Belgium

• Capital: Brussels
• Population: approx. 11,000,000
• Language: Dutch, French, German
• Part of the EU since: Founder

Member Bodies

• Institute of Registered Auditors (IBR-IRE): https://www.ibr-ire.be/fr
• Institute for Tax Advisors & Accountants (ITAA): https://www.itaa.be/fr/accueil/

Professional Bodies

Subject to public oversight	Yes	Yes
Public oversight authority	Minister of Economy and High Council of the Economic Professions (CSPE-HREB) (approval of the standards) Belgian Audit Oversight College (CSR-CTR) (quality assurance and surveillance and ultimate responsibility over the activities delegated by law to IBR-IRE) Commission of sanctions of Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA	The High council for economic professions has the oversight on the approval of standards

Involvement in Qualification and Market Access	IBR-IRE	ITAA
Initial education	Yes	Yes
Examination	Yes	Yes
Approval and registration	Yes – Under the supervision of CSR-CTR	Yes
Continued Professional Development	Yes – Under the supervision of CSR-CTR	Yes

Activities	IBR-IRE	ITAA
Standard setting	Yes, the initiative (standard setting CSPE-HREB, endorsement Minister of Economy)	Yes, shared with High Council of the Economic Professions
Quality Assurance	No (CSR-CTR)	Limited (control of the continued professional development and review of specific reports)
Disciplinary measures	No (investigation: CSR-CTR, sanctions FSMA)	Investigation: independent body within ITAA Sanctions by independent chamber (president=judge, assisted by professionals)

Profession

Professions	Certified accountant	Certified Tax advisor	Auditor (Réviseur d‘entreprises (FR) Bedrijfsrevisor (NL))	Accountant (Starting May 2020 there will be no more access to this title)
Professional body	ITAA	ITAA	IBR-IRE	ITAA
Protected title	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Reserved activities	Activities regarding the issuance of financial statements, for example review of financial statements, valuation, forensic accounting, special assignments stated in company law or other specific laws	No reserved activities	Statutory Audit and all activities regarding the issuance of financial statements for example review of financial statements, valuation, forensic accounting, special assignments stated in company law or other specific laws	Activities regarding bookkeeping, establishment of financial statements
Included authorisations	Bookkeeping Tax services (not a reserved activity)	Tax services (not a reserved activity)	Related assignments stated in specific laws (Audit and (main activity), bookkeeping, tax services provided that the rules on independence are complied with)	Tax services (not a reserved activity), other assignments stated in specific laws

Supervision

	Certified accountant	Certified Tax advisor	Auditor	Accountant
Regulated profession	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Supervision	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Public oversight authority	High Council for the Economic Professions (CSPE) (appointed by the State – gives advices which are eventually mandatory for all standards and recommendations to be taken by ITAA Disciplinary courts Professional body ITAA	High Council for the Economic Professions (CSPE) (appointed by the State – gives advices which are eventually mandatory for all standards and recommendations to be taken by the ITAA Disciplinary courts Professional body ITAA	Public Prosecutor High Council for the Economic Professions (CSPE) and Minister of Economy (endorsement of standards) Belgian Audit Oversight College (quality assurance and surveillance and ultimate responsibility over the activities delegated by law to IBR-IRE) Commission of sanctions of Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA)	High Council for the Economic Professions (CSPE) (appointed by the State – gives advices which are eventually mandatory for all standards and recommendations to be taken by ITAA Disciplinary courts (EN) Professional body ITAA

Qualification

	Certified accountant	Certified Tax advisor	Auditor	Accountant
General initial education steps (without possible exemptions)	Academic degree (master or bachelor) or a similar degree (higher economic education) Admission test Traineeship (at least 3 years but reduction is possible under conditions) Final examination (written and oral, before a jury of 5 members)	Academic degree (master or bachelor) or a similar degree (higher economic education) Admission test Traineeship (at least 3 years but reduction is possible under conditions) Final examination (written and oral, before a jury of 5 members)	Academic degree (Master – at least 4 years) 23 “theoretical training exams”. The theoretical training exams can be taken before the start of the practical training or during the practical training. 11 practical training exams covering 12 topics (during the traineeship). Traineeship (at least 3 years but shortening of the duration of the practical training possible if 15 years of professional experience) Final examination (written and oral, before a jury of 5 members)	Academic degree (master or bachelor) in accounting or a degree of higher economic education in accounting Traineeship (at least 1 year up to 3 years) Final examination (written and oral, before a jury of 5 members) Starting May 2020 there will be no more access to this title

Statistics

	Certified accountant	Certified Tax advisor	Auditor	Accountant
No. of qualified professionals	5,000 (of which 3,800 professionals in practice) 4,300 of them are also qualified as tax advisor	5,500 (of which 3,800 professionals in practice) 4,300 of them are also qualified as accountant	1,072	6,600 (including 1,600 trainees)
No. of new trainees per year	300	50	110	350
No. of people taking the professional examination	350	40	76	400
No. of people passing the professional examination	170	20	34	140

Market access – Qualified professionals

	Certified accountant	Certified Tax advisor	Auditor	Accountant
Registration required	Yes	Only for the use of the title	Yes	Yes
Competent authority for registration	ITAA	ITAA	IBR-IRE	No more access to this title starting May 2020
Cost of appointment/registration	No registration fee, only annual membership fee	No registration fee, only annual membership fee	No registration fee, only annual membership fee	Registration fee (€150 – only at the beginning of the traineeship) and annual membership fee
Oath required	Yes (In corporate Court)	Yes (In corporate Court)	Yes (in Court of Appeal)	No
Insurance required	Yes – contractual limitation of liability allowed	Yes – contractual limitation of liability allowed	Yes – cap on liability for legal engagements – contractual limitations recommended by the IBR-IRE Board	Yes – contractual limitation of liability allowed
Professional address required	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes