Import / Export

Trading companies in Egypt work on thin margins, and small errors in how goods are costed, taxed and paid for can wipe them out. Import VAT that isn't recovered, foreign exchange differences that aren't recorded properly, and customs values that don't match the books all end up as cost, or as an assessment at the tax examination.

OAF helps importers, exporters and trading companies get their landed cost, VAT and foreign currency accounting right, so margins are real and the file holds up.

WHERE TRADING COMPANIES USUALLY LOSE MONEY

• Landed cost. Freight, insurance, customs duties and clearance fees that aren't allocated to goods distort margins per product and per shipment.
• Import VAT. VAT paid at customs is often not fully recovered, or is rejected because documents don't match the return.
• Foreign exchange. Currency differences on purchases, sales and payables are frequently misclassified, which changes taxable profit.
• Customs and books. When the customs value of goods differs from the purchase value in the accounts, examiners ask why.

HOW WE HELP

• Tax advisory on import VAT recovery, withholding tax and tax examinations.
• Tax consulting on specific shipments, agency agreements and distribution structures.
• External audit of trading companies' financial statements, ready for banks and suppliers.
• Financial consulting on landed cost, product margins, cash flow and working capital.
• Company formation for foreign companies setting up an import, distribution or export entity in Egypt.

WHY OAF

OAF is led by Dr. Mansour Etman, with more than 35 years of practice and over 200 clients. Our tax team includes former Directors-General of the Egyptian Tax Authority, so we review your file the way an examiner will, before the examiner does.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can you help us recover import VAT?
Yes. We review your VAT returns against customs and purchase documents to recover what can be recovered and fix what blocks it.

Can you set up a trading company in Egypt for a foreign supplier?
Yes. We set up the entity and structure it so tax, VAT and foreign currency accounting work from day one.

Do you calculate true product margins?
Yes. We build a landed-cost model so you see the real margin on every product and shipment.

Book a consultation to review your trading company's tax and margin position.