Books that are ready for VAT, corporate tax and e-invoicing
Accounting software setup for UAE businesses
Your accounting system now has to do more than keep the books. It has to produce VAT returns, support the corporate tax computation, keep records for 7 years and, from 2027, exchange e-invoices through an Accredited Service Provider. A system set up badly at the start makes every return and audit slower.
With UAE Accountant you send one free request describing your business, current system and what you want to change. Up to three licensed accounting firms that implement software contact you with quotes. We do not sell software and do not recommend a product.
What a software setup project covers
A good implementation is accounting work, not only IT work. Offers usually include:
Choosing a system
Comparing common options such as Zoho Books, QuickBooks, Xero, TallyPrime and Odoo against your size, sector and reporting needs.
Chart of accounts and tax codes
A chart of accounts that fits UAE reporting, with VAT codes set up so the VAT return comes out of the system cleanly.
Data migration
Moving opening balances, customers, suppliers, stock and open invoices from spreadsheets or an old system, and checking they agree.
E-invoicing readiness
Cleaning master data, checking that your system can connect to an Accredited Service Provider, and planning the e-invoicing go-live.
Bank feeds and integrations
Connecting bank accounts, payment tools, point-of-sale and payroll so less is typed by hand.
Training and handover
Training your team, written procedures and support for the first month-ends, or ongoing bookkeeping in the new system.
Who needs help with accounting software?
Typical reasons businesses ask for a setup or migration:
- B2B and B2G businesses facing e-invoicing
All B2B and B2G transactions move to e-invoicing. Your system must work with an Accredited Service Provider before your go-live date.
- New companies
Businesses that have just registered for corporate tax or VAT and want to start with a proper system.
- Businesses outgrowing spreadsheets
Companies where VAT returns and year-end accounts take days of manual work.
- Groups and multi-entity businesses
Companies with several licences or emirates that need consolidated reporting.
- Businesses preparing for audit
Companies that need audited statements and want records an auditor can test quickly.
The dates that drive software projects
Software projects take weeks, so start well before the date that applies to you.
E-invoicing non-compliance, including failing to appoint an ASP on time, costs AED 5,000 per month, capped at AED 50,000 in any 12 consecutive months (MoF, 30 Oct 2026).
Corporate tax records must be kept for 7 years. Since April 2026 the penalty for not giving records in Arabic when asked is AED 5,000. Your system should make records easy to export.
| Group | Appoint an ASP by | E-invoicing mandatory from |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue AED 50m or more | 30 Oct 2026 | 1 Jan 2027 |
| Revenue under AED 50m | 31 Mar 2027 | 1 Jul 2027 |
| In-scope government entities | 31 Mar 2027 | 1 Oct 2027 |
Read the full e-invoicing timeline and our tax deadlines calendar.
What to prepare for a software project
- Your current system or spreadsheets, and last year’s trial balance.
- Your TRN and corporate tax registration details.
- Lists of customers, suppliers and products or services, with the VAT treatment of each.
- Open invoices and bills at the planned switch-over date.
- Bank accounts and payment tools you want connected.
- Your revenue band, so the firm knows your e-invoicing deadline.
- Who will use the system, and what reports management needs each month.
Clean master data (names, TRNs, addresses) is the part most e-invoicing projects underestimate.
What affects the fee for software setup
Firms price the project, and sometimes licences, separately. The main factors:
Which system
An ERP such as Odoo is a bigger project than a cloud bookkeeping tool.
Volume of data to migrate
Years of history, many open items or messy records take longer to move.
Integrations
Each connection to banks, point-of-sale, inventory or an ASP adds work.
Number of entities
Several companies or currencies need more set-up and consolidation.
E-invoicing scope
Your B2B/B2G volume and how many invoice types you issue.
Training and support
One-off training or ongoing support after go-live.
What to ask a firm before you choose
Ask each firm:
- Do you hold a trade licence with an accounting activity, and is a tax agent available for VAT questions?
- How many implementations of this system have you done for UAE businesses?
- How will the system connect to an Accredited Service Provider for e-invoicing?
- Is the product on the FTA’s current list of accredited tax accounting software? (Check the live list yourself.)
- Who owns the data and the admin login after the project?
Mistakes to avoid: trusting any “FTA-approved” label without checking the FTA’s live list, which is renewed each year and published quarterly; migrating without reconciling opening balances; and leaving e-invoicing until the last month. We ask each partner for its trade licence and, where relevant, its FTA tax agency number.
How to get software setup quotes
- 1
Send one request
Choose accounting software and tell us your current system, revenue band and what you need. It is free.
- 2
Firms contact you
Up to three licensed firms ask about your data and integrations, then send a quote and plan.
- 3
Compare and choose
Compare the system proposed, timeline, e-invoicing approach and support, then choose one firm.
Available in these emirates
Accounting software: common questions
Which accounting software is FTA-accredited?
The FTA keeps a list of accredited tax accounting software vendors, renewed each year and published quarterly. Check the live list on the FTA website before you rely on any label.
Does my software need to handle e-invoicing?
If you sell to businesses or government, yes. E-invoices go through an Accredited Service Provider, so your system must connect to one before your go-live date. See e-invoicing.
When must a small business be ready?
Businesses with revenue under AED 50m must appoint an ASP by 31 March 2027 and go live on 1 July 2027.
Can I keep using spreadsheets?
For very small businesses it may work for a while, but VAT returns, 7-year record keeping and e-invoicing are much easier in an accounting system.
How long does a migration take?
It depends on the system, the data and the integrations. Ask each firm for a written plan with dates.
Can the same firm keep my books afterwards?
Yes. Many firms offer bookkeeping in the system they set up. Mention it in your request.
Get software setup quotes
One free request reaches up to three licensed accounting firms. No obligation.