For whom auditing is compulsory?

An audit of annual accounts is compulsory for every:

• public limited company having more than two shareholders
• state accounting entity
• local government
• legal person in public law
• political party receiving allocation from the state budget
• foundation established by the state, legal person in public law, local government, political party or company in which the state has at least the discretion for the purposes of the State Assets Act or if the conditions provided below apply.

For financial years that started on 1 January 2016 or later, the following thresholds apply:

• an audit is compulsory for all accounting entities if two conditions out of three are met:
  • sales revenue 4 million euros
  • total assets 2 million euros
  • number of employees 60
• or if one out of three conditions are met:
  • sales revenue 12 million euros
  • total assets 6 million euros
  • number of employees 180;

• a review is compulsory for all accounting entities if two conditions out of three are met (review can be replaced with an audit):
  • sales revenue 1,6 million euros
  • total assets 0,8 million euros
  • number of employees 24
• or if one out of three conditions are met:
  • sales revenue 4,8 million euros
  • total assets 2,4 million euros
  • number of employees 72.

Use the calculator to determine whether an audit or review is compulsory

For financial years that started before 1 January 2016, the earlier thresholds apply:

• an audit is compulsory for all accounting entities if two conditions out of three are met:
  • sales revenue 2 million euros
  • total assets 1 million euros
  • number of employees 30
• or if one out of three conditions are met:
  • sales revenue 6 million euros
  • total assets 3 million euros
  • number of employees 90;

• a review is compulsory for all accounting entities if two conditions out of three are met (review can be replaced with an audit):
  • sales revenue 1 million euros
  • total assets 0,5 million euros
  • number of employees 15
• or if one out of three conditions are met:
  • sales revenue 3 million euros
  • total assets 1,5 million euros
  • number of employees 45.