Three years ago, Luxembourg accounting legislation  and the Luxembourg law on commercial companies  were revamped thoroughly. Now, with the law of 30 July 2013 (the “New Law” ), Luxembourg legislators have made additional changes to the above-mentioned laws, by clarifying or amending certain provisions which were subject to interpretation or which could be misused. Those changes, combined with the regulatory developments introduced with the Standard Chart of Accounts and the electronic filing of accounts, add another string to the bow of accounting practitioners in Luxembourg.

PwC Luxembourg is providing companies with renewed support in the preparation of their accounting records by issuing the third edition of its “Handbook for the preparation of annual accounts under Luxembourg accounting framework”. The new and complete edition of the handbook takes into account the changes and clarifications made by legislators in the New Law and addresses in a single volume the main scenarios faced by companies when preparing their annual accounts.

In this new edition which is intended as an aid to practitioners, appendices have been expanded from documentation and information needed by preparers of annual accounts. Aside from the legal requirements relating to the preparation of consolidated accounts together with an overview of the auditing, filing and publication of annual accounts – including the practicalities involved in filing annual accounts – this handbook includes:

• the Standard Chart of Accounts (“SCA”),
• an example of management report,
• the various layouts available for balance sheets and for profit and loss accounts as part of the preparation of consolidated financial statements,
• an overview of corporate accounting deadlines, and
• opinions from the Commission des Normes Comptables (Accounting Standards Committee).

A how-to guide
Each step involved in preparing the accounts is explained in practical terms and illustrated with comments and examples. The handbook is geared toward companies that prepare their accounts under Luxembourg generally accepted accounting principles. Its target readership includes the persons in charge of those companies' accounting and financial departments and the accountants and chartered accountants in charge of preparing annual accounts.

“This edition is designed to provide preparers of annual accounts with insight into the various options relating to valuation policies which were made possible by the law of 10 December 2010 and to inform them of the changes made by legislators in the New Law” says Anne-Sophie Preud'homme, the Partner in charge of PwC Luxembourg's Accounting Technical team.

Alexandre Leleux, Director at PwC Luxembourg, adds: “The handbook will support companies every step of the way when they prepare their annual accounts under Luxembourg GAAP. They can use the handbook to familiarise themselves with general accounting principles and to prepare their annual and consolidated accounts.”

The “Handbook for the preparation of annual accounts under Luxembourg accounting framework” is available in French, English and German and is distributed by Legitech. It can be purchased from most bookshops. Alternatively, the handbook can be purchased from the PwC Luxembourg and the Legitech websites for €40.