Models companies

1. New standard models of annual accounts

The new Code of Companies and Associations (CCA) provides new models of annual accounts. The main changes to the models of annual accounts for companies are: the distinction between the models with capital and without capital.

Filing in XBRL format is preferred over filing in PDF format.

The filing of annual accounts in paper format is no longer allowed since 01.01.2020 in accordance with the Code of Companies and Associations.

Companies with capital

Full model

VOL-kap (Dutch)

C-cap (French)

Abbreviated model

VKT-kap (Dutch)

A-cap (French)

Micro model

MIC-kap (Dutch)

M-cap (French)

Companies without capital

Full model

VOL-inb (Dutch)

C-app (French)

Abbreviated model

VKT-inb (Dutch)

A-app (French)

Micro model

MIC-inb (Dutch)

M-app (French)

 

The English version of these templates can be found on the webpage of the Accounting Standards Commission. These models are purely informative as the initial filing must be made in one of the country's languages.

Which model should you choose?

In accordance with the opinion of the Accounting Standards Commission CBN 2020/01 (Dutch), the new models should be used for the submission of annual accounts:

  • with financial years ending after 31.12.2019;
  • for companies created after 30.04.2019;
  • for companies which have opted in and whose new statutes have been published before the closing date of their financial year.

 

In addition to the cases mentioned above, the new models with capital may be used for financial years ending before 1 January 2020 and may be filed in xbrl format. This does not apply to new models without capital.

Full, abbreviated or micro model depending on the size criteria for companies.

Model with or without capital, depending on the legal form:

Model

The companies listed below are not required to file annual accounts: 

  • Partnership
  • Limited partnership (CommV (Dutch)) (SComm (French))
    • if all partners with unlimited liability are natural persons;
    • or if they are regarded as a small company
  • General partnership (VOF (Dutch)) (SNC (French))
    • if all partners with unlimited liability are natural persons;
    • or if they are regarded as a small company

Acceptance of the old models for companies.

Filing of the old models in PDF format (you can find them on our page 'Overview of the standard models') remains possible after 03.02.2021 for financial years ending on or before 31.12.2019. However, these companies can also submit an xbrl file of the new model on condition that they opt for the model with capital.

For financial years ending on or after 01.01.2020, on the other hand, the old models will no longer be accepted from 02.03.2021, with the exception of the annual accounts of improper SCRLs which, according to the repair law of 28.04.2020, remain subject to the old capital rules from the Code of Companies and Associations until their transformation

2. Exceptions: companies that are required to file annual accounts in a specific format

Important note: Only deposits in a Belgian national language (Dutch, French or German) comply with the legal deposit obligation. A deposit in English can only be made as an additional deposit.

  • Scheme B: Credit institutions, investment firms and management companies of undertakings for collective investment.
    • Model optional
    • In accordance with the Royal Decree of 29 august 2021 and circular NBB_2021_20 (Nl - Fr)
      • Model scheme B (word, Dutch version 2021)
      • Model scheme B (word, French version 2021)
      • Amendments (Nl-Fr)
      • Date of entry into force: the model version 2021 is applicable at the latest as from the first financial year starting after the entry into force of the Royal Decree (publication on 07/09/2021).
    • Companies wishing to file another specific model should, depending on the size criteria, either
      • use the cover sheet VOL-inst in Dutch or C-ét in French for a full model and tick in Filing under 'Select a model of annual account' the option 'Company' and 'Specific model' and choose the model 'Credit institution, investment firm and management company of undertakings for collective investment' from the drop-down list or
      • use the cover sheet VKT-inst in Dutch or A-ét in French for an abbreviated model and in Filing, under 'Select a model of annual account', tick 'Company' and 'Specific model' and choose the model 'Credit institution, investment firm and management company of undertakings for collective investment: small company' from the drop-down list.
  • Insurance companies
    • Insurance companies can download the new version of the printing tool for the latest model in Dutch or French via Assuralia's statistics portal. The cover sheet (FRONTPAGE) of this printing tool has been modified and is now divided into 3 sections.

      You can find a copy of the template in Dutch here:

      CPA_Annual_Account_NL.xls and

      CPA_Annual_Account_NL.xlsm.

