A protected title, not an open trade
In Belgium you do not set up as an accountant the way you open a shop. The title is reserved for individuals and firms entered in the public register of the ITAA. Using the title without being registered constitutes unlawful practice of the profession.
The law of 17 March 2019 merged the two former institutes, the IEC and the IPCF, into a single institute from 30 September 2020. Since then it distinguishes the certified accountant, who may carry out all the activities listed in article 3, from the non-certified accountant, inherited from the former accreditations, whose scope is narrower.
What an accountant actually does
They keep or supervise the bookkeeping, prepare the annual accounts, draft tax returns, and advise on the administrative and financial organisation of the business. Certain specific assignments under the Code of Companies and Associations, such as reports on capital transactions, are reserved for certified accountants and statutory auditors.
The distinction with the tax accountant and with the certified tax advisor lies in that scope of assignments, not in the quality of the day-to-day work.
Internal or external member
A rarely explained nuance that is nonetheless decisive when looking for a provider. Registered professionals are listed either as external members or as internal members.
The external member works on behalf of third parties: that is the firm you entrust your accounts to. The internal member exercises their skills within a single organisation, as an employee or director, and is not there to take on outside clients. A finance director registered as an internal accountant is perfectly qualified, but they are not a provider for your company.
Checking a registration
The ITAA public register is available online and lets you check whether a professional or firm is registered, under which title, and on which list. It takes a minute and should precede signing any engagement letter.
What people often confuse
The registered professional is not always the person handling your file day to day. In a firm, routine work is often done by staff who are not themselves registered, under the supervision of someone who is. That is entirely proper, provided the supervision is real and you know who you are talking to.
Our guide covers the differences between accountant, tax accountant and accounting firm, and the AccountMap directory lists Belgian firms with their specialisations.