UAE eINVOICING FAQ
Answers for the decisions ahead.
Understand what affects your business, what your software needs to support and what working with FACT involves.
Requirements and deadlines · Your software and ASP · Invoices and daily operations · Working with FACT
YOUR QUESTIONS
Requirements and deadlines
Is a PDF invoice an eInvoice?
A PDF or scanned invoice alone is not a structured eInvoice. The UAE system exchanges invoice data in a format that software can process, through Accredited Service Providers (ASPs), and reports tax data to the Federal Tax Authority (FTA).
Which businesses and transactions need to prepare?
Business-to-business and business-to-government transactions are generally covered, subject to exclusions. Consumer sales are currently excluded. A business with both business and consumer customers needs to assess its transaction mix and applicable requirements.
What are the UAE eInvoicing deadlines?
For in-scope persons with Revenue of at least AED 50 million, appoint an ASP by 30 October 2026 and implement by 1 January 2027. Below that threshold, the dates are 31 March 2027 and 1 July 2027. Government entities have 31 March 2027 and 1 October 2027 dates respectively. Appointment and implementation are separate milestones.
Is the revenue threshold based only on B2B sales?
No. The test uses gross income for the most recent accounting period, supported by financial statements or other evidence acceptable to the FTA. Consumer sales and other income can affect the threshold even where those transactions are not themselves subject to eInvoicing. FACT can help review your position.
Does being outside VAT registration mean we are exempt?
No. VAT registration alone does not determine whether eInvoicing applies. A business within scope still needs the appropriate registration and electronic identity. Its software must also support the relevant setup. FACT reviews these requirements before recommending a route.
What if our business customers are overseas or not yet using eInvoicing?
Your customer’s location or later implementation date does not, by itself, remove your own obligations. Overseas business sales and sales to UAE businesses that have not yet joined need to be included in the assessment, subject to the applicable exclusions. FACT can identify the scenarios your solution needs to cover.
Can companies in a VAT group use one eInvoicing identity?
Each member needs its own eInvoicing onboarding and identity. A shared VAT registration should not be treated as a single implementation for the whole group. We review the companies, systems and transaction flows separately; any uncertainty about revenue aggregation or deadlines needs confirmation.
Are transactions within a VAT group excluded?
They remain within scope, with a 24-month implementation grace period starting on 1 January 2027 for transactions between members of the same VAT group. This relief does not postpone the applicable deadline for transactions with customers outside that VAT group.
YOUR QUESTIONS
Your software and ASP
Does appointing an ASP complete our preparation?
No. Provider appointment does not establish that your records are complete, your software is ready or your team can manage failed invoices. FACT helps you prepare and test these parts of the business alongside the ASP connection.
Is FACT an Accredited Service Provider?
No. FACT provides readiness, implementation and agreed support services. Your appointed ASP provides the contracted invoice-exchange and reporting services. We assess provider fit against your business needs; some built-in software connections work with a particular ASP.
Is a pre-approved provider the same as an accredited provider?
No. The provider’s exact status and legal entity need to be checked before appointment and before starting live exchange. FACT can support this assessment alongside software compatibility, support arrangements and access to your records.
Will we need to replace our accounting software?
Not necessarily. We first assess what your current software supports and whether a suitable connection is available. Moving to another system is considered where the existing setup cannot meet the agreed requirements. Any additional software or development work is identified before you commit.
We already use Zoho Books. What work is still needed?
The built-in connection can reduce the work needed to connect systems, but it does not check all your records, approvals or business scenarios. FACT reviews the agreed data and processes, supports setup with Zoho Software Trading LLC, and prepares your team through testing, training and handover.
Can a business that is not VAT-registered use the Zoho Books route?
Zoho’s published setup instructions require taxes to be enabled and a Tax Registration Number (TRN). If you are not VAT-registered, FACT will confirm the supported setup with the provider before recommending this route. An eInvoicing obligation and a particular software’s setup requirements are separate questions.
Can TallyPrime handle UAE eInvoicing?
Tally’s documentation for Release 7.2 describes built-in registration, invoice generation and status reporting. FACT checks your installed version, licence, business-specific changes and transaction types before agreeing the implementation. Readiness still needs to be demonstrated for your actual setup.
Are the Odoo, QuickBooks Online and Xero connections ready-made?
