Representative offices, branch offices, and subsidiaries are different types of local organizations a foreign company can establish. A representative office does not have a separate legal status and can only conduct limited business activities like market research. A branch office is an extension of the parent company and can perform sales and business operations but is still fully liable under the parent. A subsidiary is incorporated as a separate legal entity where the parent has limited liability and it can conduct any business activities. The document provides details on the legal registration process and requirements, taxation, accounting practices for each type.
1. Type of local orgnaisation
当地当地当地当地组织组织组织组织种种种种类类类类
Representative Office
代表代表代表代表处处处处
Branch Office
分公司分公司分公司分公司
Subsidiary (NV or BVBA)子公司子公司子公司子公司
（（（（NV或者或者或者或者BVBA公司）公司）公司）公司）
Description
性性性性质质质质
A representative office is an auxiliary
structure of the foreign company that it
represents. It therefore has no legal
relationship with third parties, and all
documents are signed on behalf of the parent
company. It acts as a basic "observation
post", allowing contacts to be made on the
ground, while also carrying out advertising
activities and providing market-specific
information.
代表处是一个代表外国公司的其下属机构。因而不
与任何第三方有法律联系，可以代表母公司签订所
有的文件，它作为一个基本的‘观察哨’，有实质性
的接触，同时也可以开展广告宣传活动和提供有关
市场的信息。
It does not have a separate legal status to the company, however it
does have a certain autonomy in the area of sales and decision-
making. However, as it does not have a separate legal status, it acts
in the name and on behalf of the company. The laws applied to the
branch office will always be the laws of the parent company.
However, all branch offices set up in Belgium are still subject to
Belgian laws and regulations in terms of any documents they may
have to prepare (for example, signing of employment contracts,
commercial practice regulations, director liability, compliance with
VAT regulations). The advantage of setting up a branch office is that
there are no capital financing
charges.分公司相对于母公司并不是一个独立的实体，但它在销售和决策领
域有一定的自主权。然而，由于它不是一个独立的实体，它在母公司名义下
经营并代表母公司。适用于分公司的法律将同样适用于母公司。然而，所有
在比利时建立的分公司仍需遵从于比利时的法律法规，在任何他们所必须准
备的文件方面（例如，签订雇员合同，商业行为法规，董事长责任，依从增
值税法规）。建立一个分公司的优势在于对资本金没有增收任何费用。
A Limited Liability Company is undoubtedly the most suitable
company structure for most businesses. Partners benefit
from limited liability to the extend of the Share
Capital有限责任公司毫无疑问对绝大多数行业都适用的公司架构形
式。合伙人从延展股本结构而承担有限的责任中受益。
Legal status法律地位法律地位法律地位法律地位
No legal status, the head office is fully
liable没有法律地位，总部承担全部责任。
Registered and legal status, the head office is fully liable
注册并具有法律地位，总部承担全部责任。
Registered and legal status, limited
liability注册并有法律地位，有限责任
Staff activities员员员员工行工行工行工行为为为为范范范范围围围围 Employees of the mother company cannot
"sell, contract or
manage"母公司的雇员不能‘销售，签订合同或者
管理） Employees of the mother company can "sell, contract or manage".
Local staff can be put on local branch
payroll.母公司的雇员可以‘销售，签订合同或者管理。本地雇员按当地的分
公司的待遇计算。
Legal consequences法律法律法律法律责责责责任任任任 Representative offices are subject to Belgian
laws and regulations in the social, fiscal and
statistical domains. But cannot make claims
from local
entity.代表处受比利时在社会，财金和统计领域的
Representative offices are subject to Belgian laws and regulations in
the social, fiscal and statistical domains. Head Office is fully liable for
any claims against the branch
office.代表处受比利时在社会，财金和统计领域的法律及规章制度的制约。
总部将对本地公司的任何索赔负全责。
Representative offices are subject to Belgian laws and
regulations in the social, fiscal and statistical domains. Head
office bears no responsability ic case of claims against the
subsidary.代表处受比利时在社会，财金和统计领域的法律及规章制
度的制约。总部对子公司的任何索赔将不承担责任。
Company structures in the EU
www.ABC.be
entity.代表处受比利时在社会，财金和统计领域的
法律及规章制度的制约。但是无权向本地实体索赔
。
总部将对本地公司的任何索赔负全责。 度的制约。总部对子公司的任何索赔将不承担责任。
Tax Consequence 税税税税务责务责务责务责任任任任 No tax consequence as no "local business" is
done。不是“当地商业行为”而不承担纳税义务。
Taxation is based on the local portion of the HQ sales figures. The
double taxation treaty is significant if
applicable.总公司收入的当地部分将纳税。如果有双重避免税收协议，将发
挥其重要作用。
Taxation is based on the subsidariy's sales figures. The
double taxation treaty, if applicable, is significant for the
dividents
.税务将基于子公司的销售收入。如果有避免双重税收协议，将对分
红其重要作用。
Publication of annual
accounts年度会年度会年度会年度会计计计计公告公告公告公告
no legal entity, no
publications无实体，没有公布的必要。
The head office will translate all annual accounts and publish in
detail with the National Bank.
总部将进行年度会计审核并向比利时国家银行上报明细。
Only the local subsidiary accounts have to be published.
