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Article L123-20 of the French Commercial code

Annual accounts must comply with the principle of prudence. In drawing them up, the trader, whether a natural or legal person, is presumed to be continuing his business. Even if there is no or insufficient profit, the necessary depreciation, amortisation and provisions must be made. Liabilities that arose during the financial year or a previous financial year must be taken into account, even if they are known between the date…

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Article L123-21 of the French Commercial code

Only profits made at the end of a financial year may be entered in the annual accounts. The profit made on a transaction that has been partially completed and accepted by the other party may be entered, after inventory, when its completion is certain and it is possible, by means of forecast accounting documents, to assess with sufficient certainty the overall profit of the transaction.

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Article L123-22 of the French Commercial code

Accounting documents are drawn up in euros and in the French language. Accounting documents and supporting documents are kept for ten years. Accounting documents relating to the recording of transactions and the inventory are drawn up and kept without blanks or alterations of any kind, in accordance with the conditions laid down by decree in the Conseil d’Etat.

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Article L123-23 of the French Commercial code

Regularly kept accounting records may be admitted in court as evidence between traders of commercial transactions. If they have been irregularly kept, they may not be invoked by the author for his own benefit. Disclosure of accounting records may only be ordered in court in matters of succession, community, company division and in the event of receivership or liquidation.

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Article L123-25 of the French Commercial code

As an exception to the provisions of the first and third paragraphs of Article L. 123-12, individuals placed by option or by right under the simplified actual tax regime may only record receivables and payables at the end of the financial year and not draw up any notes. Corporate entities that are merchants and are placed under the simplified tax regime either as an option or by operation of law…

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Article L123-26 of the French Commercial code

Notwithstanding the provisions of the second paragraph of Article L. 123-13, natural persons who have opted for or are automatically subject to the simplified real income tax regime may enter in the income statement, according to the date of payment, expenses that do not recur more than once a year, with the exception of purchases.

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Article L123-27 of the French Commercial code

As an exception to the provisions of the third paragraph of Article L. 123-18, natural persons placed by option or by operation of law under the simplified real tax regime may use a simplified valuation method for inventories and work in progress, in accordance with a method laid down by regulation of the Autorité des normes comptables.

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Article L123-28 of the French Commercial code

As an exception to the provisions of articles L. 123-12 to L. 123-23, natural persons benefiting from the regime defined in article 50-0 of the General Tax Code may not prepare annual accounts. They keep a book showing the amount and origin of the revenue they receive from their professional activity. When their main business is to sell goods, objects, supplies and foodstuffs to be taken away or consumed on…

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Article L123-28-1 of the French Commercial code

By way of derogation from Articles L. 123-12 to L. 123-23, the natural persons mentioned in the second paragraph of article L. 123-16-1 may not draw up a balance sheet and profit and loss account if they do not employ any employees and have registered their total and temporary cessation of activity with the Trade and Companies Register. The exemption no longer applies if the business is resumed, at the…

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