The routes described here require assessment and, where suitable, a connection built for your business. We establish what information can be shared, which transactions must be covered and who will maintain the connection. We do not assume a ready-made connection is available for every edition.
YOUR QUESTIONS
Invoices and daily operations
Which records usually need attention?
Company, customer, supplier, product and service records all matter. Missing identity details, inconsistent addresses or incomplete invoice information can cause problems even if the printed invoice looks correct. FACT provides an agreed record of gaps and priorities for correction.
Does eInvoicing also affect supplier bills?
Yes. Preparation needs to cover receiving invoices and credit notes as well as sending them. Your team still needs to check suppliers, prevent duplicate entries and approve bills. In Zoho Books, received bills and vendor credits arrive as drafts for review.
Does successful delivery mean the customer has approved payment?
No. Successful electronic delivery is different from the customer accepting the goods, services or amount billed. Purchase-order checks, receipt checks, payment approvals and dispute handling remain part of the finance process.
What about returns, cancellations and invoice corrections?
These need to be included in the agreed electronic credit-note and correction processes. Your team needs clear responsibilities and a reliable record of changes. FACT includes the relevant scenarios in the scope and testing instead of checking only ordinary sales invoices.
Do advances, recurring invoices or foreign-currency sales need separate attention?
They can. Deposits, retention, discounts, recurring billing, exports and other special arrangements may require different information or checks. Tell us which scenarios your business uses so the assessment and testing reflect your real transactions.
What if an invoice is rejected or a system is unavailable?
Someone needs to identify the issue, coordinate with the right provider and confirm what remains outstanding. Certain incidents can also trigger notification obligations. FACT’s agreed handover covers operating responsibilities and escalation; ongoing monitoring and support are scoped separately.
Does the ASP take over responsibility for our records?
No. Your business remains responsible for its obligations and access to its records. Provider selection should address retrieval, continuity and what happens if you change systems or providers. FACT can include these considerations in the review.
YOUR QUESTIONS
Working with FACT
What happens after I submit an enquiry?
FACT reviews the information you share and contacts you to discuss your software, companies, priorities and questions. We then agree the appropriate next step. A detailed readiness assessment or implementation starts only after its scope and terms are agreed.
What will FACT deliver?
Depending on the agreed scope, you receive a record of readiness gaps, an implementation plan, support with ASP registration and software setup, testing results, staff training and handover guidance. We confirm the deliverables and responsibilities before work starts. Additional development, data collection and ongoing support are agreed separately.
What will you need from our team?
We need a business contact who can coordinate decisions, access to the relevant finance and software contacts, and the agreed records and transaction samples. Your team also reviews corrections and participates in testing. Responsibilities and the schedule are agreed at the start.
Can you work with our accountant and software provider?
Yes. We can coordinate with your existing finance team, accountant, software support contacts and ASP within the agreed scope. The project plan sets out who is responsible for each part of the work and which specialist services are needed.
Will implementation interrupt our invoicing?
The aim is to plan the transition around your billing operations. Any system changes, testing periods and launch arrangements are agreed with your team and providers. We cannot promise that every setup will need no downtime, so dependencies are assessed before the launch is scheduled.
How long will implementation take?
We agree a schedule after reviewing your requirements. Timing depends on the condition of your records, number of companies, transaction types and availability of your team and providers. A connection built for your business or a move to another system may take longer.
What support is available after launch?
The standard Zoho Books service includes 30 days of support during business hours, with extra assistance during the first week. Standard hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm UAE time. Other implementations have agreed support arrangements. Optional ongoing services can include ticket support and periodic operational reviews.
Can FACT help us stay organised after implementation?
Yes, within an agreed support scope. The project’s annual-support option can include monthly operational reviews, quarterly checks and an annual assessment. These reviews help identify recurring problems and the impact of changes to your company, software or transactions. They do not replace your team’s daily responsibilities.
Does FACT guarantee compliance?
FACT provides the agreed professional services and readiness evidence. Your business retains its statutory responsibilities. An implementation engagement is not a government certification or a guarantee of uninterrupted services from software companies or ASPs.
YOUR NEXT STEP
Have a question about your own setup?
Tell us which software you use and where you need clarity. We’ll discuss the appropriate next step.