Specialist accounting shaped around how travel agents operate

Antravia supports travel agents with finance, accounting and tax services designed around commission-based businesses. We have worked with travel agents, host agencies, tour operators, wholesalers and travel platforms for more than two decades. That experience means we understand how agent workflows actually function, where reporting breaks down and where financial risk quietly builds up over time.

Our work is grounded in real travel businesses, not theoretical accounting models. We focus on clarity, control and decision-useful information that helps agents understand profitability and cash flow properly.

Why Travel Agents Choose Antravia

Travel agency accounting is not generic. Many accountants do not understand host agency statements, commission timing, clawbacks, merchant-of-record risk or the difference between bookings, deposits and earned income. These details matter. They affect reported profit, cash availability and tax exposure.

We bring travel-specific knowledge into your finance function. You get reporting that reflects how your business actually earns money, better visibility over commissions and clearer insight into cash flow and performance. Everything we do is practical and based on direct experience across the travel industry.

What Antravia Supports

Below is a summary of the services Antravia provides for travel agents. We also support more specialised or project-based requests, so please contact us with your specific requirements.

Accounting and Month End Reporting

We help travel agents build a reliable month-end structure that reflects commission-based income. This includes booking cut-off reviews, deferred income treatment, reconciliation of host agency statements, commission accruals and accurate revenue reporting. Monthly accounts become consistent, understandable and genuinely useful.

Cash Flow and Commission Timing

Travel agents often experience cash pressure despite healthy booking volumes. Commissions are earned after travel, adjusted over time and sometimes paid weeks or months after departure. We help you understand the gap between bookings, cash receipts and earned income so you can plan cash flow accurately and avoid surprises.

Host agency reports, supplier confirmations and booking systems rarely align perfectly. We help you reconcile commissions across platforms, identify discrepancies early and ensure income is recorded accurately. This improves confidence in your numbers and reduces time spent chasing unexplained differences.

Commission, Host Agency and Supplier Reconciliation

Client Money and Trust Considerations

Many agents handle client funds at various stages of the booking process. We help you understand when money is client money versus business income, how to reflect this correctly in your accounts and how to reduce risk through clearer processes and controls.

Sales Tax, VAT and Cross-Border Considerations

Selling travel across jurisdictions creates tax questions that are often misunderstood. We support travel agents with U.S. sales tax considerations, VAT and TOMS awareness, and international tax issues relevant to cross-border bookings. This includes understanding where tax may apply and where it does not.

Most booking platforms are not designed to integrate cleanly with accounting systems. We help you create a practical reconciliation process between booking tools, bank accounts, merchant statements and your general ledger. This improves data accuracy and reduces manual effort.

Reconciliation of Booking Systems and Banking

Chart of Accounts and Reporting Structure

We design charts of accounts and reporting structures tailored for travel agents. This allows you to track commission income, fees, refunds, chargebacks and operating costs clearly, giving you a more accurate view of performance.

Forecasting and Performance Insight

We help travel agents focus on metrics that matter, such as commission pipelines, booking pace, cancellation trends, fee income and cash flow timing. This supports better planning and more informed decisions as your business grows.

Many travel agents now combine commission income with planning fees, service fees and consultation charges. We help you structure fee income correctly, track refunds and chargebacks accurately, and ensure reversals are reflected in the right period. This gives you a clearer view of true profitability and avoids overstating income during busy booking periods.

Fee Income, Refunds and Chargeback Management

Who Antravia Works With

We support a wide range of travel agents and advisory-led travel businesses, including:

• Independent travel agents
• Hosted advisors
• Small and growing travel agencies
• Niche and specialist sellers
• Advisors selling international or complex itineraries

Our experience covers both leisure and corporate-focused agency models.

How we work

We work directly with business owners and advisors. You can engage us for ongoing accounting support, structured finance reviews or targeted project work. Our aim is to give you financial clarity, reduce risk and support sustainable growth without unnecessary complexity.

Further Reading for Travel Agents

Travel agents face financial challenges that are often underestimated. Commission timing, client money handling, host agency reporting and tax exposure all affect profitability and cash flow. At Antravia, we work with travel agents across global markets and see the same issues arise repeatedly. This series explores the financial topics that matter most and explains how to manage them with clearer reporting and stronger controls.

Accounting for Travel Agents

The Essential Accounting Guide for Travel Agents

Go beyond commissions. Learn the essential accounting basics every travel agent needs to know, from host agency reports and tax obligations to choosing the right software for your business. Link

Best Accounting Systems for Travel Agents in 2025

Confused by QuickBooks, Xero, or travel tools like TESS? Discover the best accounting systems for travel agents, including hosted agents. Learn how to track gross bookings, commissions, and true profit in your travel business.. Link

The Travel Agent Finance Guide | Complete Financial Playbook for U.S. Advisors

Discover Antravia’s full Travel Agent Finance Guide — a complete, practical roadmap covering business setup, pricing, cash flow, tax, compliance, destination strategy, technology, and long-term planning for U.S. travel advisors. Link

Tax for Travel Agents

U.S. Tax for Travel Agents

Expert tips for travel agents, tour operators, and hotel owners. Tax.travel is part of the Antravia group Link

U.S. Sales Tax in Travel

Sales tax in the U.S. is complex. Each state sets its own rules, thresholds, and deadlines. If you sell travel, even from overseas, you may already have a tax obligation you didn’t know existed. USSales.tax by Antravia helps travel agents understand their exposure and stay compliant across all 50 states.. Link

International Tax for Travel Agents

Practical insight for agents operating Internationally.. Link

VAT & TOMS for Travel Agents

UKVAT.tax United Kingdom VAT & TOMS for Travel Agents

Understand how VAT and TOMS apply to U.K. travel agents, tour operators, and hotels. Learn margin rules, agency vs principal treatment, and post-Brexit compliance from Antravia Advisory. Link

EuroVAT.tax European E.U. VAT & TOMS for Travel Agents

Learn how EU VAT, TOMS, and ViDA reforms affect travel agents and tour operators across Europe. Practical compliance guidance from Antravia Advisory. Link

VAT.travel International VAT for Travel Agents

Practical insight for agents operating Internationally.. Link

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Disclaimer:
Content published by Antravia is provided for informational purposes only and reflects research, industry analysis, and our professional perspective. It does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. Regulations vary by jurisdiction, and individual circumstances differ. Readers should seek advice from a qualified professional before making decisions that could affect their business.
See also our Disclaimer page