Don't forget to file the annual statutory accounts in due time!

In accordance with Belgian company law, the annual accounts of a company should be submitted to the shareholders for approval on the “statutory date” (i.e. the date for holding the annual shareholders’ meeting as laid down in the company’s articles of association) but at the latest six months after the financial year-end. In other words, the legal deadline for approving the accounts of the financial year closed as per 31 December 2008 is 30 June 2009. Late filing of the accounts is sanctioned with a fine which can add up to EUR 1,200 (for accounts drawn up in the full format).

As from this year, filing of accounts must take place electronically (except for, among others, companies that have a turnover below EUR 500,000 or foreign companies with a Belgian branch office) through a specific Internet application of the National Bank of Belgium. PwC can of course take care of such filing (whether electronic or not) on your behalf.

What can PwC offer you?

PricewaterhouseCoopers Tax Consultants can assist you in dealing with:

• the electronic (or paper) filing on your behalf but not only that

PricewaterhouseCoopers can also assist you in

• the preparation of the required annual legal documents (minutes and reports) in view of the approval of the annual accounts;
• the preparation of the required paperwork for formally postponing the annual shareholders' meeting (when required and possible). In any case, a special discharge by the shareholders to the directors (and to the statutory auditor, if any) should be added in the annual legal documents in case the company could not meet the above-mentioned "statutory date" and/or legal deadline for approval of the annual accounts.

Any questions or doubts in relation to these formalities? Please do not hesitate to contact your client engagement team!