With the spread of digital administration, many of our clients increasingly ask whether it is mandatory to use electronic signatures when signing the annual financial statements and the related audit report, and whether the two documents need to be signed in the same way. In practice, many misunderstandings occur, so it is worth clearly distinguishing the rules applicable to each document.
The financial statements are signed by the person authorized to represent the company. Regarding the form of the signature, the regulations do not prescribe a mandatory method, so the financial statements can legally be signed with a traditional handwritten signature or an electronic signature. The choice is up to the company, taking into account its internal processes, administrative considerations, and use of digital solutions.
In contrast, the signature method for the audit report is not optional. From business years starting on or after January 1, 2025, auditors are required to issue the audit report electronically and sign it electronically. Accordingly, the audit report is always prepared with an electronic signature, regardless of how the financial statements are signed.
It is important to emphasize that there is no requirement for the financial statements and the audit report to use the same type of signature. The two documents are governed by separate rules and are legally independent. While in practice there is often an effort to apply a uniform signature method—for example, to simplify administration or improve document management—this is purely for practical reasons and is not a legal obligation.
In summary, from 2025 onward the audit report must be electronically signed, while the financial statements can still be signed using any method. The signature methods of the two documents are legally independent, allowing companies to choose the approach that best suits their needs.
