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Description

Property Traders and Real Estate Developers: Accounting, Valuation and VAT Reporting

Handle the accounting and tax treatment of development, land subdivision and property trading operations

  • 2 days — 14 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • Intermediate
  • Up to 6 participants

Real estate operators are subject to treatments that have little in common with general accounting: the building is inventory rather than a long-term asset, margin is recognised as the project progresses, and VAT treatment varies with the nature of the asset and the position adopted. A classification error made at the outset of a project affects several reporting periods.

Two days devoted to property traders, developers, land subdividers and residential builders: asset classification, cost build-up, revenue recognition, write-downs, then VAT treatment and property registration and transfer fees. Entries are posted on a complete project from start to finish.

Learning objectives

  • Classify a property as inventory or as a long-term asset according to the activity carried out
  • Build the cost of a development project and allocate it across the individual units
  • Select and apply the appropriate method for recognising project margin
  • Account for instalment calls under off-plan sales arrangements
  • Measure and record onerous contract provisions and inventory write-downs
  • Determine the VAT treatment and the fees applicable to a property transfer

What makes this programme different

A development project is tracked from land acquisition through to handover of the final units
Treatments are differentiated according to the status of property trader, developer or land subdivider
VAT treatments are determined on real cases involving disposals of land and of completed buildings

Programme

1Activity and asset classification

Classify the property before recording it

  • Distinction between property held as inventory and property held as a long-term asset
  • Organising the accounts by project and by phase
  • Specific features of the property trader, the developer and the land subdivider
  • Residential build contracts and the sequencing of instalment calls
  • Dedicated legal structures and accounting for project companies

2Cost build-up and project monitoring

Build margin project by project

  • Components of the cost of a real estate development programme
  • Capitalisation of borrowing costs and treatment of marketing costs
  • Project budget and variance monitoring during execution
  • Allocation of costs across units and allocation keys
  • Monitoring of projects run under joint arrangements

3Revenue recognition and write-downs

Recognise margin at the right time

  • Recognition over time versus recognition at a point in time
  • Off-plan sales and accounting for instalment calls and escrow amounts
  • Provision for expected loss on completion of a project
  • Write-down of unsold units held in inventory
  • Projects spanning two reporting periods and works still to be incurred

4Tax treatment of real estate transactions

Secure VAT and transfer costs

  • VAT treatment of residential and commercial property supplies
  • First supply of a residential building and treatment of subsequent supplies
  • Input tax recovery, apportionment and subsequent adjustments
  • Property registration and transfer fees and the intention to resell
  • Control points reviewed during a tax audit

Who is it for

Accountants and audit professionals working with real estate operators · administrative and financial managers of development companies · project controllers and development managers.

Prerequisites

Command of routine accounting entries and of the general principles of value added tax.

Dates & locations

36 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.