The annual corporate secretarial work
Each year, your company’s accounts must be approved by the shareholders, then filed with the court registry on time (tribunal des activités économiques, TAE, formerly the commercial court, in Paris and where it applies; commercial court elsewhere). We prepare the documents:
- Management report and proposed allocation of profit
- Minutes of the general meeting or decisions of the sole shareholder
- Filing of the accounts with the court registry
- Corporate registers and decisions
- Update of beneficial owner information
A company’s legal year
- Year end Annual accounts prepared and approved for submission by the director.
- Within six months Approval of the accounts by the shareholders and allocation of profit.
- Within the following month Filing of the accounts with the court registry (two months if filed online), with the option, depending on size, to request confidentiality.
- All year round Registers, amendments to the articles, beneficial owners register.
Dividends, from the decision to the filings
This is a separate engagement from the annual corporate secretarial work: we prepare the calculations, documents and filings, consistently with your accounts.
- Check Distributable profit, legal reserve, available reserves and the company’s cash.
- Decision Minutes of the general meeting or decision of the sole shareholder, setting the amount and payment date.
- Payment and withholdings Tax and social withholdings at source, declared and paid within the first fifteen days of the following month.
- Annual return The IFU form, filed before 15 February of the following year, so each shareholder can report the income.
For a majority SARL manager, the share of dividends above 10% of share capital, share premium and current account balances is also subject to social contributions: we include this in the salary-versus-dividends decision. See director’s remuneration
Your goals, our answers
“I want to pay myself dividends”
Distributable amount, minutes, withholdings and tax filings: we prepare the distribution end to end.
“I want to be compliant every year”
Approval calendar, documents ready to sign, filing with the registry: nothing is forgotten.
“I am moving the registered office or changing director”
Decisions, updated articles, formalities through the one-stop shop: we prepare and follow up.
For complex operations (shareholder agreements, fundraising, restructuring, disputes), we work alongside your lawyer or can refer you to business lawyers. To find a lawyer, see the official directories.
Estimate your budget now, for your situation: estimate my budget
Frequently asked questions
When must the accounts be approved?
In principle within six months of the year end, unless an extension is granted. Filing with the registry follows within a month of approval (TAE in Paris; commercial court depending on the jurisdiction).
Can the filed accounts be kept confidential?
Small and micro companies may, under conditions, ask for their accounts or income statement not to be made public. We check your eligibility when filing.
Does an SASU have to hold a general meeting?
The sole shareholder takes decisions, recorded in a register. The formalities are lighter, but the decisions remain mandatory.
What is the beneficial owners register?
A register identifying the individuals who own or control the company. It must be updated after each change.
Do I need a lawyer to amend the articles?
For routine amendments, we prepare the documents. For bespoke clauses or complex operations, a lawyer is recommended. To find a lawyer, see the official directories.
Approval of accounts and registry filing: can your accountant in France handle your company’s corporate secretarial work?
Yes, as an à la carte option alongside the accounting and tax engagement: management report, minutes, filing of the accounts with the registry, keeping of registers. Your chartered accountant prepares these documents consistently with your accounts, the company’s tax and your pay as a director; dividend distributions are a separate engagement, offered on request and quoted in advance. Your company’s legal year is prepared in advance, so nothing is forgotten. In 2 minutes, your meeting is booked; in 5 more minutes, your fee estimate is shown. Get my free meeting and quote
SAS, SARL or SCI already working with an accountant in France: how do you join us for your corporate secretarial work?
It is simple: you send your termination letter to your previous firm (we give you an example to adapt), and we organise the handover of your file with them, in line with professional rules. We plan the timetable of your next approval of accounts with you. See the steps to change accountant