Clarté Business · Quito · Ecuador

We organize your numbers and keep your obligations current.

Accounting, tax compliance, tax refunds, preventive planning and business management. For SMEs, foreign investors and professionals who want to make decisions based on data, not intuition.

10+ years of accounting experience
Compliance with every regulator
Tax refunds successfully processed
How we approach accounting

Strict compliance. Data-driven decisions.

Properly kept accounting is not just complying with the tax authority (SRI). It is knowing, in numbers, whether the business is profitable, whether cash flow can hold the next three months, whether unit cost is what you think, whether receivables are healthy. Most SMEs keep accounting "to file," not to decide.

At Clarté Business we do both. We meet every tax and regulatory obligation with absolute discipline, and at the same time we deliver management information you can actually use to make decisions. When a case requires legal defense, SRI assessment, administrative appeals, tax court, Clarté Legal joins the work from day one.

Service areas

Ten operational fronts to keep your business in order.

Each area follows its own methodology while connected to the integrated monthly close. Click each to see how we work.

Monthly accounting and management reporting
What we do
Bookkeeping under IFRS for SMEs, monthly closes, financial statements, bank reconciliations, management dashboards with key indicators you can actually understand.
When to call us
Your current accountant doesn't explain the numbers · You make decisions without current financials · Your company has grown and needs serious reporting.
Typical case
SME that only received "the balance" once a year. We implemented monthly reporting with three key indicators: real profitability, projected cash flow, days of receivables and inventory turnover.
Tax filings (VAT, withholdings, income tax)
What we do
Monthly VAT and withholding filings, annual income tax return (form 101), payroll income reports, all obligations per the tax calendar.
When to call us
You're in the RIMPE or general regime · You're behind on filings · You want to stop paying late-filing penalties.
Typical case
Company with accumulated penalties for late filings. We bring them current and put the calendar on autopilot with 7- and 3-day advance alerts before each due date.
SRI transactional annexes and formal obligations
What we do
ATS (transactional annex), REOC, personal-expenses annex, electronic voucher reconciliation, purchase and service settlements, payroll annex.
When to call us
Your transaction volume has grown · The SRI requested an annex · You want to stop improvising at month-end.
Typical case
Retailer with 800 monthly invoices and ATS three months behind. We reorganized the electronic voucher flow and brought annexes current without overloading the internal team.
Compliance with regulators
What we do
Compliance before Ecuador's Superintendence of Companies, SRI, IESS (social security), Ministry of Labor. Filing of mandatory balances, shareholder meeting minutes, sector-specific forms.
When to call us
You received a notice from a regulator · You didn't file balances last year · You want all obligations current.
Typical case
Company that didn't file balances for two consecutive years with the Superintendence. We brought them current without major sanctions and aligned the calendar with the rest of the obligations.
Tax refunds
What we do
VAT refund requests for exports, income tax withholding refunds, refunds for excess tax credit. Full filing with the SRI backed by solid documentation.
When to call us
You're an exporter with accumulated VAT · More was withheld than owed · You have unused tax credit.
Typical case
Exporter with $40,000 of VAT accumulated over two years. We structured the request and obtained the refund within the legal timeframe with verified documentary support.
Preventive tax planning
What we do
Analysis of current tax burden, identification of opportunities within regulations (reinvestment, deductible expenses, corporate structure), simulations and a documented plan. Cross-border planning for foreign investors.
When to call us
You feel you pay more than you should · You're about to do a major transaction · You want to review before fiscal year-end.
Typical case
Company paying income tax at the maximum rate without leveraging productive reinvestment (Art. 37 LORTI). We structured a reinvestment plan and legally reduced next year's burden.
Accounting and tax due diligence
What we do
Full review of accounting and tax health, contingency identification, fiscal exposure assessment, executive report with prioritized findings and recommendations.
When to call us
You're buying a company · You're selling yours · An investor is coming in · You need to know what's really under the balance sheet.
Typical case
Potential buyer of an SME. We identified an unprovisioned tax contingency of $80,000, which adjusted the final purchase price and translated into an effective provision.
Business management
What we do
Administrative process design, receivables control, supplier management, operations manuals, owner dashboards with operational and financial metrics.
When to call us
The owner does everything · There are no documented processes · The company grew and got messy.
Typical case
Family company where the founder managed everything from memory. We documented key processes so the team could operate without depending on her day to day.
Business strategy and integrated support
What we do
Continuous strategic support: quarterly review of the numbers, annual planning, growth decisions, financial structuring of projects, sparring with the owner.
When to call us
You want external strategic sparring · You need someone to ask the right questions before deciding · You're going to expand.
Typical case
SME about to open a second location without projections. We structured the business case, defined quarterly check-points and the opening was based on evidence.
Payroll and social security (IESS) outsourcing
What we do
Monthly payroll processing, IESS contribution calculation and payment, reserve funds, statutory bonuses, vacation, profit sharing and settlements. Mandatory labor reporting and management of the Ministry of Labor's SUT platform.
When to call us
Payroll calculation takes too much time · You make errors in IESS contributions · Your team has grown and needs professional labor management.
Typical case
Company with 12 employees where the owner calculated payroll manually. We migrated to an automated process, regularized pending contributions and put the labor calendar on autopilot.
Cases by industry

