What is the Croatian Chart of Accounts?
The chart of accounts, called "kontni plan" (also "raspored konta" or "kontni okvir") in Croatian, is the organized list of all accounts used in double-entry bookkeeping. Every account has a unique number and name. If you have worked with any standardized chart of accounts in another country, the concept is the same, but Croatia has its own structure and numbering system.
In Croatia, the dominant standard is published by RRiF (Računovodstvo, Revizija i Financije), a professional accounting and finance publisher. Nearly all Croatian accounting software and accounting firms use the RRiF chart of accounts, which is aligned with HSFI (Croatian Financial Reporting Standards) and the Accounting Act (NN (Narodne Novine, the Official Gazette) 85/24, 145/24).
All legal entities (d.o.o., j.d.o.o., and other company forms) are required to maintain double-entry books under the Accounting Act. Lump-sum sole traders ("pausalni obrtnici") use simplified bookkeeping and do not need a chart of accounts.
Structure: 10 Account Classes
The chart of accounts is organized into 10 classes, numbered 0 through 9. Each class covers a logically related group of accounts.
| Class | Name | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Non-current assets | Real estate, equipment, intangible assets |
| 1 | Cash, short-term receivables, and financial assets | Bank account, petty cash, trade receivables, input VAT |
| 2 | Short-term and long-term liabilities | Trade payables, VAT liability, loans |
| 3 | Inventories of raw materials | Raw materials, supplies, small inventory |
| 4 | Costs and expenses | Material costs, salaries, depreciation |
| 5 | Internal allocations | Production, administration, and sales cost allocations |
| 6 | Production, finished goods, merchandise | Finished products, trading goods, work in progress |
| 7 | Revenue and expenses | Sales revenue, financial income, write-offs |
| 8 | Financial result | Profit or loss before taxation |
| 9 | Equity, reserves, and off-balance sheet items | Share capital, retained earnings, off-balance sheet records |
Class 5 is used for internal cost allocation by department (production, administration, sales). Small businesses rarely use it because they lack the organizational complexity to warrant it.
Classes 0-1: Assets and Receivables
| Class | Group | Accounts | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 00-02 | Intangible and tangible assets | Patents, real estate, equipment, vehicles |
| 0 | 08 | Accumulated depreciation | Value adjustments |
| 1 | 10 | 1000 - Bank account | Main business bank account |
| 1 | 11 | Petty cash | Cash transactions |
| 1 | 12 | 1200 - Trade receivables | Amounts owed by customers |
| 1 | 14 | VAT receivable | Input VAT, VAT refund claims |
Class 4 and 7: Costs and Revenue
| Class | Group | Accounts | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 40 | 4000 - Material costs | Raw materials, office supplies |
| 4 | 41 | Service costs | Accounting, maintenance, rent |
| 4 | 42 | Personnel costs | Gross salaries, contributions |
| 4 | 43 | Depreciation | Consumption of non-current assets |
| 7 | 71 | 7100 - Sales revenue | Revenue from products and services |
| 7 | 76 | Financial income | Interest, exchange rate differences |
Class 9: Equity and Liabilities
| Group | Accounts | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 90 | 9000 - Share capital | Registered capital of the company |
| 91-92 | Reserves and retained earnings | Legal reserves, undistributed profit |
| 94-95 | Liabilities | Loans, supplier debts, salary obligations |
The RRiF Standard
RRiF publishes the standard chart of accounts that virtually all Croatian businesses and accounting firms rely on. It is updated annually to reflect changes in legislation and HSFI standards.
Why RRiF is the de facto standard:
- Aligned with HSFI (Croatian Financial Reporting Standards)
- Aligned with the Accounting Act (NN 85/24, 145/24)
- Used by nearly all accounting software in Croatia
- Regularly updated to reflect legal changes
- Supports analytical expansion to meet individual business needs
You can customize the RRiF chart of accounts by adding your own analytical sub-accounts. For example, account 1200 (trade receivables) can be broken down into 1200-001, 1200-002, etc., to track receivables by individual customer.
Key Accounts for a Small Company
Although the chart of accounts contains hundreds of accounts, a small business in practice uses roughly 15 core accounts on a regular basis.
| Account | Name | When used |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | Bank account | Every payment in and out |
| 1100 | Petty cash | Cash transactions |
| 1200 | Trade receivables | Issued invoices, amounts owed |
| 2200 | Trade payables | Received invoices |
| 1400 | Input VAT receivable | VAT on purchases |
| 2400 | Output VAT liability | VAT on sales |
| 4000 | Material costs | Purchase of materials and goods |
| 4100 | Service costs | Rent, accounting, phone |
| 4200 | Salary costs | Gross employee salaries |
| 4210 | Employer contributions | Health insurance 16.5% |
| 4300 | Depreciation | Equipment value consumption |
| 7100 | Sales revenue | Sales of products/services |
| 9000 | Share capital | Founding equity |
| 9200 | Retained earnings | Undistributed profit from prior years |
| 9500 | Loan liabilities | Borrowed funds |
Example: Recording a Service Sale
You issue an invoice for a service worth 1,000 EUR + VAT (25%):
| Account | Debit | Credit | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1200 (Trade receivables) | 1,250 EUR | Amount owed by customer | |
| 7100 (Sales revenue) | 1,000 EUR | Service revenue | |
| 2400 (VAT liability) | 250 EUR | VAT charged at 25% |
When the customer pays:
| Account | Debit | Credit | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 (Bank account) | 1,250 EUR | Payment received | |
| 1200 (Trade receivables) | 1,250 EUR | Receivable cleared |
How to Choose the Right Account
When recording a business event, follow these steps:
- Identify the nature of the transaction. Is it revenue, an expense, a change in assets, or a change in liabilities?
