Starting 1 January 2020, SAF-T Financial is a new standard format used for disclosing accounting data in Norway. SAF-T, or Standard Audit File-Tax, was developed by the Norwegian Tax Administration, based on a recommendation by the OECD.
The Ministry of Finance amended the Bookkeeping Regulation so the requirement to provide accounting data for bookkeepers who have the bookkeeping available electronically must disclose accounting data in a given standard format.
Businesses with less than NOK 5 million in turnover are exempt from this requirement. However, if businesses have electronic bookkeeping information available, the requirement still applies.
Enterprises with a bookkeeping obligation are only obliged to submit their accounting information on SAF-T format when in relation to a potential control, and upon request by The Tax Administration.
Producing SAF-T files
System suppliers in Norway must adjust their accounting systems to support the new standard. Foreign businesses are also required to submit their accounting information in the SAF-T format upon request.
Simplification
The introduction of the standard format will make it easier for those obliged to keep accounts to submit their accounting records to public authorities upon request.
It will also be easier to perform internal control audits, and analyze and share data with others, such as external auditors or between different accounting systems.
The obligation to store the accounting information will be easier because the SAF-T files meets the requirements for storing this type of accounting information, presumed that the SAF-T file can produce all obligatory financial reports.
