A legally protected profession: the OEC
In Luxembourg, the title expert-comptable (chartered accountant) has been protected by law since 10 June 1999. Only members of the Ordre des Experts-Comptables (OEC) may use it — admission requires a master's degree, a three-year supervised traineeship and a final examination. The OEC keeps a public register of its 555 member firms and roughly 445 individually certified practitioners, enforces a code of ethics, and can suspend or strike off firms that breach it.
Practical consequence for you: always verify OEC membership before engaging a firm. The register on oec.lu is public and searchable by name or RCS number, and every firm profile on the ilicompta directory links to it.
Big 4, mid-tier or fiduciaire: three market tiers
The market splits into three tiers. The Big 4 — Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC — dominate fund audit, banking and international tax; they are built for regulated entities and large groups, with fees to match (statutory audits rarely start below €25,000-30,000 a year). Mid-tier networks such as BDO, Grant Thornton or Forvis Mazars handle demanding international work at more accessible rates. And roughly 520 independent firms — locally called fiduciaires — serve SMEs, holdings and individuals with bookkeeping, tax, payroll and domiciliation services.
Don't be confused by the word fiduciaire: it is a historical Luxembourg name for an accounting firm, not a different licence. What matters is OEC membership, team size and sector experience — not the label on the door.
Working in English: more common than you think
Based on the working languages the firms themselves publish, 295 of the 555 OEC firms — about 53% — work in English, alongside French, German and Luxembourgish. In the fund industry and among firms serving international clients, English is simply the default. For expats and foreign entrepreneurs, requesting engagement letters, reporting and correspondence in English is a normal ask — any internationally-minded firm will accommodate it.
What accounting services cost in Luxembourg
Observed market ranges: a full annual package for a small company (bookkeeping, VAT returns, annual accounts, tax filings) runs €3,000-8,000 per year; mid-sized companies budget €8,000-25,000. À la carte: VAT compliance €500-3,000 a year, payroll €15-35 per employee per month, hourly tax advice €80-250 depending on seniority. Holdings and Soparfis typically land between €6,000 and €30,000 depending on complexity.
The main cost drivers are transaction volume, VAT filing frequency and international complexity. Always request an itemised quote — and compare at least three firms on identical scope before signing.
Expat and cross-border essentials
Luxembourg withholds income tax at source, so a single-employer resident often has no filing obligation at all. Filing becomes relevant — or mandatory — above certain thresholds, with multiple income sources, or to claim deductions. Cross-border workers from France, Belgium and Germany face an extra layer: the 34-day home-working tax threshold, social-security coordination and the option of tax assimilation for non-residents. Our French-language guides cover tax filing and cross-border taxation in depth — and most of the firms in the directory will walk you through them in English.
Frequently asked questions
Do accountants in Luxembourg speak English?
Yes, widely. Based on the working languages published or displayed by the firms themselves, more than half of the 555 OEC-certified firms — around 295 — work in English, alongside French, German and Luxembourgish. English is the default working language in the fund industry and in most firms serving international clients.
How much does an accountant cost in Luxembourg?
For a small company, a full annual package (bookkeeping, VAT returns, annual accounts, tax filings) typically runs between €3,000 and €8,000 per year. Mid-sized companies budget €8,000 to €25,000. Standalone services: VAT compliance from €500 to €3,000 per year, payroll from €15 to €35 per employee per month, and one-off tax advice at €80 to €250 per hour.
What does 'fiduciaire' mean in Luxembourg?
A fiduciaire is the traditional Luxembourgish name for an accounting firm — from the Latin fiducia, trust. In practice, the vast majority of fiduciaires are OEC-certified accounting firms that also offer domiciliation, payroll and corporate services. The name is historical branding, not a different legal category: what matters is OEC membership.
How do I verify that a firm is properly licensed?
Check the public register on oec.lu, the website of the Ordre des Experts-Comptables. Search by firm name, manager name or RCS number: the register shows the registration status (active, suspended, struck off) and the certified accountants attached to the firm. The 'expert-comptable' title has been legally protected in Luxembourg since the law of 10 June 1999.
Do I need a Luxembourg accountant as a cross-border worker?
If you are an employee with a single Luxembourg salary, usually not — tax is withheld at source. It becomes worthwhile when you want to file a return to claim deductions, opt for tax assimilation as a non-resident (article 157ter), have income in two countries, or exceed the 34-day home-working threshold. A first optimised filing often recovers several hundred euros, more than the typical fee.
Is ilicompta free to use?
Yes. ilicompta.lu is an independent directory of all 555 OEC-certified accounting firms in Luxembourg. Browsing is free, no firm pays to be listed or ranked, and the quote-comparison service (three matched firms respond within 24-48 hours) is free and without obligation for the requester.