Basic accounting

The Estonian Commercial Code states that it needs to be raised.

If a private limited company has less than half of its share capital or less than the amount of share capital specified in § 136 of this Code or the other minimum amount of share capital provided by the law, the shareholders shall decide:

1) Reduction or increase of share capital

2) The dissolution, merger, division or transformation of a private limited company

3) Submission of a bankruptcy petition

We can help with the terminal liquidation process.

Please take a closer look at our respective service:

Company termination

The information you need to provide in the annual report depends on the size of the company.

For example, micro- and small businesses are required to provide a balance sheet, income statement, cash flow report, activity report, and specifically required notes: accounting principles, number of employees, and information about related parties.

Our customers are mostly micro and small companies.

A micro-enterprise is a private limited company with total assets of up to 175 thousand euros, liabilities not exceeding equity, and annual sales revenue of up to 50 thousand euros. The micro-enterprise has one shareholder who is also a member of the management board. The micro-enterprise does not have to submit an activity report in the annual report and the number of annexes is also minimal.

A small company is a company with total assets of up to 4 million euros, annual sales of up to 8 million euros, and an average number of employees of up to 50 people, one of which may be exceeded.

Regarding the Estonian accounting law we accept the source documents in Estonian and English language.

Original documents in other languages must be sworn translated into the above languages, otherwise they cannot be accepted.

There are certain restrictions for source documents, take a look at information about requirements.

An annual report is the company’s financial statement of the past financial year.

All legal entities need to submit an annual report in Estonia – which of course includes companies owned by e-residents. Under the Commercial Code (see § 60), it’s mandatory to submit the report even if the company doesn’t have any activities during the financial year. It must be prepared in Estonian and in the official currency (EUR).

The deadline is six months after the financial year is over. Usually at late last day of June. But it is always wise to do it early.

The annual report can be submitted remotely if you have an Estonian e-residency card, Estonian ID card, Estonian Mobile ID or Smart ID. In other cases, the services of a public notary must be used.

All, but micro-enterprises must also include the management report. Larger companies must submit a cash flow statement and a statement of changes in equity. In certain cases, an auditor’s evaluation is mandatory.

Keep in mind that anyone can access the management reports. Therefore, consider carefully what the report contains.

Please take a closer look at our respective service:

Basic annual report

The law establishes what data must be present on the invoice so that it complies with the Estonian Accounting Legislation.

The following information needs to be written on invoices:

• Title (e.g. “Invoice” or similar)
• Invoice number
• Date of issue
• Description of goods or services purchased
• Numerical data (amount, price of a unit, total sum)
• Names of the seller and buyer
• Addresses of the seller and buyer
• Seller’s company registration number
• Seller’s VAT number (in case the seller has it)

There are certain restrictions for source documents, take a look at information about requirements.

Legislation states that only business-related expenses can be included in the company’s reporting. Non-related expenses are treated as non-purpose based on the Estonian Accounting legislation and are taxed with an additional preferential tax.

They must include:

• Date of issue
• Receipt number
• Description of goods or services purchased
• Numerical data (amount, price of unit, total sum)
• Name of the seller
• Address of the seller
• Seller’s company registration number
• Seller’s VAT number (in case the seller has it)

They can be transmitted to us through various communication channels, preferably through various applications that automatically add them to the accounting software.

In most cases, the financial year is the same as the calendar year in which case the deadline is the last day of June.

In special cases, a different period may be set for the financial year.

Submitting an annual report is mandatory for all the companies registered in Estonia, within 6 months from the end of the company’s financial year.

Please take a closer look at our respective service:

Annual report

Necessary to submit tax returns on behalf of the company.

Login to the Estonian Tax and Customs Board. Choose your company.

On the left side, there will be “Settings”, follow these steps:

Access Permissions -> Access permissions of representatives> New Access permission.

There is necessary to add the identification code of the representative there. That’s 11253141 for that.

The following page opens, where you can add an expiration date if necessary.

Additional data

• If you want to add access rights as a package eg Accountant Package, Customs Package, Excise Package, Send data through system-to-system interface, etc., you need just to scroll to the bottom of the page and click on search. Five packages appear. Please mark the desired package (s) and click on add.
• If you want to add separate access permissions, you must select the separate access permissions tab. The most exploitable access permissions are in the “over areas ” area
• If you want to add user management permissions, select the separate permissions tab, enter “right” in the name box to simplify the search, and press the search button. There appear several access permissions. The permission you need to add in such a case is: “The right of the representative of the legal person to administer the user rights of applications”.

