Bookkeeping Act and digital bookkeeping requirement
New requirements for digital accounting for the economics specialization
If you choose the accounting or audit specialty in the office qualification, you come close to one of the most important legislative changes in the field in recent times: the new bookkeeping law that came into force 1 July 2022. The law introduces requirements for digital bookkeeping and digital storage of accounting material — and the rules are phased in gradually towards 2026.
§Digital accounting is phased in three steps
The requirement for digital bookkeeping does not apply to all companies from the same date. From 1 July 2024, companies were covered if they use a registered digital bookkeeping system and must prepare an annual report. From 1 January 2025, accounting-obligated companies that do not already use a registered system were added. And from 1 January 2026, the requirement also applies to companies without an annual reporting obligation — for example sole proprietorships and associations — if their net turnover exceeds DKK 300,000 for two consecutive years.
| Date | Who is affected |
|---|---|
| 1. juli 2024 | Accounting entities with registered digital accounting system |
| 1. januar 2025 | Accounting entities without registered digital accounting system |
| 1. januar 2026 | Non-accounting liable with turnover exceeding DKK 300,000 in two years (e.g. sole traders, associations) |
§What does a digital accounting system require?
A digital accounting system must meet a number of legal requirements — including recording transactions storing receipts IT security and automating workflows. Standard systems which many companies use must be registered and approved by the Business Authority which monitors whether systems comply with the law. As an office apprentice in the economics specialisation it means you must get used to working consistently digitally: paper receipts are scanned and journalised instead of collecting in a folder.
§Five years storage requirement
Accounting material must be stored securely for five years from the end of the financial year the material relates to. This includes receipts, entries and the procedures the company uses to record. The deadline is related to the fact that potential disputes, tax cases or investigations are usually raised within this period. For you as an office apprentice it's a reminder that every receipt must be traceable – even several years after it was booked.
- 01The Bookkeeping Act came into force on 1 July 2022
- 02Digital accounting is phased in three steps toward 1 January 2026
- 03Digital accounting systems must be approved by the Business Authority
- 04Accounting material must be stored digitally for five years
- 05Good bookkeeping practice requires alignment between receipts and records
§Your role as an office apprentice
Although it is the company's management that has legal responsibility for bookkeeping it is often the administrative employee who in practice ensures that receipts are registered correctly and on time. Learn your accounting system's logic ask questions when something is unclear and be aware that the rules are still being phased in — it is a good habit to keep updated as new deadlines approach.
“Digital accounting is not just about technology — it's about being able to document every single krone year after year.”