Which accountant for an SME in Luxembourg? Criteria 2026
Three distinct professions, only one of them required for most SMEs. The criteria that matter can be checked before signing: business permit, VAT periodicity, software, response times, engagement letter, billing model.
Direct answer
For a Luxembourg SME with no statutory audit obligation, the right counterpart is a licensed comptable: a professional holding a "comptable" business permit issued by the Ministry of the Economy, verifiable on guichet.public.lu. An expert-comptable registered with the OEC handles attestation and complex advisory work; a réviseur d'entreprises agréé, supervised by the CSSF, is only required when the company exceeds two of the three statutory audit thresholds. Financial Services Luxembourg is a licensed comptable (permit 10077274); this guide explains how to compare offers, ours included, on criteria you can check.
The recurring budget of an SME runs from EUR 125 excl. VAT per month for a sole trader to EUR 859 excl. VAT per month for a company filing monthly VAT, a retainer covering bookkeeping, VAT, annual accounts and the tax return. The price depends on the number of documents and the VAT periodicity, not on turnover as such.
Who does what: comptable, expert-comptable, réviseur d'entreprises agréé, "fiduciaire"
"Fiduciaire" is not a profession: it is the trade name most Luxembourg accounting firms use. Behind a fiduciaire sits one of the three regulated professions in the table, and that is what you need to verify.
| Profession | Authority | What it does for an SME | How to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comptable (business permit) | Ministry of the Economy, AML/CFT supervision by the AED | Bookkeeping, VAT, payroll, annual accounts, tax return, RCS filing | Permit register on guichet.public.lu, permit number on the firm's website |
| Expert-comptable | Ordre des experts-comptables (OEC) | Same work, plus attestations, complex advisory, reserved engagements | OEC directory |
| Réviseur d'entreprises agréé | CSSF, IRE | Statutory audit above two of three thresholds over two financial years (balance sheet EUR 7.5 million, net turnover EUR 15 million, 50 employees) | CSSF public list |
| "Fiduciaire", "accounting firm" | None: trade name | Varies: ask which of the three professions is practised | Legal notice, RCS, permit |
What an SME must produce every year
Every commercial company keeps its books under the standard chart of accounts (PCN), files its annual accounts with the RCS through the eCDF platform within seven months of year end, files its corporate income tax return (form 500) and keeps the register of beneficial owners (RBE) up to date. VAT return periodicity follows turnover: annual below EUR 112,000, quarterly up to EUR 620,000, monthly above.
That periodicity, together with document volume, drives the workload and therefore the price. Two companies with the same turnover can pay different fees.
Six criteria you can verify before signing
1. The permit. The business permit number must appear on the website and match the public register. A firm that does not display it is asking you to take its word.
2. VAT periodicity and calendar. Ask on which day of the month returns are filed and what happens if your documents arrive late. An estimated return, corrected the next month, beats a penalty.
3. The software and your access. Compliant software (FAIA, PCN, eCDF, Peppol) with read access for you avoids double entry and lost spreadsheets. Ask which tool is used and whether the database is yours if you leave.
4. Response time and contact person. Who answers, how fast, in which language. A written commitment (for instance 24 business hours) can be checked; "responsive" cannot.
5. The engagement letter. It sets out what is included, what is billed on top, the start date and the exit terms. Without an engagement letter, a quote binds nobody.
6. The billing model. Monthly retainer trued up at year end, annual fixed fee or time spent: each has a logic, but the entry price must be public and the true-up rule written. A published fee grid lets you compare before the first meeting.
What budget to expect
The amounts below are those of the Financial Services Luxembourg grid in force, excluding VAT, published as a benchmark: they show the order of magnitude a licensed comptable charges a typical SME. Compare them against the included scope, not the number alone.
| Profile | Monthly retainer | What triggers this tier |
|---|---|---|
| Sole trader, turnover below EUR 100,000 | EUR 125 excl. VAT | Fewer than 60 documents, annual VAT |
| Simple company | EUR 250 excl. VAT | Turnover below EUR 112,000, annual VAT |
| Growing SME | EUR 485 excl. VAT | Turnover EUR 112,000 to 620,000, quarterly VAT |
| Established company | EUR 859 excl. VAT | Turnover above EUR 620,000, monthly VAT |
Four families of providers, and who they suit
Large international networks (Big Four and comparable firms) are sized for groups, funds and audited companies; an SME rarely gets a dedicated contact at its scale there. Mid-sized expert-comptable firms suit structured SMEs that need attestations or complex advice. Independent licensed comptables and local fiduciaires cover most SMEs, sole traders and simple holdings, with a single contact person. Online platforms suit low-volume sole traders, provided you check who signs the accounts and where the permit is.
Financial Services Luxembourg belongs to the third family: licensed comptable since 2017, published fees, bookkeeping run on Odoo with client access, a named contact answering within 24 business hours, for SMEs, sole traders and SOPARFI holdings. This positioning does not fit a company subject to statutory audit, which must additionally appoint a réviseur d'entreprises agréé.
Changing accountant mid-year
A switch is prepared with the trial balance, general ledger, filed returns and FAIA file from the previous firm. The best moment is the start of a financial year, but a mid-year takeover is possible when the history can be exported. The procedure is detailed on the change accountant in Luxembourg page.
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