      You can find a copy of the template in French here:

      CPA_Annual_Account_FR.xls et
      CPA_Annual_Account_FR.xlsm.

    • Which template to use in Filing? Under 'Select a model of annual account': select the 'Company' option and then 'Specific model' and choose via the drop-down list model:'Insurance companies'.

    • Insurance companies wishing to file another specific model should according to the size criteria either:

      • use the cover sheet VOL-ver in Dutch or the cover sheet C-ass in French for a full model'
      • use the cover sheet VKT-ver in Dutch or the cover sheet  A-ass in French for an abbreviated model and in Filing under 'Select a model of annual account’ , tick 'Company' and 'Specific model' and choose the model 'Insurance companies: small company' from the drop-down list.
  • Other models for company (exceptional cases)

To be used only in exceptional cases, subject to indication on the cover sheet of the legal or regulatory basis justifying the use of a deviant model.

These companies should according to size criteria either:

  • use the cover sheet VOL-A in Dutch or C-A in French for a full model and tick in Filing under 'Select a model of annual account' the option 'Company' and 'Specific model' and choose the model 'Other models for company' from the drop-down list or
  • use the cover sheet VKT-A in Dutch or A-A in French for an abbreviated model and in Filing under 'Select a model of annual account', tick 'Company' and 'Specific model' and choose the model 'Other models for company: small company' from the drop-down list.

Companies may make an additional filing in English and should use specific cover sheets for this purpose. Filings only in English do not fulfil the disclosure requirement.

Companies with a specific model should use a specific cover page for a full model or (in limited cases) a specific cover page for an abbreviated model, with a code adapted by company type:

Type of company Full Model Abbreviated Model
Credit institutions, investment firms and management companies of undertakings for collective investment F-ci ABR-ci
Insurance companies F-ins ABR-ins
Copyright management companies F-AUT  
Other models for company (exceptional cases) F-O A-O 

3. Consolidated annual accounts

Important note: Only deposits in a Belgian national language (Dutch, French or German) comply with the legal deposit obligation. A deposit in English can only be made as an additional deposit.

Since 2005, the consolidated accounts of companies listed on the stock exchange have had to be drawn up according to international accounting standards or IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards). Non-listed companies have the option of using these standards for compiling their consolidated accounts.

There is no standardised model for consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS.

However, for unlisted companies preparing consolidated accounts under Belgian GAAP (BEGAAP), an elaborated model is provided below by the National Bank of Belgium in cooperation with the Accounting Standards Commission (CBN). There is no obligation to use this model. The content of this model has been adapted for financial years starting from 1 January 2016, following the transposition of Directive 2013/34/EU.

Regardless of the accounting standards used, every consolidated annual account filed with the NBB must be preceded by a cover sheet CONSO 1 (Dutch – French).

In the case of consolidated accounts of a foreign company, the same cover sheet CONSO 1 must be chosen.

A. Models for financial years ending AFTER 1 January 2020

This new model of consolidated financial statements was approved by the CBN on 11 December 2019 and is valid for all financial years ending from 1 January 2020. This model is also used by companies required to prepare and file their consolidated accounts for the 2019 financial year under the provisions of the Companies and Associations Code.

Complete model version 2020 in Dutch:

geconsolideerde jaarrekening versie 2020 (pdf) geconsolideerde jaarrekening versie 2020 (word)

Complete model version 2020 in French:

comptes consolidés version 2020 (pdf) comptes consolidés version 2020 (word)
B. Models for financial years commencing FROM 1 January 2016 and ending before 1 January 2020

This model of consolidated accounts was approved by the CBN on 5 October 2016. This model is used by companies that follow the provisions of the Companies Code for the preparation and filing of their consolidated accounts and is valid for all financial years commencing after 31 December 2015 and ending before 1 January 2020.

Complete model version 2016 in Dutch:

geconsolideerde jaarrekening versie 2016 (pdf) geconsolideerde jaarrekening versie 2016 (word)

Complete model version 2020 in French:

comptes consolidés version 2016 (pdf) comptes consolidés version 2016 (word)

Companies may make an additional filing in English and should use a specific cover sheet for this purpose. Filings only in English do not fulfil the disclosure requirement.

4. Overview of the standard models