Accountant for Non-Profits (ASBL)
Sports clubs, cultural associations, social non-profits, homework schools, neighbourhood committees: your directors are often volunteers, but the accounting obligations are very real. A Viseeon network accountant helps you keep the books, file them on time and protect your non-profit (ASBL/VZW).
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What difficulties do non-profit treasurers face?
Simplified or full accounting?
The type of accounting depends on the size of the ASBL: staff, income and assets. A growing non-profit can slip into double-entry accounting without the board noticing.
Filings and formalities you must not forget
Annual accounts to file, budget to approve at the general meeting, register of beneficial owners (UBO) to keep up to date, director changes to publish. A miss exposes the ASBL and sometimes its directors.
Activities that look like business
Bar, events, sales, paid classes, room rental: a non-profit can carry out economic activities, but they may have VAT and tax consequences. Identify them before an inspection does.
Grants to justify
Public authorities, federations, foundations: every grant has its conditions and financial report. Accounts that do not track projects separately make justification painful and fragile.
What your accountant does for your non-profit
Accounts suited to your size
Checking your size criteria, keeping simplified or double-entry books, preparing the annual accounts and the budget submitted to the general meeting.
Filing and compliance
Filing the accounts in the right place and on time, updating the UBO register, following publications in the Belgian Official Gazette (Moniteur belge), legal-entity income tax (impôt des personnes morales) or corporate income tax return.
VAT, volunteers and grants
VAT analysis of your activities, volunteer expense rules, project-based cost accounting to justify every grant.
Which accounting does your non-profit need?
According to the National Bank of Belgium, a small non-profit (ASBL/VZW) can keep simplified accounts and file them with the enterprise court registry if it does not exceed more than one of the following criteria, two consecutive financial years:
| Criterion | Threshold (financial years starting on or after 1 January 2024) |
|---|---|
| Average number of employees | 5 |
| Income, excluding exceptional income | €391,000 |
| Total assets | €1,562,000 |
| Total debts | €1,562,000 |
Beyond that, the ASBL keeps double-entry accounts. It then uses the micro, abbreviated or full model depending on its size. It is large if it exceeds more than one of these thresholds: 50 full-time-equivalent employees, €11,250,000 turnover excluding VAT, €6,000,000 balance sheet total. A double-entry ASBL files its annual accounts with the National Bank's Central Balance Sheet Office, within the legal deadlines after the general meeting approves them.
VAT. A non-profit can be liable for VAT (TVA/btw) on some activities. Many sports, cultural or social activities are exempt (article 44 of the VAT Code). These exempt transactions are not subject to the structured e-invoicing obligation.
Tax. An ASBL normally falls under legal-entity income tax (impôt des personnes morales). If its main activity is carrying out profit-making operations, it may be subject to corporate income tax. [A_VERIFIER: 2026 criteria for ASBL liability to corporate income tax and annual wealth tax on ASBLs (exemption threshold)]
Checklist of a non-profit's annual obligations
Accounts and budget, general meeting, filing, UBO register, Moniteur belge publications, tax return, wealth tax: the list of what your board must do every year.
Get the guideCan my non-profit keep simplified accounts?
Yes, if it does not exceed more than one of these criteria for two consecutive financial years: 5 employees on average, €391,000 of income excluding exceptional income, €1,562,000 of assets, €1,562,000 of debts. These thresholds apply to financial years starting on or after 1 January 2024.
Where do I file my non-profit's accounts?
Small non-profits with simplified accounts file with the enterprise court registry. The others file with the National Bank's Central Balance Sheet Office, using its models, after the general meeting approves them.
When is a non-profit considered large?
When it exceeds more than one of these thresholds: 50 full-time-equivalent employees, €11,250,000 turnover excluding VAT, €6,000,000 balance sheet total. It must then use the full model of annual accounts.
Can a non-profit run a bar or sell products?
Yes, a non-profit can carry out economic activities, provided it does not distribute profits to its members or directors. These activities may, however, make it liable for VAT or even corporate income tax.
Does my non-profit have to send electronic invoices?
If it is liable for VAT and invoices other Belgian VAT-liable businesses, yes, since 1 January 2026. Transactions exempt under article 44 of the VAT Code are not concerned.
What is the UBO register for a non-profit?
It is the register of beneficial owners. For an ASBL, this notably means the directors and the people who represent it. The information must be entered, updated after every change and confirmed each year. A failure can lead to an administrative fine.
How can I reimburse volunteers safely?
Either by refunding actual, documented expenses, or by a flat-rate allowance within the legal limits. These daily and annual caps are indexed every year. Exceeding them can reclassify the allowance as remuneration.
Can non-profit directors be held liable?
In principle, the ASBL answers for its own debts. But serious mismanagement, such as missing accounts or unpaid tax and social security debts, can make directors liable. Up-to-date accounts are your best protection.
How do I justify a grant?
By isolating the subsidised project's expenses and income in the accounts, with supporting documents. Your accountant sets up project-based tracking to produce the financial report required.
Let's talk about your non-profit
Book a 20-minute video call with an accountant who already works with non-profits.