We know the accounting and tax reality of every sector.

Each industry has its own accounting complexities. These are the technical cases we most often solve by sector.

SECTOR · COMMERCE AND DISTRIBUTION

High voucher volume and unused tax credit.

Trading and distribution companies handle volumes that overwhelm manual accounting processes. Their critical points: electronic voucher reconciliation, withholdings received and correct application of tax credit in filings.

Typical caseTrading company with 1,200 monthly electronic documents and ATS three months behind. We found: vouchers without reconciliation against the sales system, withholdings received not booked as tax credit, and VAT filings with inconsistencies versus the annex. We reorganized the flow: integration of the electronic invoicing module with the accounting system through automated exports, monthly reconciliation of received withholdings vs. vouchers, and amendment of filings for the audited quarter. We recovered $24,000 of tax credit not correctly applied. Monthly close dropped from 18 days to 5.
SECTOR · CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE

Revenue recognition by stage of completion under IFRS.

Construction companies face technical complexity in recognizing revenue from works in progress. Booking completed-contract when the percentage-of-completion method applies distorts results, defers taxes incorrectly and weakens financials for banking.

Typical caseConstruction company with two works in progress under turnkey modality valued at $1.8M. Identified risk: accounting under the completed-contract method when under IFRS for SMEs (Section 23) the percentage-of-completion method applied, generating incorrect tax deferral and distorted financials for bank credit access. Retroactive change to percentage of completion with total estimated cost per work, revenue recognition by certified progress percentage, amendment of the affected year's income tax return and restructuring of the internal accounting model. Result: financials that passed bank evaluation for a $400,000 credit line.
SECTOR · PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Accumulated withholdings and personal tax planning.

Consultancies, agencies and professional firms accumulate 8% and 10% withholdings on fees that often go unapplied. Additionally, partners often don't use the personal tax planning available under regulations.

Typical caseIT consultancy with average monthly billing of $35,000 and partners with variable compensation. Diagnosis: 8% withholdings received not applied as tax credit in monthly filings (accumulated $14,000 over 14 months); deductible personal expenses for the main partner under Art. 10 LORTI not used (housing, health, education); and operation that qualified for income tax reduction through productive reinvestment (Art. 37 LORTI) without structuring. Work: refund request for excess withholdings, restructuring of personal filing with personal expenses applied to the legal maximum, and documented reinvestment plan committing to the acquisition of productive equipment. Effective tax burden reduction of 22%.
SECTOR · MANUFACTURING AND INDUSTRY

Inventory valuation and export VAT refunds.

