Industries We Serve
Accounting, VAT & Corporate Tax for Professional Services Firms in the UAE
Law firms, consultancies, marketing agencies and other service businesses sell time and expertise. We help you track profitability by client and project, bill correctly for VAT and stay ready for Corporate Tax.
Overview
Accounting for Firms That Sell Expertise
In a professional services firm, the real question is not just revenue but which clients, projects and partners are profitable. Time that is never billed, retainers not matched to work, and work in progress that sits off the books all distort the picture.
SAS Partners supports consultancies, law firms, architects and engineers, marketing and creative agencies and IT service companies across the UAE. We set up project-based accounting, handle VAT on local and international clients and prepare the financial statements and tax returns your firm needs.
Common Challenges
Where Service Firms Lose Visibility
- Unbilled time and work in progress not tracked, so revenue is recognised late or lost.
- Client and project profitability unclear because costs are not allocated.
- VAT on international clients: uncertainty over when services to overseas clients can be zero-rated.
- Retainers and advance payments not matched to the work delivered.
- Partner and shareholder drawings mixed with business expenses.
- Corporate Tax registration, records and return deadlines.
Our Services
How We Support Professional Services Firms
- Bookkeeping and project accounting with profitability by client, project and partner. Accounting & Bookkeeping
- VAT compliance including place-of-supply analysis for local and overseas clients. VAT & Corporate Tax
- Corporate Tax registration and returns, including Small Business Relief where eligible. VAT & Corporate Tax
- Payroll and WPS for professional and support staff. Payroll & HR
- Outsourced CFO support for budgeting, pricing and partner reporting. Outsourced CFO
- Audit and assurance where required by licensing authorities or investors. Audit Services
UAE Tax & Compliance
Key Rules for Service Businesses in the UAE
- VAT at 5% applies to most services supplied in the UAE.
- Services to overseas clients may be zero-rated as exports when the recipient and the use of the service meet the conditions in the VAT legislation. This needs to be checked for each client relationship.
- Corporate Tax applies at 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000.
- Small Business Relief is available to eligible businesses with revenue up to AED 3 million for tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029.
- E-invoicing: The UAE e-invoicing system becomes mandatory in phases: businesses with annual revenue of AED 50 million or more from 1 January 2027, and all other businesses from 1 July 2027. Each business must appoint an accredited service provider before its deadline.
Who We Work With
Professional Firms We Support
- Management and business consultancies
- Law firms and legal consultants
- Marketing, advertising and creative agencies
- Architecture, engineering and design firms
- IT services and software companies
- Training and education providers
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can services to clients outside the UAE be zero-rated?
Often, but not always. Zero-rating depends on where the client is, whether they are in the UAE when the service is performed and how the service is used. We review each client relationship and document the treatment.
Does a small consultancy pay Corporate Tax?
Every taxable person must register. Eligible businesses with revenue up to AED 3 million can elect Small Business Relief, which is available for tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029.
How do you measure profitability by client?
We link time, direct costs and overheads to each client or project so you can see which work earns the best margin and where pricing should change.
Do you handle payroll for our team?
Yes. We run monthly payroll through WPS, track leave and gratuity, and prepare payslips and reports.
Get Started
Talk to Our Experts
Contact our team or call +971 52 544 6773 to book a free consultation.
