500 saved by paying annually. Same scope, same team, same quality. The only difference is the billing cycle. If cash flow allows, the annual option is straightforwardly better value.
What Bookkeeping Looks Like Month to Month
Each month, here's what we handle:
Transaction collection. You send us your bank statements, invoices issued, supplier bills, expense receipts, and any other relevant documents. We use shared folders or accounting software to streamline this.
Recording. Every transaction is recorded in the books — sales against customers, purchases against suppliers, expenses categorised by nature (rent, utilities, salaries, etc.).
Bank reconciliation. We match the bank statement balance to the ledger balance. Any discrepancies are investigated and resolved.
Trial balance preparation. A monthly trial balance shows your financial position — debits equal credits, books are in order.
Reporting. You receive a monthly summary showing revenue, expenses, profit/loss, and key balances. This is your basis for business decisions.
Quarterly VAT Filing — Built In
Every quarter, we prepare and file your VAT 201 return on EmaraTax. Because we maintain your books continuously, the VAT return preparation is fast — we already have all the input and output VAT data organised.
4 filings per year (Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, Jul-Sep, Oct-Dec). Each return is filed within 28 days of quarter end. Late filing penalty (AED 1,000–2,000) is entirely avoided.
Annual CT Return — Also Included
9 months after your financial year end, your CT return is due. Because we maintain your books year-round, the CT return preparation flows naturally from the data we already have. We elect Small Business Relief if you qualify (revenue ≤ AED 3M) or prepare a full return if not.
Late CT filing penalty (AED 500/month, compounding indefinitely) is entirely avoided.
Subscribe to the Annual Accounting Package
AED 5,488/year. Bookkeeping + VAT + CT all included. Save AED 500 vs monthly billing.
Who This Package Is For
Small businesses without in-house accountants. If you're handling everything yourself or outsourcing piecemeal, the annual package gives you proper financial infrastructure.
Free zone companies needing renewal-ready accounts. IFZA (and other free zones) now require financial statements at renewal. Year-round bookkeeping means renewal-ready books are always available.
Companies wanting predictable compliance costs. One annual subscription replaces variable charges across multiple providers.
Founders who want to focus on their business. No more spending Sunday evenings reconciling bank statements or panicking over deadlines.
Companies with both VAT and CT obligations. The bundle handles both. No coordination needed across providers.
What's NOT Included — Add-Ons
The annual package is comprehensive but not unlimited. Some services may need separate engagement:
Audit (statutory or voluntary): If your free zone or another regulator requires audited financial statements, that's a separate audit engagement (typically AED 1,499+ depending on complexity).
Payroll processing & WPS: If you have employees, payroll processing through WPS-compliant systems is a separate add-on.
VAT registration (one-time): AED 199 if you're not yet registered. VAT registration service →
CT registration (one-time): AED 199 if you're not yet registered. CT registration service →
Liquidation reports: If you're closing the company. AED 1,499+ depending on free zone.
VAT refund applications: AED 499 first quarter, AED 249 per additional quarter.
Penalty waiver applications: AED 250.
Comparing Packages — Which One Should You Choose?
| Feature | Annual CT Package | VAT + CT Bundle | Annual Accounting Package |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual price | AED 249–499 | AED 1,045–1,295 | AED 5,488 |
| Monthly bookkeeping | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Bank reconciliation | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Quarterly VAT filing | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Annual CT filing | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Best for | CT-only filers (no VAT, no books needed) | You maintain books in-house | You need full back-office service |
Read more: Annual CT Package → | VAT + CT Bundle →
Why Year-Round Accounting Matters
Books are always renewal-ready. When IFZA or your free zone asks for financial statements at renewal, you don't scramble.
VAT data is always current. Quarterly filings flow from already-recorded transactions. No last-minute data dumps.
CT return is straightforward. The annual return draws from already-prepared monthly accounts — not a 12-month reconstruction.
Cash flow visibility. Monthly trial balances show how the business is actually performing — not just at year-end.
Decision support. Want to know if you can afford to hire? Add a service line? Move offices? Real-time books answer the question.
FTA audit readiness. If the FTA queries a return, you can produce the underlying records immediately.
💡 Free zone clients: Year-round accounting is especially valuable since IFZA, DMCC, Meydan, DSO, and other free zones now require financial statements at renewal. With monthly accounting, you have simplified financial statements ready to submit at any time.
Written & Reviewed by Nithin — FTA-Registered Tax Agent (TRN: 104218042400003)
Fastlane provides full back-office accounting for UAE mainland and free zone businesses. The annual package model is designed for predictable budgeting and stress-free compliance throughout the year.