The cost of accounting and bookkeeping in the UAE depends mainly on how many transactions you have each month, whether you are VAT registered, and whether payroll, inventory or multiple currencies are involved. At TaxBox, a fixed monthly package that includes bookkeeping, VAT filing and corporate tax filing starts at AED 790 per month on yearly billing for up to 50 transactions a month. Whatever you pay, UAE law requires you to keep proper records and file VAT and corporate tax returns on time, so the real comparison is between ways of getting that done, not between doing it and skipping it.
This guide explains what you are legally paying for, what drives the price up or down, the pricing models you will come across, and the costs that are easy to miss.
What UAE law requires you to pay for
Before comparing quotes, it helps to know what is not optional:
- Records. UAE corporate tax and VAT rules require businesses to keep accounting records and supporting documents, such as invoices, contracts and bank statements, for at least seven years.
- Corporate tax. Almost every UAE company must register for corporate tax and file an annual return within nine months of its financial year end, even when no tax is due. See our complete UAE corporate tax guide.
- VAT. Once taxable supplies and imports pass AED 375,000 over 12 months, you must register and then file VAT returns, usually every quarter. See our VAT registration guide.
- Audit, for some. Qualifying Free Zone Persons and businesses with revenue above AED 50 million must keep audited financial statements.
An accounting fee buys you these obligations met on time. A cheap quote that leaves one of them out is not cheaper; it moves the cost somewhere else.
What drives the price
| Factor | Why it changes the price |
|---|---|
| Monthly transaction volume | Every sale, purchase, expense and bank line has to be recorded and reconciled |
| VAT registration | Adds quarterly return preparation and reconciliation |
| Number of bank and card accounts | Each one needs a monthly reconciliation |
| Payroll | Salaries, WPS and end-of-service gratuity tracking |
| Inventory | Stock movements and cost of sales need tracking |
| Multiple currencies | Foreign currency transactions need conversion and revaluation |
| Free zone status | Qualifying Free Zone Persons need audited financial statements |
| Reporting depth | Monthly management reports, budgets and CFO support cost more than year-end accounts |
| State of your books | Months or years of unrecorded transactions mean a one-off catch-up fee |
Transaction volume is usually the biggest factor, which is why most fixed-fee packages are banded by transactions per month.
The pricing models you will see
Hourly billing. You pay for time spent. It looks flexible, but the monthly cost is unpredictable and every question to your accountant costs money, so people stop asking.
Per-filing fees. A set price for each VAT return or corporate tax return. It can work if someone else keeps your books, but the filing is only as accurate as the records it is built from.
Fixed monthly packages. One price for bookkeeping and filings, banded by transaction volume. You know the cost before you commit, and questions are included. This is the model TaxBox uses.
An in-house hire. A full-time accountant or bookkeeper means a salary plus visa costs, medical insurance, end-of-service gratuity, software and cover for leave. For most small businesses that is more than an outsourced package, and one person still has no reviewer.
Example: TaxBox fixed monthly plans
As a worked example, these are our current plans. Every plan includes VAT registration and filing and corporate tax registration and filing.
| Plan | Yearly billing | Monthly billing | Monthly transactions |
|---|---|---|---|
| SME Starter | AED 790/month | AED 990/month | Up to 50 |
| Business Growth | AED 1,490/month | AED 1,870/month | Up to 150 |
| CEO Advantage | AED 2,490/month | AED 3,120/month | Up to 300 |
Monthly billing adds a one-time AED 1,500 setup fee, which is waived on yearly billing. Business Growth adds payroll for two employees, inventory and multi-currency accounting, and IFRS-compliant reports. CEO Advantage adds a dedicated senior accountant, payroll for five employees and a monthly CFO session. Full details are on our pricing page, and our affordable bookkeeping packages for SMEs explain what is included.
Costs that are easy to miss
When you compare quotes, ask about each of these:
- Accounting software. Is the licence included or billed separately? At TaxBox, the Zoho Books licence is billed by Zoho.
- Setup or onboarding fees. A one-off charge to set up your chart of accounts, bank feeds and opening balances.
- Catch-up work. If your books are behind, expect a one-off fee to bring them current. Get it fixed in writing before work starts.
- Filings priced separately. Some bookkeeping quotes exclude VAT returns or the corporate tax return.
- Registrations. Corporate tax and VAT registration may be extra.
- Audit. If you need audited financial statements, the audit is done by a licensed auditor and is a separate cost.
- Ad hoc requests. FTA queries, bank letters and investor reports can be charged by the hour.
The cost of not doing it properly
Penalties are often larger than a year of accounting fees. Some examples from the FTA and Ministry of Finance:
- Late corporate tax registration: a fixed AED 10,000 penalty.
- Late VAT registration: an administrative penalty, set at AED 10,000 in the FTA's VAT User Guide (parts of the penalty schedule were amended from 14 April 2026).
- Late returns and payments: penalties that build up every month the return or payment is late.
Missing records also make it hard to support your figures if the FTA asks questions, and the FTA imposes penalties for failing to keep the required records.
How to get an accurate quote
Have these ready and any firm can quote you a fixed price quickly:
- your licence type and whether you are mainland or free zone
- your average number of transactions per month
- the number of bank and card accounts
- whether you are VAT registered and corporate tax registered
- the number of employees on payroll
- the accounting software you use today, if any
- how up to date your books are
You can send these to us for a fixed monthly quote, or use our instant quote tool.
Frequently asked questions
How much does bookkeeping cost for a small business in the UAE? It depends on transaction volume, VAT registration and extras such as payroll. TaxBox packages start at AED 790 per month on yearly billing for up to 50 transactions a month, including VAT and corporate tax filing.
Is it cheaper to hire an in-house accountant or outsource? For most small businesses, outsourcing is cheaper. An in-house hire means a salary plus visa, medical insurance, gratuity and software costs, while an outsourced package bundles qualified staff, review and filings for one monthly fee.
Are VAT and corporate tax filing included in bookkeeping fees? Not always. Some firms quote bookkeeping only and charge for each return. TaxBox includes VAT and corporate tax registration and filing in every plan.
Do I need an accountant if my business is small? UAE law does not require you to hire one, but every business must keep proper records for at least seven years and file its corporate tax return, and VAT returns if registered. Most small businesses outsource because it costs less than a penalty or an in-house hire.
What does catch-up accounting cost? It depends on how many months are missing and how many transactions they contain. Ask for a fixed quote before work starts. See our catch-up accounting service.
Sources
- Ministry of Finance: Corporate Tax
- Ministry of Finance: Ministerial Decision No. 84 of 2025 on Audited Financial Statements
- Ministry of Finance: AED 10,000 penalty for late corporate tax registration
- Federal Tax Authority: Registration for VAT
- Federal Tax Authority: VAT User Guide
- Federal Tax Authority: Entry into force of the decision amending administrative penalties
- Federal Tax Authority: Record retention requirements for corporate tax
This article is general information, not tax advice. Prices are TaxBox's current plans and may change. Rules, dates and penalty amounts change, so check the Ministry of Finance and Federal Tax Authority before you act.