Businesses in Finland having only non-resident board members may have to provide new Suomi.fi authorizations/mandates from 01.01.2021 to their accountants/bookkeepers for them to be able to continue filing reports and declarations on behalf of the granting companies.
Finnish Tax Administration and other government organizations have changed their online reporting environments’ login systems from the previously used Katso system to the Suomi.fi authorizations during 2019-2020. In 2019 and 2020 it was possible to continue using the Katso system, which will now be discontinued from 01.01.2021. Thus, all companies, which had so far provided authorizations for reporting taxes and other filings using Katso, now the companies must provide the Suomi.fi authorizations to their accountants and/or other parties doing the filings.
Which Companies Are Affected?
This change only applies to companies, which are still using the Katso authorizations and have not yet provided the Suomi.fi authorizations/mandates to their accountants. Suomi.fi authorizations, which have been available from 2019 are already being used by many companies. For businesses using Suomi.fi authorizations, there are no changes necessary.
Who Can Grant The Suomi.fi Authorization For Businesses With Non-Resident Board Members?
The Suomi.fi authorizations can be granted by persons, who have a legal right to represent the company granting the mandates. Usually a board member is the one who grants the authorization.
How Can The Suomi.fi Authorization Be Granted?
Usually the party using the mandate will request the authorization through the Suomi.fi system. The company representative can then approve the mandate.
Alternatively, the company representative can initiate the authorization giving process.
How To Grant The Suomi.fi Authorization For Businesses With Non-Resident Board Members?
Granting the mandate as a foreigner (permanent resident of a country, which is not Finland) is a 4-step process, which is described below.
First – Requesting Finnish e-Identification in the Finnish Authenticator Identification Service
Second – Installing and registering the Finnish Authenticator app
Third – Confirming your identity in the app
Fourth – Logging on to the Suomi.fi e-services to grant or approve authorizations/mandates
English instructions are provided on the following Suomi.fi website: https://www.suomi.fi/instructions-and-support/information-on-eidentification/finnish-authenticator-identification-service
You can find sources for support and assistance in using the Suomi.fi services on the following website https://www.suomi.fi/instructions-and-support/support-and-assistance
Please note that businesses with non-resident board members must also use Suomi.fi authorizations from 01.01.2021.
If your company needs help with accounting or reporting, please contact our specialist on the following website https://succedant.eu/contact/