- Find the class (0-9). For example, an expense belongs to class 4, revenue to class 7.
- Narrow down to the group. Service costs belong to group 41, material costs to group 40.
- Select the synthetic account. For example, 4100 for general service costs.
- Add analytical detail if needed. For example, 4100-01 for accounting fees, 4100-02 for rent.
Common Business Events and Their Accounts
| Business event | Class | Account |
|---|---|---|
| Payment received from customer | 1 | 1000 (bank account) |
| Invoice issued for service | 7 | 7100 (sales revenue) |
| Supplier invoice paid | 2 | 2200 (trade payables) |
| Salary disbursed | 4 | 4200 (salary costs) |
| Equipment purchased | 0 | 0200 (tangible assets) |
| VAT calculated | 2 | 2400 (VAT liability) |
| Office rent paid | 4 | 4100 (service costs) |
| Share capital contributed | 9 | 9000 (share capital) |
You do not need to memorize every account. Accounting software suggests appropriate accounts based on the document type. What matters is understanding the logic of the 10 classes so you can review your accountant's work.
Mandatory Financial Reports
The chart of accounts serves as the foundation for all legally required financial statements. All businesses subject to double-entry bookkeeping must submit annual reports to FINA (the Financial Agency).
| Report | Contents | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Balance Sheet (Bilanca) | Overview of assets, liabilities, and equity as of December 31 | April 30 (statistics), June 30 (public disclosure) |
| Profit and Loss Statement (RDG) | Overview of revenue and expenses for the year | April 30 (statistics), June 30 (public disclosure) |
| Notes to Financial Statements | Explanations and supplementary information | April 30 / June 30 |
Who Files What?
| Category | Balance Sheet | P&L | Notes | Cash Flow Statement | Audit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Micro enterprise | Abbreviated | Abbreviated | Yes | No | No |
| Small enterprise | Abbreviated | Abbreviated | Yes | No | No |
| Medium enterprise | Full | Full | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Large enterprise | Full | Full | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Most d.o.o. and j.d.o.o. companies in Croatia fall into the micro or small enterprise category, which means simplified reporting obligations. A micro enterprise is defined as having total assets up to 450,000 EUR, revenue up to 900,000 EUR, and an average of up to 10 employees.
How the Chart of Accounts Maps to Reports
- The Balance Sheet draws from classes 0, 1, 3, 6 (assets) and classes 2, 9 (liabilities and equity)
- The Profit and Loss Statement draws from class 4 (costs) and class 7 (revenue and expenses), while class 8 holds the financial result
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a chart of accounts?
A chart of accounts (kontni plan) is a systematic list of all accounts used in double-entry bookkeeping. Each account has a unique number and name. In Croatia, the most widely used standard is the RRiF chart of accounts, aligned with HSFI standards.
How many classes does the chart of accounts have?
There are 10 classes, numbered 0 through 9. Each class covers a specific type of asset, liability, revenue, or expense. Class 5 is used internally for cost tracking by department.
Does every business need to use the chart of accounts?
All legal entities (d.o.o., j.d.o.o.) must maintain double-entry bookkeeping under the Accounting Act (NN 85/24, 145/24) and use a chart of accounts. Lump-sum sole traders use simple bookkeeping and are not required to use one. Income-based sole traders keep business books according to income tax regulations.
Which chart of accounts is used in Croatia?
The RRiF chart of accounts is the de facto standard. It is aligned with Croatian Financial Reporting Standards (HSFI) and is updated regularly. Businesses can customize it by adding analytical sub-accounts.
What are the most important accounts for a small company?
The most commonly used accounts are 1000 (bank account), 1200 (trade receivables), 2200 (trade payables), 4000 (material costs), 7100 (sales revenue), and 9000 (share capital). The exact list depends on the industry and types of transactions.
How do I choose the right account for a transaction?
First determine the nature of the transaction (asset, liability, revenue, or expense). Then find the corresponding class (0-9) and group within that class. Finally, select the synthetic or analytical account that most precisely describes the item. Accounting software typically suggests accounts automatically.
This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Tax rules change frequently. Consult a qualified Croatian accountant or tax advisor for your specific situation. Last verified against official sources on the date shown above.