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Frequently Asked Questions
Practical answers about Alosus services, accounting records, UAE tax support, accounting systems, training and the resources available on this website.
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Working with Alosus
What services does Alosus provide?
Alosus provides accounting and bookkeeping oversight, VAT and Corporate Tax support, financial reporting, business advisory, accounting-system implementation and practical accountant training. The exact scope is agreed after understanding the business, records and priorities.
Which businesses do you work with?
The service is designed for UAE SMEs, startups, schools and nurseries, service businesses and international owners who need clearer financial control or local support. A tailored scope can be prepared for other sectors.
Do you work online?
Yes. Alosus operates as an online management consultancy. Meetings, document review, reporting and follow-up can be completed remotely, subject to a secure and agreed document-sharing process.
What happens during the first consultation?
We clarify the business model, the immediate problem, the condition of the records, the systems in use and the decision or compliance deadline. You then receive a recommended scope and practical next steps.
How is the engagement scope agreed?
The scope states the deliverables, responsibilities, information required, timing, assumptions and professional fee. Work begins only after both sides understand what is included and what remains the client’s responsibility.
What should I prepare before a consultation?
Prepare a short description of the business, the issue you want to solve, recent financial reports if available, relevant deadlines and a list of the accounting systems or spreadsheets currently used. Do not send confidential records before the sharing method is agreed.
Accounting & reporting
Is bookkeeping the same as accounting?
Bookkeeping records and organises transactions. Accounting reviews their classification, makes adjustments, prepares reports and interprets the results. Reliable advice depends on reliable bookkeeping.
How often should bookkeeping be updated?
The right frequency depends on transaction volume and management needs. For most active businesses, records should be updated and reconciled throughout the month, followed by a documented monthly close.
Which monthly reports should a business review?
A useful pack normally includes a profit and loss statement, balance sheet, cash-flow view, customer and supplier ageing, bank reconciliations, key performance indicators and explanations for important changes.
Can you clean up old or incomplete accounts?
Yes, after assessing the volume and reliability of the source documents. Cleanup normally includes opening-balance review, transaction classification, reconciliations, outstanding-item analysis and a list of unresolved evidence.
Why can a profitable business still run out of cash?
Profit includes revenue and expenses under accounting rules, while cash depends on when customers pay, when suppliers and staff are paid, inventory, loan movements and capital spending. That timing difference can create a cash shortage despite reported profit.
What internal controls are practical for a small business?
Start with separate preparation and approval, controlled supplier-bank-detail changes, numbered documents, monthly bank reconciliations, restricted system access, evidence for manual journals and regular backups.
Can Alosus supervise an existing bookkeeper?
Yes. Oversight can include a closing timetable, review checklists, reconciliation review, correction notes, management reporting and follow-up with the person maintaining the records.
UAE VAT & Corporate Tax
Do you support both VAT and Corporate Tax?
Yes. Support may include registration readiness, record review, reconciliations, return preparation support, tax-accounting adjustments and compliance calendars. The final scope depends on the entity and filing requirement.
When does a UAE business need to register for VAT?
Mandatory and voluntary registration depend on statutory thresholds and the nature and timing of taxable supplies and expenses. Review the current rules on the Federal Tax Authority website or obtain advice for your facts.
How long should Corporate Tax records be kept?
Relevant Corporate Tax records are generally required to be kept for at least seven years after the end of the relevant Tax Period. Confirm the current requirement and any special rule on the FTA website.
Who is responsible for filing returns and paying tax?
The taxable person remains responsible for accurate, complete and timely filings and payment, even when an accountant or tax adviser assists with preparation. Management should review and approve the final submission.
What is Small Business Relief?
It is an elective UAE Corporate Tax relief for eligible Resident Persons that meet the conditions for the relevant period. Eligibility, exclusions and the available periods should be checked against current official guidance before making an election.
Can a general website answer replace tax advice?
No. Website guidance can explain the framework, but the correct treatment may depend on contracts, legal form, transaction flow, evidence and the relevant Tax Period. Material or unusual transactions should be reviewed individually.
How should a business prepare for UAE eInvoicing?
Begin with clean master data, consistent tax fields, controlled invoice and credit-note processes, reliable system exports and clear responsibility for corrections. Follow the latest Ministry of Finance timetable and technical guidance because implementation requirements can change.
Systems, automation & training
How do I choose accounting software?
Choose against documented needs: transaction volume, VAT configuration, users and permissions, inventory or project requirements, bank reconciliation, reporting, integrations, data export, audit trail and future growth.
Can you help move accounts from Excel to software?
Yes. A controlled migration includes data cleanup, chart-of-accounts mapping, opening-balance reconciliation, tax configuration, user access, transaction-cycle testing and post-migration report comparison.
Do you implement any specific accounting brand?
Recommendations are based on business size, process and control needs rather than one application. The selected platform must also fit the available budget, user skills and implementation support.
Is the accountant training theoretical or practical?
Both. The foundation explains the accounting logic, while the practical element covers documents, journals, ledgers, reconciliations, closing entries, financial statements and system use.
Can training be customised for a company?
Yes. Training can be adapted to the company’s chart of accounts, documents, approval flow, reports and staff roles, provided confidential information is handled through an agreed process.
What is the AI Accountant used for?
It provides general educational guidance on common accounting, bookkeeping and business questions. It should not be treated as a tax ruling, audit opinion or decision based on confidential business facts.
Resources & professional support
Can I use the templates without becoming a client?
Yes. The published templates are practical starting points. You remain responsible for adapting fields, controls and accounting treatment to your own business.
Does the Business Doctor replace a professional review?
No. It helps organise symptoms, calculations and questions. A professional review is still appropriate when records are incomplete, a deadline is near or the decision has material financial or tax consequences.
How often are the articles and resources updated?
Resources show their publication or review date where relevant. Tax and regulatory material should always be checked against the latest official source before use.
How are professional fees determined?
Fees depend on the scope, transaction volume, record quality, number of entities, reporting frequency, deadlines and the level of review or implementation required. A clear proposal is provided after the initial assessment.
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Important: These answers are general educational information. They are not an audit opinion, tax ruling, legal advice or a conclusion for a specific transaction. Verify current rules and obtain advice where the decision is material.
Still need a business-specific answer?
Explain the issue and the decision you need to make, and Alosus can recommend the right scope.