Accounting for Logistics & Shipping
Freight forwarders, couriers, shipping agents and warehouses: we track profit by job, apply the right VAT to each leg and reconcile multi-currency settlements.
★★★★★ 5.0 on GooglePartner-led, ex-EY500+ UAE businesses
See the margin on every shipment
Logistics margins are thin, and they disappear in the details: a carrier invoice that arrives after the customer has been billed, a currency difference on an agent settlement, a disbursement never recharged.
We account for logistics by job. Revenue and costs are matched to each shipment, agent and carrier balances are reconciled in their own currencies, and VAT is applied correctly, with international transport zero-rated where the conditions are met.
- Profit by job, route and customer
- Carrier and agent reconciliations
- Disbursements recharged correctly
- Zero-rated international transport
- Multi-currency settlements
- Warehouse and fleet costs allocated
Where we usually come in
"We invoice the customer before the carrier bills us."
With us: We accrue costs so each job shows its true margin.
"Agent balances never agree."
With us: We reconcile agent accounts in each currency, monthly.
"We're not sure which shipments are zero-rated."
With us: We set rules for each type of movement and keep the evidence.
"Disbursements go unrecovered."
With us: We track duties and charges paid on behalf of customers.
Accounting built for logistics & shipping
Job costing
Revenue and costs matched to every shipment or job number.
Carrier and agent accounts
Balances reconciled and statements agreed in each currency.
Transport VAT
International transport zero-rated where conditions are met, domestic at 5%.
Disbursements
Duties and charges paid for customers tracked and recharged.
Fleet and warehouse
Vehicle, fuel and warehouse costs allocated to routes or customers.
Monthly reporting
Margins by route, customer and service line.
How we work with you
- 1
Map
We review your job flow, systems and charge types.
- 2
Connect
Your freight system linked to the accounting software.
- 3
Reconcile
Jobs, carriers and agents reconciled monthly.
- 4
Report
Margins and cash reported, reviewed by a partner.
VAT and Corporate Tax for logistics & shipping
| Topic | What applies |
|---|---|
| International transport | Can be zero-rated for VAT when the conditions and evidence requirements are met |
| Domestic transport | Generally standard-rated at 5% |
| Corporate Tax | 0% up to AED 375,000, 9% above; free zone logistics may be a qualifying activity for QFZPs |
| Foreign currency | Balances revalued at month-end, with exchange differences reported |
General information as of November 2026. Your facts decide the answer, so take advice before relying on it.
Fixed monthly fees. No surprise invoices.
Startup
AED 999/mo
Up to 50 transactions a month
- Monthly bookkeeping
- Quarterly VAT filing
- Annual financial statements
- WhatsApp support (4hr response)
Most popular
Growth
AED 2,500/mo
Up to 500 transactions a month
- Everything in Startup
- Monthly KPI dashboard
- Audit-ready financial statements
- Corporate Tax registration and filing
- Direct partner access
Scale
Custom
Groups, multi-entity, family offices
- Everything in Growth
- Multi-currency consolidation
- Virtual CFO included
- Quarterly board reports
Get your exact estimate with the bookkeeping cost calculator →
"Managing 8 entities across Mainland Ajman and UAE. Monthly close went from 21 days to 8."
Logistics & Shipping accounting: common questions
Is international freight zero-rated for VAT?
International transport of goods can be zero-rated when the conditions are met and you keep the right evidence. Domestic legs are usually standard-rated.
Do you work with freight management software?
Yes. We work from job reports exported from your freight system and reconcile them to your accounting software and bank.
Can logistics be a QFZP qualifying activity?
Logistics services are on the qualifying activities list, but the company must still meet every QFZP condition. We check this for free zone logistics companies.
30-Day Free Trial
Test-drive us for 30 days. Decide on day 31.
Full bookkeeping, IFRS reports by Day 7, tax health-check included. No credit card required.
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