What Historical Bookkeeping Reconstruction Includes
We gather all available source documents — bank and payment gateway statements, sales invoices, purchase bills, prior tax filings if any exist — and build a complete transaction history period by period, reconstructing opening balances, fixed asset registers, and equity movements where historical documentation allows. Where documentation gaps exist, we work with you to identify reasonable estimates and clearly flag any assumptions made.
Why Reconstructing History Matters
A business without historical records cannot accurately demonstrate its financial performance to a bank, investor or buyer, cannot substantiate opening balances for Corporate Tax purposes, and cannot respond credibly to an FTA request for records covering prior periods — UAE tax law requires businesses to retain records for a minimum period, and ‘we never kept books’ is not a defence during a review.
Reconstruction is also often the first step before a business can move to reliable ongoing accounting — you cannot reconcile a bank account to an opening balance that was never established.
Who Needs Historical Bookkeeping
Our Reconstruction Process
We start by cataloguing all available source documents across the relevant history, build the transaction record period by period from bank statements as the primary source, cross-reference against invoices and receipts where available, and deliver a complete, documented set of historical records with clearly noted assumptions for any genuinely unavailable information.
Pricing & Turnaround for Historical Reconstruction
Reconstruction as a Foundation for Growth
Businesses that invest in reconstructing their financial history often find it changes what becomes possible next — a verifiable multi-year track record supports a stronger bank facility application, a more credible investor pitch, or a smoother due diligence process if a sale or partnership is ever on the table. What starts as a compliance necessity frequently becomes a genuine asset.
Why Choose Us for Historical Reconstruction
We approach reconstruction as a defensible, well-documented process rather than a best-guess exercise — every assumption is flagged, every source is referenced, and the result is a set of records that can withstand scrutiny from a bank, auditor or the FTA.
What We'll Need From You
We ask for as many years of bank statements as can be retrieved, any invoices, contracts or receipts still available, prior tax filings if any exist, and details of any major transactions — asset purchases, loans, capital injections — that should be reflected in the historical record.
How We Handle Genuine Documentation Gaps
Historical Records and FTA Record-Retention Rules
UAE tax law requires businesses to retain accounting records and supporting documentation for a specified minimum period, and the FTA can request records covering that period at any time. A business that has never kept formal books is not exempt from this requirement — reconstruction after the fact is the practical way to meet an obligation that should have been met in real time. We build reconstructed records with this retention obligation specifically in mind, ensuring the output is not just useful internally but also defensible if the FTA requests supporting documentation for the reconstructed period.Get Expert Help for Your Business
Talk to an FTA-approved tax consultant today. Free consultation, no obligation — we’ll tell you exactly what your business needs.
Getting Started
Share whatever documentation you have, however incomplete, and we will assess what can be reconstructed and provide a realistic timeline — larger, multi-year reconstructions are typically scoped as a dedicated project with milestones.
Frequently Asked Questions
We have reconstructed multi-year histories where bank statements are available; the practical limit depends on how far back bank and document records can be retrieved.
We work primarily from bank statements as the source of truth and use reasonable, clearly flagged estimates for transactions without supporting invoices.
Reconstructed records built on verifiable bank statements and documented methodology are generally accepted; we ensure the process and assumptions are clearly recorded to support this.
Yes — buyers and their advisors will expect historical financial statements as part of due diligence, and reconstruction is often necessary before a sale process can begin.
It depends heavily on the number of years and volume of transactions involved; we provide a timeline estimate after reviewing available source documents.