Dear auto-entrepreneurs, yes, you too have accounting obligations (albeit lighter!).
If you've just set up your own micro-enterprise, you're probably wondering what your auto-entrepreneur accounting obligations are.
Micro-entrepreneurs benefit from a special tax regime, Micro-BIC or Micro-BNC, with simplified accounting. There's no need to produce a balance sheet, and other requirements often call for the services of a chartered accountant.
But despite the simplified procedures, the utmost rigor is still required. Find out more about your accounting obligations now!
Keeping a receipts book
Keeping an up-to-date receipts book is the auto-entrepreneur's first accounting obligation.
The revenue book is a document in which you keep a chronological record of all receipts. It is essential that you keep it up to date in the event of an audit by the tax authorities.
Example of a revenue book :
Keeping a purchase register
In certain cases, you must also keep a purchase register:
- if you sell goods, supplies or foodstuffs for consumption on the premises or for takeaway,
- if you offer accommodation services.
💡 Note that here too, you have the choice of paper or digital support.
Drawing up invoices
When is the auto-entrepreneur invoice mandatory?
When you're a micro-entrepreneur, you're obliged to invoice in certain specific cases:
- when you sell services or goods to professionals,
- when requested by the customer,
- for distance selling,
- when delivering certain goods at public auction (second-hand goods, works of art, collectors' items or antiques).
☝️ Beware of oversights! If you fail to do so, you could still be fined up to €75,000 for an individual, and €375,000 for a legal entity.
Finally, a properly produced auto-entrepreneur invoice must comply with precise numbering criteria and include a certain number of compulsory details.
To find out what they are, read our file on auto-entrepreneur invoicing, and download a free template.
Open a dedicated bank account
As an auto-entrepreneur, you are required by law to open a bank account dedicated to your business, in order to separate your professional transactions (collections, payments, personal remuneration, obtaining credit, etc.) from your personal ones.
On the other hand, since the PACTE law of May 2019, a dedicated bank account is no longer mandatory for auto-entrepreneurs whose sales do not exceed 10,000 euros for two consecutive years.
A major change for many auto-entrepreneurs. Until now, the 2015 Social Security Financing Act obliged all auto-entrepreneurs to keep a bank account dedicated to their professional activity, well separated from their personal current account. This measure has therefore been relaxed with the PACTE law.
💡 Is it compulsory to open a pro account as an auto-entrepreneur?
The good news is that a simple current account is all you need, and that's just as well, because business bank accounts generate more expensive fees.
Declare your sales
Above all, don't forget to declare your sales!
Depending on whether or not you've opted for payment in full discharge of income tax, you'll need to declare it every month or quarter on the Urssaf website.
👆 Please note: if you forget to do this, you'll be subject to a €50 penalty for each missing declaration.
And to find out how to keep your auto-entrepreneur accounts on a daily basis, see our article on the subject.