Industries We Serve
Accounting, VAT & Audit for Trading & Distribution Companies in the UAE
Import, export and wholesale businesses move goods across borders, free zones and the mainland every day. We keep your stock, customs and VAT records aligned so every shipment is accounted for and every return is accurate.
Overview
Accounting Built for How Trading Companies Work
Trading businesses run on thin margins and high volumes. A small error in landed cost, customs value or VAT treatment repeats across hundreds of invoices and quietly erodes profit. Most trading companies we meet have the same three problems: inventory in the books does not match the warehouse, import VAT is claimed late or not at all, and goods moving between free zones and the mainland are treated inconsistently.
SAS Partners — Ahmed Mahfoudh Chartered Accountants & Auditors works with traders, distributors and re-exporters across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the wider GCC. We bring your stock, customs declarations, supplier payments and VAT returns into one reconciled set of numbers you can trust.
Common Challenges
What Trading Businesses Struggle With
- Landed cost and margins: freight, insurance, duty and clearing charges not allocated to stock, so gross margins look better than they are.
- Inventory differences: book stock that does not match physical counts, with slow-moving and damaged goods never written down.
- Import VAT and customs: import VAT not recovered through the VAT return, or customs declarations that do not agree with purchase records.
- Designated zones and free zones: uncertainty over when goods moving into, out of or between designated zones are inside or outside the scope of UAE VAT.
- Foreign currency: supplier and customer balances in USD, EUR and other currencies not revalued, creating hidden gains and losses.
- Bank and audit requirements: banks and free zone authorities asking for audited financial statements before renewing trade finance or licences.
Our Services
How We Support Trading & Distribution Companies
- Bookkeeping and inventory accounting with landed-cost allocation, stock valuation and periodic stock-count reconciliation. Accounting & Bookkeeping
- VAT compliance covering import VAT, reverse charge, exports, designated-zone transactions and quarterly or monthly returns. VAT & Corporate Tax
- Customs reconciliation matching customs declarations to purchase and sales records. Customs Reconciliation
- Stock audits and inventory verification for management, banks and insurers. Stock Audits
- External audit of annual financial statements for free zone renewals, banks and shareholders. Audit Services
- ERP setup and review so purchasing, warehouse and finance work from the same data. ERP & Accounting Systems
UAE Tax & Compliance
Key Rules Trading Companies Should Know
- VAT at 5% applies to most supplies of goods in the UAE. Exports of goods outside the GCC implementation area can be zero-rated when the export evidence requirements are met.
- Import VAT on goods brought into the UAE is generally accounted for through the VAT return by registered importers, which means it must be declared and recovered correctly each period.
- Designated zones are treated as outside the UAE for certain movements of goods, but only when the zone and the transaction meet the legal conditions. Getting this wrong is a common audit finding.
- Corporate Tax applies at 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000. Free zone traders may qualify for 0% on qualifying income if they meet all Qualifying Free Zone Person conditions.
- 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
Trading Businesses We Support
- General traders and importers on the mainland
- Free zone trading companies in JAFZA, DMCC, SAIF Zone, Hamriyah and others
- Wholesale and FMCG distributors
- Re-export and transit trade businesses serving the GCC and Africa
- Electronics, auto parts, building materials and foodstuff traders
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Do trading companies in the UAE need an audit?
Many do. Most free zone authorities require audited financial statements for licence renewal, banks require them for trade finance, and a Qualifying Free Zone Person must prepare audited accounts to benefit from 0% Corporate Tax.
How is import VAT recovered?
A VAT-registered importer normally declares import VAT in its VAT return and recovers it as input tax in the same return, provided the goods are used for taxable business purposes and the customs records support the claim.
Can you reconcile our customs declarations with our books?
Yes. We match customs declarations to purchase invoices, shipping documents and stock records, and report any value or quantity differences before the FTA or customs authority finds them.
Do you work with our existing accounting software?
Yes. We work with the ERP or accounting system you already use and can advise on improving it if stock and finance data do not agree.
Get Started
Talk to Our Experts
Contact our team or call +971 52 544 6773 to book a free consultation.
