ALTEOR

Alteor is a firm of accountants and tax specialists on Kardinaal Mercierlei, a quiet street along the ring boulevard of Antwerp, on the Berchem side. The office can be reached by car from the E19 or the ring road, and by tram via the Berchem De Merode stop. The firm has existed for more than twenty-five years and presents itself as an approved accounting firm that keeps its clients' full books and makes sure their legal obligations are met.

Its client base is varied and the website describes it precisely: business owners, freelancers, liberal professions, retail and wholesale, temporary employment agencies, service voucher companies, building contractors and hospitality. In some of these sectors, payroll costs have to be linked to the accounts very quickly to calculate an exact margin. The firm has made arrangements with several social secretariats to automate the integration of payroll data into the accounts.

Bookkeeping comes with regular meetings to discuss the figures. The reporting format is agreed with the client: a classic balance sheet, a comparative periodic overview in Excel or PDF, or direct access to the file through the firm's online platform. Results can be shown month by month and split analytically by branch. With digital bookkeeping, clients can also check open customer balances, unpaid purchase invoices and charts showing trends over time.

On VAT and direct taxes, Alteor calculates and optimises corporate income tax, personal income tax and VAT. The obligations it handles include tax returns, intra-community listings, foreign VAT refund claims and statutory reports. The firm also flags tax risks it finds in a file. In the event of a tax audit, it prepares the file and, if the client wishes, conducts the discussion with the tax authorities.

Start-ups are supported in their first steps: feasibility studies, drafting articles of association, business plans, credit applications and incorporation formalities. Based on a forecast and the client's personal tax situation, the firm runs a simulation comparing a sole proprietorship with a company, or employee status with self-employed status. It advises on deductible business expenses and on the overall optimisation of income.

Business advice covers budgets, cash flow planning, the choice between leasing and borrowing, the transfer of a business or shares, property purchases and preparing credit applications. For business owners, management companies and freelancers working in IT or HR, Alteor follows the personal file: cost optimisation, pension building, cover for loss of income, property assets and acquiring shareholdings.

For companies with a statutory auditor, transparent bookkeeping and detailed reporting make the audit easier, and large volumes of invoices and bank statements are processed automatically. Fees are set on the basis of clear agreements, either as a fixed fee or on a time basis. A newsletter keeps clients informed of tax news, and the office can be reached on weekdays from 9 am to 12 noon and from 2 pm to 4 pm. The firm states that it only accepts a new file when it has enough time for it and can add real value.