Comprehensive and bulky manual: https://www.emta.ee/eng/information-and-news-e-mta/instructions-using-e-services/access-permissions-and-authorisations-e-mta

Video manual

Annual reports are submitted in the e-environment of the business register.

If you have an Estonian ID, Mobile ID, or e-residency, the right of representation can be granted with the following steps:

1. Log in to the Business Registry
2. From the upper bar choose ,,Annual report”
3. From the bar below choose „Defining persons entering data“
4. Press the button below „Add new person for entering data“
5. Fill in the field „Personal identification code of the person entering data”
6. Select the company you want to add the person entering the data
7. Click: “The person entering data is authorized to submit the report”
8. Push the „Save“ button below

Now your accountant can enter your annual report data and submit it.

It should also be noted that the submitted report must also be digitally confirmed by a board member.

No, you don’t.

If the company has employees who are not tax residents of Estonia and work outside Estonia, the salary payments to these foreign employees are not taxed in Estonia, and we do not file tax returns for these employees.

Foreign employees must declare their income on behalf of an Estonian company in the country in which they are taxable.

Yes, it’s mandatory. When operating a business in Estonia, it is essential to comply with local accounting and legal standards to ensure that your company is adhering to the best practices in accounting.

Keeping your books in order is crucial to providing financial transparency to your creditors and business partners and ensuring the accurate calculation of taxes.

There are three main accounting policies that you must follow in Estonia:

1. The Accounting Act of the Republic of Estonia – this law outlines the requirements for accounting practices, including bookkeeping, accounting documentation, and financial reporting.
2. Estonia’s Good Accounting Practices – these guidelines provide recommendations for accounting standards and practices, including financial statement preparation, accounting documentation, and audit procedures.
3. The guidelines issued by the Accounting Board of the Republic of Estonia – this is an advisory board that issues guidance on accounting practices and standards, including the interpretation of accounting regulations and the development of new accounting principles.

By adhering to these accounting policies, you can ensure that your company’s financial information is accurate and transparent.

Moreover, accounting is the basis for preparing the annual report. Submission of the annual report is mandatory, if not submitted, the state imposes a fine, and in some cases also forced termination.

Check out our corresponding service:

Starter accounting

Standard Procedure for Non-Payment of Services:

The established protocol for addressing non-payment of services typically involves several steps to ensure a fair resolution. These steps are as follows:

1. Reminder Letter: A formal communication is sent to the debtor, notifying them of the outstanding payment and requesting immediate settlement. The letter serves as an initial reminder and allows the debtor an opportunity to rectify the situation promptly.
2. Repeated Reminder Letter: In the event that the debtor fails to respond or settle the outstanding amount after the initial reminder, a subsequent reminder letter is sent as a follow-up measure. This letter reiterates the urgency of payment and emphasizes the potential consequences of continued non-compliance.
3. SMS Reminder: In addition to written communication, a text message reminder is commonly employed as a supplementary means of notification. This method aims to further prompt the debtor to take immediate action in resolving the unpaid balance.
4. Register of Debtors: If the debtor remains unresponsive or persistent in non-payment, their details may be recorded in a register of debtors. This record serves as a reference for future actions and ensures transparency within the process.
5. Court Proceedings: Should the previous steps prove ineffective, legal action may be pursued through court proceedings. This involves initiating a formal lawsuit against the debtor, presenting the case before a judge or magistrate, and seeking a legal judgment in favor of the owed amount.
6. Bailiff or Debt Collection Company: If necessary, following a court judgment, the services of a bailiff or a reputable debt collection company may be enlisted. These professionals are authorized to take further action to recover the owed funds, which may include seizing assets, enforcing payment plans, or implementing other legal measures.

It is important to note that throughout this process, initial transaction costs incurred as a result of pursuing the outstanding payment will be included. Additionally, as the proceedings progress, state fees and bailiff costs, which are associated with legal action and the involvement of authorized officials, will be added to the outstanding balance.

We are able to provide accounting services for previous periods upon request.

Our pricing model is based on the number of transactions involved. For more information on pricing and to discuss any special requirements, please feel free to contact us. We will be pleased to provide you with a customized pricing solution.

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Basic annual report