Consulting & Professional Services Accounting & Tax in Dubai (UAE)

Our accounting services are crafted for knowledge-based businesses operating in the UAE's dynamic market:

• Independent Consultants & Freelancers: Solo professionals, often operating from a free zone, who need to manage their finances efficiently and comply with VAT and Corporate Tax rules.
• Boutique Consulting Firms: Small firms in hubs like DIFC or DMCC that require tracking of project profitability and management of multi-currency billing.
• IT & Tech Consultants: Tech experts serving a regional client base who need to manage software expenses and correctly apply VAT on digital services.
• Marketing & PR Professionals: Individuals and small teams managing client retainers and needing clear financial reporting to demonstrate value.
• Foreign Consultants using a UAE entity: International experts using a Dubai free zone company as a base for their global operations, benefiting from the 0% tax on 'Qualifying Income'.

From your first client contract, professional accounting is beneficial. It becomes absolutely critical at these key moments:

• When You Register for VAT: Once your taxable turnover exceeds AED 375,000, you must register for VAT and begin filing quarterly returns. This requires accurate, FTA-compliant bookkeeping.
• When the Corporate Tax Applies: All businesses must register for Corporate Tax. Proper accounting is necessary to calculate your taxable income and determine if you can benefit from the 0% rate for free zone entities.
• When You Hire Staff: This triggers WPS-compliant payroll and end-of-service gratuity obligations.
• When You Invoice International Clients: Correctly applying the 'place of supply' rules for VAT on services to overseas clients is complex and requires expert guidance to avoid errors.

Investing in outsourced accounting for a consultant is a high-ROI decision, freeing up billable hours and ensuring tax compliance.

• Solo Consultant / Freelancer: AED 1,500 - AED 3,000 per month. This typically covers bookkeeping, VAT returns, and preparation for the Corporate Tax filing.
• Small Firm (2-5 people): AED 3,000 - AED 7,000 per month. This service level adds payroll for a small team and more detailed management reporting on project profitability.
• Growing Firms (5+ people): Custom pricing starting at AED 7,000+, which can include more advanced forecasting and virtual CFO services.

Service-based businesses in Dubai face unique compliance risks that can lead to significant financial penalties:

• VAT Errors on Services: Incorrectly determining the place of supply for services to foreign clients can lead to under- or over-charging VAT, resulting in penalties from the FTA.
• Loss of 0% Corporate Tax Rate: For free zone consultants, earning even a small amount of non-qualifying income (e.g., from a Mainland client) without proper structuring can risk the 0% tax rate on all income.
• Failure to Maintain Records: UAE law requires businesses to maintain proper accounting records for at least five years. Failure to do so can result in fines.
• Commingling Funds: Mixing business and personal expenses can create major issues during an audit and complicates the calculation of taxable business profit.

As a consultant, your time is your inventory. Every hour spent on administration is an hour you cannot bill. Outsourcing your accounting to YourLegal frees up this valuable time while providing access to a team of experts in UAE tax law.

We go beyond basic bookkeeping. We help you structure your contracts and invoicing to align with the UAE's Corporate Tax rules for 'Qualifying Income', maximizing your eligibility for the 0% rate. We manage your VAT filings, ensuring compliance with complex service-related rules. By taking the financial administration off your plate, we let you focus on what you do best: delivering exceptional service to your clients.