Manufacturers handle complex inventories (raw materials, work-in-process, finished goods) and exporters accumulate recoverable VAT that often goes unclaimed. Correct valuation under IFRS and proper export documentation are the difference between leaving money on the table or not.

Typical caseManufacturer-exporter with raw materials, work-in-process and finished inventory worth around $600,000. Risk: VAT accumulated from exports of $42,000 unclaimed for two fiscal years, and an inventory valuation method different from the one declared (FIFO in the system vs. weighted average in the filing). Work: rectification of the valuation method under IFRS Section 13 with documented backing of the accounting election, detailed reconciliation of VAT accumulated by export operation, and structuring of the VAT refund request with complete documentary backing (customs declarations, bills of lading, sales vouchers). Refund obtained: $39,700 (94% of the request) within the legal 90-day timeframe.
SECTOR · TECHNOLOGY AND STARTUPS

Accounting structuring of capital contributions and R&D expenses.

Startups that receive investment face specific accounting challenges: correct classification of contributions vs. loans, capitalization of research and development costs under IAS 38 / IFRS for SMEs Section 18, and formalization before the Superintendence of Companies to avoid future contingencies.

Typical caseSeries A startup with $250,000 raised from local investors and one international investor, partially booked as a loan and partially as capital without clear documentation. Risk: confusing record before the Superintendence of Companies due to unformalized capital increase, potential double taxation on future distribution, and exposure before the SRI for R&D expenses mixed with general operating expenses. Formalization of the capital increase with public deed and commercial registry, accounting separation of R&D accounts under IFRS for SMEs Section 18 with quantification of capitalizable costs vs. period expenses, and restructuring of the income tax return. Output: financials that supported additional investment due diligence without accounting observations.
SECTOR · INDIVIDUALS WITH WEALTH

Optimized personal filing and foreign investments.

Professionals with accumulated wealth and foreign investments have specific tax obligations they often don't fully leverage or keep current. Deductible personal expenses, accumulated withholdings, foreign investment reporting and lease structuring are the most common points.

Typical caseIndependent professional with service income ($120,000 annually), rental from three properties ($28,000 annually), and local and foreign financial investments ($85,000 in a U.S. account). Diagnosis: deductible personal expenses applied at 40% of the legal maximum, accumulated professional withholdings without refund request ($6,800 across two fiscal years), foreign investment not declared under transparency regime, and lease structure as an individual that could be optimized via a civil partnership. Refund request for withholdings, restructuring of personal filing with expenses at legal maximum, voluntary declaration of foreign investment, and cost-benefit analysis of a corporate vehicle. Personal tax burden reduction of 19% and all obligations current.
The accounting & tax team

An experienced accounting team. One conversation.

Paul Esteban Sánchez
Paul Esteban Sánchez
Attorney · Founding partner

Attorney with more than 10 years of practice in corporate, tax and business advisory. Executive MBA from INCAE Business School. Master's in Corporate Law from the University of Navarra (Madrid). Founder of Clarté, where he leads the two integrated practices supporting SMEs and family wealth in Ecuador.

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Tania Tipantuña
Lead accountant

Accounting and Audit engineer with ten years of experience. Leads the accounting and tax operation at Clarté Business, focused on regulatory compliance, management reporting and preventive tax planning.

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Valeria Llamatumbi
Accounting support

Support in accounting document management, preparation of tax filings and reconciliations under the lead accountant's direction. Ensures the discipline of the monthly close.

Accounting and legal work together

Does your case also need legal backing?

When the accounting matter touches legal, defense before the SRI, M&A due diligence, structured tax planning, administrative appeals, Clarté Legal joins the case from day one. One firm, two integrated practices.

Let's talk about your operation

A complimentary introductory conversation.

Tell us what you need and we'll see if Clarté Business is the right team for your operation. If what you're looking for isn't for us, we'll tell you directly and point you elsewhere.

OfficeHalcón Building · Suite 101
Oswaldo Guayasamín & Siena Avenue
Cumbayá · Quito · Ecuador
Phone · WhatsApp+593 99 222 3342