The timeframe for keeping business documentation in the Republic of Croatia are regulated by the Accounting Act (Official Gazette 85/2024) and other relevant regulations (Ordinance of the Accounting Act, General Tax Act).

Accounting documents are kept as an original written document, on the holder of the electronic record or converted on the holder of micrographic processing.

Mandatory archive periods:

1. payrolls – at least six years

2. Analytical records of salaries for which mandatory contributions are paid – permanent

3. documents on the basis of which the data were entered into the diary and general ledger – at least 11 years

4. documents on the basis of which the data were entered into the auxiliary books (e.g. cash register, book of incoming and outgoing invoices) – at least 11 years of age

Financial statements – permanent:

• Balance sheet.
• Profit and loss account.
• Cash flow statement.
• Statement of changes in equity.
• Notes to financial statements.
• Consolidated financial statement.
• Audit report.
• Annual report.

Beginning of the archive period:

The retention period begins on the last day of the business year to which the documentation relates.

Method and place of storage:

Documentation can be kept in paper form, on electronic data carriers or by means of micrographic processing.

An undertaking which stores accounting documents by means of electronic devices guaranteeing online access to the data must, upon request, allow the supervisory authority the right to access, download and use those accounting documents. Likewise, the Entrepreneur may convert the accounting documents kept in the original written form into an electronic record, if this is not contrary to other regulations and if this does not diminish their credibility and evidentiary value.

Entrepreneurs can decide to keep business books outside the Republic of Croatia, but only within the European Union. Regardless of the place of storage, the undertaking is responsible for the documentation and must allow the competent authorities access upon request.

Penalties for non-compliance with deadlines:

A fine in the amount of EUR 1320.00 to EUR 13,270.00 shall be imposed on an entrepreneur or a legal and natural person referred to in Article 4, paragraph 3 of the Act.  of the Accounting Act.

Additionally – from 1 June 2022, based on the amendments to the Companies Act, additional obligations related to the storage of business books and company documentation in the event of liquidation or dissolution of the company without liquidation have been introduced.

Keeping documentation in the event of liquidation of a company – who is liable?

• The liquidators of the company are obliged to keep the company’s books and documentation for which the statutory retention periods have not expired, as well as the documentation that is kept permanently. Alternatively, they can entrust the safekeeping of these documents to a specialized person or institution that provides business documentation storage services.

Archive Procedure:

It is obligatory to enter information in the court register on with whom and at what location the company’s business books and documentation are stored.

•Costs:

The fee for the storage and preservation of business books and documentation is paid at the expense of the company before it is deleted from the register.

Retention of documentation in the event of dissolution of the company under a summary procedure without liquidation

• Who is responsible for safekeeping?

Members of the company (owners) become responsible for keeping the company’s books and documentation. They may also entrust safekeeping to a person or institution that provides professional documentation archiving services.

Rules for storing documentation

• Documentation must be stored in accordance with the rules on the treatment of archival material and archives.

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