Registration and modification of the articles of association
Last update
Newly formed companies in Luxembourg must register with the trade and companies register (registre de commerce et des sociétés - RCS) by lodging their constitutional documents (articles of association) for publication purposes.
The lodging and publication of the constitutional documents in the electronic compendium of companies and associations (Recueil électronique des sociétés et associations - RESA) is essential for the existence of the company to be enforceable on third parties.
Amendments to the articles of association (statutes) are covered by the same publication requirements.
Who is concerned
All companies are required to submit their constitutional documents (articles of association) and subsequent amendments to the RCS for publication purposes.
The signatories of private deeds (i.e. without the intervention of a notary) must, within a month of signature, register their deeds and submit them to the RCS for publication.
Notarised deeds signed before a notary must be registered by the notary with the Registration Duties, Estates and VAT Authority (Administration de l’enregistrement, des domaines et de la TVA) within 15 days of signature. The notary thereafter handles their lodging with the RCS and their publication in the electronic compendium of companies and associations (RESA).
If they wish so, entrepreneurs may enact their articles of association before a notary, even if this is not a requirement for the form of company selected. In this case, the registration formalities are carried out by the notary.
Prerequisites
Preliminary steps
The company's constitutional documents and subsequent amendments must be drawn up in writing and:
- be enacted before a notary for all companies with limited liability:
- public limited companies (société anonyme - SA);
- limited liability company (société à responsabilité limitée - SARL);
- partnerships limited by shares (société en commandite par actions - SECA);
- European companies (société européenne - SE);
- or be established under private law for all other types of company:
- partnerships (société en nom collectif - SENC);
- limited partnerships (société en commandite simple - SECS)
- civil companies (société civile);
- cooperative companies (société coopérative - SC).
It is not necessary to have a business permit to register/submit and publish the articles of association of a company. However, if the planned activity requires a business permit or other specific permits or licences, it is advisable to ensure that the person responsible for the management or administration of the business satisfies the conditions for access to the profession.
Costs
The costs for registration and filing can be found on the website of the Trade and Companies Register (RCS).
Payment is usually carried out online, but may exceptionally be made in cash at the helpdesk of the Luxembourg Business Registers (LBR).
The costs are due on an individual basis for each account registered. However, in the case of regular and recurrent registrations, it is possible to apply for accreditation to receive monthly invoicing to the LBR.
Applicants who are submitting their documents to the registration helpdesk in the premises of the LBR, the tariff for each registration submitted to the registration helpdesk will be increased by:
- + EUR 20 to register a non-profit association (ASBL), a foundation, an agricultural association or a natural person established as trader;
- + EUR 10 for the lodging of any other documents from an ASBL, foundation, agricultural association or natural person established as trader;
- + EUR 80 for the lodging of any other documents.
How to proceed
Private deeds
Applicants have to file their articles of association and their amendments in the form of a private deed online with the trade and companies register (RCS) via a LuxTrust certificate, at the latest one month after the articles of association have been signed.
They must attach the following documents:
- the duly-completed requisition form generated by the electronic file deposit system;
- the deed (or an extract of a deed) to be filed in PDF/A format.
Where needed, applicants may request an appointment and assistance from the registration helpdesk (bureau d'assistance au dépôt) in the premises of the LBR in order to complete the lodging of their documents.
After the lodging, the applicant will receive a receipt in electronic format.
Notarised deeds
Notarised deeds must first be submitted for registration by the notary in the original paper format.
The notary is then required to electronically submit the deed to the RCS for publication at the latest one month after the signature of the articles of association.
After the lodging, the applicant will receive a receipt in electronic format.
Publication and consultation of the articles of association
After filing the deed with the trade and companies register (RCS), the deed is published in the electronic compendium of companies and associations (Recueil électronique des sociétés et associations - RESA) on the day of the filing or on a set date, chosen by the applicant at the time of application for filing, within a 15-day deadline after the filing.
Constitutional documents are published in full in the case of:
- public limited companies (SA);
- European companies (SE);
- partnerships limited by shares (SECA);
- limited liability companies (SARL);
- cooperative companies and;
- civil companies.
The constitutional documents can be published by way of extract in the case of:
- partnerships (SENC);
- limited partnerships (SECS) and;
- family established civil law companies.
Registered articles of association / extracts of articles of association are available for consultation:
After registering with the RCS, companies must register for value added tax (VAT) with the Registration Duties, Estates and VAT Authority (Administration de l'enregistrement, des domaines et de la TVA - AED).
In the case of an amendment to the articles of association, companies must also write and lodge their coordinated articles of association with the RCS.
The filing of accounts only becomes legally binding on third parties after their publication in the RESA.
Online services and forms
Who to contact
Luxembourg Business Registers - Diekirch Office
-
Luxembourg Business Registers (LBR) Diekirch Office
- Address:
-
Bei der Aaler Kirch - Place Joseph Bech
L-9211
Diekirch
Luxembourg
B.P. 20 / L-9201
- Phone:
- (+352) 26 42 81
- Fax:
- (+352) 26 42 85 55
- Email address:
- helpdesk@lbr.lu
- Website:
- https://lbr.lu
Only on Monday by appointment.
Luxembourg Business Registers - Luxembourg Office
-
Luxembourg Business Registers (LBR) Luxembourg Office
- Address:
-
31, Avenue de la Gare
L-1611
Luxembourg
Luxembourg
L-2961 Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 26 42 81
- Fax:
- (+352) 26 42 85 55
- Email address:
- helpdesk@lbr.lu
- Website:
- https://www.lbr.lu
Open Closes at 12.00
- Thursday:
- 9.00 to 12.00 , 13.30 to 16.00
- Friday:
- 9.00 to 12.00 , 13.30 to 16.00
- Saturday:
- Closed
- Sunday:
- Closed
- Monday:
- 9.00 to 12.00 , 13.30 to 16.00
- Tuesday:
- 9.00 to 12.00 , 13.30 to 16.00
- Wednesday:
- 9.00 to 12.00 , 13.30 to 16.00
Monday-Friday from 9.00 to 12.00 and from 13.30 to 16.00 /Registration helpdesk only by appointment.
Related procedures and links
Procedures
Links
Further information
-
Formalism and filing principles
on the RCS website
- Tarifs du registre de commerce et des sociétés
-
Search for an RCS file
on the RCS website
-
How to set up a business in Luxembourg
on the Startup Luxembourg website
-
Recueil électronique des sociétés et associations (RESA)
Site web
Legal references
-
Loi modifiée du 19 décembre 2002
concernant le registre de commerce et des sociétés ainsi que la comptabilité et les comptes annuels des entreprises
-
Règlement grand-ducal modifié du 23 janvier 2003
portant exécution de la loi du 19 décembre 2002 concernant le Registre de commerce et des sociétés ainsi que la comptabilité et les comptes annuels des entreprises
- Code civil
- Sociétés et associations – Recueil de législation
-
Loi du 27 mai 2016
modifiant, en vue de réformer le régime de publication légale relatif aux sociétés et associations, - la loi modifiée du 19 décembre 2002
