On March 15, 2018, revolutionary amendments to the Act on the National Court Register enter into a force. From practical perspective one of the most important changes is a new way of submitting financial statements.

Electronic version of financial statements

So far annual financial statements and related documents were submitted to the commercial register in a paper form. Since October 1, 2018 annual financial statements will be prepared and submitted only in an electronic form (a form of Standard Audit File for Tax). Ultimately, the legislator strives to ensure that all applications submitted in the National Court Register are electronic and the registration files of all companies are kept in the ICT system.

The transition period – fist step of changes

During the transition period, i.e. from March 15, 2018 to September 30, 2018, the annual financial statements and related documents (auditor's opinion, a copy of the resolution on the approval of the annual financial statement and distribution of profits or coverage of losses and also the report on activity of an entity) should be submitted as a scan by means of a new ICT system. The above means that no paper applications in this respect will be accepted by the registry court.

Moreover, the documents should be confirmed with a qualified electronic signature or a signature confirmed by the trusted ePUAP profile. Therefore, this requirement entails the obligation to have a trusted ePUAP profile or a qualified electronic signature, which for many entrepreneurs may turn out to be something new.

In practice it seems that smooth functioning and intuitive navigation of a new system will be crucial for receipt of new rules by companies. The new ICT system will be available tomorrow at 7 a.m.