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As the UAE rolls out mandatory e-invoicing, every business will need to onboard with an Accredited Service Provider (ASP), link it to their EmaraTax profile, and issue compliant e-invoices. The question worth asking your accountant: is this included in my package, or billed separately? At Fastlane, e-invoicing is included in the monthly accounting package (AED 499 + VAT) — ASP onboarding, EmaraTax linking, setup, and issuance of compliant e-invoices — with the e-invoicing subscription free for up to 100 invoices a month. No separate ASP subscription, no surprise setup fee.
E-invoicing used to be a “later” problem. Not anymore. With the UAE’s phased mandate approaching, businesses are discovering that “sending an invoice” and “issuing a compliant e-invoice” are two different things — and that the second one needs an accredited provider, a portal link and proper configuration. So the practical question is: who’s handling that, and is it already in what you pay your accountant?
Why it matters now
E-invoicing isn’t optional — and it isn’t just “invoicing”
Under the UAE’s phased introduction of mandatory e-invoicing, compliant e-invoices must flow through an Accredited Service Provider (ASP) connected to the FTA’s systems — not simply a PDF emailed to a client. Getting there means onboarding with an ASP, linking it to your EmaraTax profile, and configuring the whole environment so your invoices are issued in the required format. If your current “invoicing” is just a template in your accounting software, that’s not e-invoicing compliance.
The question to ask
“Is e-invoicing included in my accounting package?”
This is the line that separates a complete service from a partial one. Many providers handle your bookkeeping and returns but treat e-invoicing — the ASP subscription, the setup, the EmaraTax linking — as separate add-ons, each with its own fee. Before you assume you’re covered, ask directly:
- Does my package include ASP onboarding and EmaraTax linking?
- Is the e-invoicing subscription included, or billed on top?
- Is there an invoice-volume cap, and what happens above it?
- Who handles setup and configuration — me, or you?
The Fastlane answer
Included — not an add-on
At Fastlane, e-invoicing is built into the monthly accounting package, not bolted on afterwards. For AED 499 + VAT a month, the package covers:
| Included in the package |
|---|
| Monthly bookkeeping & accounting (P&L and balance sheet) |
| VAT compliance — registration & quarterly return filing |
| Corporate Tax — registration, computation & annual return filing |
| E-invoicing — ASP onboarding, EmaraTax linking, setup & issuance |
The subscription is free up to 100 invoices a month
Within the package, the e-invoicing subscription is provided free for up to 100 invoices per month. If your volume consistently runs higher, we simply agree a revised arrangement in advance — no surprise charges.
The cost trap
Why bundling beats buying it piece by piece
Bought separately, e-invoicing can arrive as three bills: an ASP subscription, a one-off setup/configuration fee, and sometimes per-invoice charges — on top of your accounting fee. Bundling it into one monthly package removes that stack, and keeps a single provider responsible for the whole chain: your books, your VAT and Corporate Tax, and the e-invoices that feed them. When everything reconciles to the same records, there’s far less that can go wrong.
The takeaway
Don’t assume — confirm
Whatever provider you use, get a clear answer on e-invoicing before the mandate reaches you: is it in the package, what’s the volume limit, and who does the setup? If the answer is a series of separate fees, it’s worth comparing against an all-in package. (For the mechanics of how e-invoicing works, see our UAE e-invoicing guide.)
One package — accounting, tax and e-invoicing.
Our monthly package at AED 499 + VAT covers bookkeeping, VAT, Corporate Tax and full e-invoicing — ASP onboarding, EmaraTax linking and compliant e-invoices, subscription free up to 100 invoices a month. No add-ons, no surprises.
Related reading
How UAE e-invoicing works: the methodology guide →E-invoicing setup & ASP onboarding →Related Fastlane services
FAQ
Is e-invoicing included in an accounting package?
It depends on the provider — which is exactly why you should ask. Many firms handle bookkeeping and tax returns but treat e-invoicing (the ASP subscription, setup and EmaraTax linking) as separate add-ons. At Fastlane, e-invoicing is included in the monthly accounting package at AED 499 + VAT, covering ASP onboarding, EmaraTax linking, setup and issuance of compliant e-invoices.
What does e-invoicing setup involve in the UAE?
Issuing compliant e-invoices means onboarding with an Accredited Service Provider (ASP) connected to the FTA’s systems, linking that ASP to your EmaraTax profile, and configuring the environment so invoices are produced in the required format. It is more than sending a PDF — a simple invoice template in your accounting software is not e-invoicing compliance.
Do I need a separate ASP subscription for e-invoicing?
Not within Fastlane’s package. The e-invoicing subscription is provided free for up to 100 invoices per month per entity as part of the monthly accounting package. If your invoice volume consistently exceeds 100 a month, a revised arrangement is agreed in advance rather than charged as a surprise.
What is included in Fastlane’s AED 499 accounting package?
The monthly package at AED 499 + VAT includes monthly bookkeeping and accounting, VAT registration and quarterly return filing, Corporate Tax registration and annual return filing, and full e-invoicing support — ASP onboarding, EmaraTax linking, setup and issuance of compliant e-invoices, with the subscription free for up to 100 invoices a month.
What happens if I issue more than 100 invoices a month?
The free e-invoicing subscription within the package covers up to 100 invoices per month. If your volume consistently runs higher, a revised arrangement is discussed and agreed in advance, so you always know the cost before it applies rather than receiving an unexpected charge.
Is e-invoicing mandatory in the UAE?
The UAE is introducing mandatory e-invoicing on a phased basis, so businesses need to be ready with an Accredited Service Provider linked to EmaraTax and the ability to issue compliant e-invoices. Getting the setup done ahead of your applicable phase avoids a last-minute scramble, which is why it is worth confirming your accountant covers it.
General guidance on UAE e-invoicing and accounting packages, current as of July 2026; not tax advice. The UAE’s e-invoicing requirements are being introduced on a phased basis and specific timelines and obligations may change — confirm your applicable phase and requirements with a qualified adviser or the FTA. Package inclusions are Fastlane’s standard scope and may vary by engagement.