Sales minus purchases and minus costs will be taxed. The
double taxation treaty with Hong Kong is
significant.只是当地子公司需公布账务。在收入除去购买和成本的
部分将缴税。比利时和香港的避免双重税务协议将发挥重要作用。
VAT and VAT
exemption增增增增值值值值税税税税及豁免及豁免及豁免及豁免
no VAT nr, no recuperation of VAT
无增值税号。
VAT nr with exemption增值税号及豁免 VAT nr with exemption增值税号及豁免
Bank Account 银银银银行行行行帐号帐号帐号帐号 Difficult unless good relationship with your
current banker's local
correspondent.困难除非和当地银行有良好的合作
关系。
？ Local bank account当地银行帐号
Sales and invoicing销销销销售和票据售和票据售和票据售和票据 They are not permitted to partake in sales
activities.不允许进行销售业务
Unlike a representative office, a branch office is permitted to carry
out sales activities, thereby facilitating the building of customer
relationships.不同于代表处，分公司可以开展销售业务并建立客户关系。
The local entity can do any business the dead of
incorporation allows it to
do.子公司可以开展任何母公司允许的业务。
Share capital股本股本股本股本结结结结构构构构 No share capital 无 No share capital无 NV minimum EUR 61,500
BVBA minimum Euro 18500, of which Euro 6200 should be
paid
up.股份公司最低资本要求61，500欧元。有限公司最低资本要求18
500欧元，其中6200欧元要求兑现。
Incorporation time公司注册公司注册公司注册公司注册时间时间时间时间 Maximum 1 weeks from delivering all the
documents递交所有文件后最多一个星期
Maximum 1 weeks from delivering all the
documents递交所有文件后最多一个星期
Maximum 1 weeks from delivering all the
documents递交所有文件后最多一个星期
Incorporation
Budget公司注册公司注册公司注册公司注册费费费费用用用用
Euro 2500 all in excluding
translations。2500欧元包括除翻译外的所有费用
。
Euro 3500 all in excluding
translations。3500欧元包括除翻译外的所有费用。
Euro 3500 all in excluding translations
3500欧元包括除翻译外的所有费用。
Regus office types 办办办办公公公公类类类类型型型型 Virutal Office,
虚拟办公室及，灵活办公室和常规办公室
Virtual Office Plus and regular office 灵活办公室和常规办公室 Virtual Office Plus and regular office 灵活办公室和常规办公室
M:_archiveABCNVMarketingMarketingKanalenActiviteitenCountriesChinaBusiness trip 2010 April-June[compare company types (with rep office).xls]Sheet1
M:dataABC ServicesMarketingChinatoolscompare company types (with rep office).xls 9/05/2013
![Type of local orgnaisation
当地当地当地当地组织组织组织组织种种种种类类类类
Representative Office
代表代表代表代表处处处处
Branch Office
分公司分公司分公司分公司
Subsidiary (NV or BVBA)子公司子公司子公司子公司
（（（（NV或者或者或者或者BVBA公司）公司）公司）公司）
Description
性性性性质质质质
A representative office is an auxiliary
structure of the foreign company that it
represents. It therefore has no legal
relationship with third parties, and all
documents are signed on behalf of the parent
company. It acts as a basic "observation
post", allowing contacts to be made on the
ground, while also carrying out advertising
activities and providing market-specific
information.
代表处是一个代表外国公司的其下属机构。因而不
与任何第三方有法律联系，可以代表母公司签订所
有的文件，它作为一个基本的‘观察哨’，有实质性
的接触，同时也可以开展广告宣传活动和提供有关
市场的信息。
It does not have a separate legal status to the company, however it
does have a certain autonomy in the area of sales and decision-
making. However, as it does not have a separate legal status, it acts
in the name and on behalf of the company. The laws applied to the
branch office will always be the laws of the parent company.
However, all branch offices set up in Belgium are still subject to
Belgian laws and regulations in terms of any documents they may
have to prepare (for example, signing of employment contracts,
commercial practice regulations, director liability, compliance with
VAT regulations). The advantage of setting up a branch office is that
there are no capital financing
charges.分公司相对于母公司并不是一个独立的实体，但它在销售和决策领
域有一定的自主权。然而，由于它不是一个独立的实体，它在母公司名义下
经营并代表母公司。适用于分公司的法律将同样适用于母公司。然而，所有
在比利时建立的分公司仍需遵从于比利时的法律法规，在任何他们所必须准
备的文件方面（例如，签订雇员合同，商业行为法规，董事长责任，依从增
值税法规）。建立一个分公司的优势在于对资本金没有增收任何费用。
A Limited Liability Company is undoubtedly the most suitable
company structure for most businesses. Partners benefit
from limited liability to the extend of the Share
Capital有限责任公司毫无疑问对绝大多数行业都适用的公司架构形
式。合伙人从延展股本结构而承担有限的责任中受益。
Legal status法律地位法律地位法律地位法律地位
No legal status, the head office is fully
liable没有法律地位，总部承担全部责任。
Registered and legal status, the head office is fully liable
注册并具有法律地位，总部承担全部责任。
Registered and legal status, limited
liability注册并有法律地位，有限责任
Staff activities员员员员工行工行工行工行为为为为范范范范围围围围 Employees of the mother company cannot
"sell, contract or
manage"母公司的雇员不能‘销售，签订合同或者
管理） Employees of the mother company can "sell, contract or manage".
Local staff can be put on local branch
payroll.母公司的雇员可以‘销售，签订合同或者管理。本地雇员按当地的分
公司的待遇计算。
Legal consequences法律法律法律法律责责责责任任任任 Representative offices are subject to Belgian
laws and regulations in the social, fiscal and
statistical domains. But cannot make claims
from local
entity.代表处受比利时在社会，财金和统计领域的
Representative offices are subject to Belgian laws and regulations in
the social, fiscal and statistical domains. Head Office is fully liable for
any claims against the branch
office.代表处受比利时在社会，财金和统计领域的法律及规章制度的制约。
总部将对本地公司的任何索赔负全责。
Representative offices are subject to Belgian laws and
regulations in the social, fiscal and statistical domains. Head
office bears no responsability ic case of claims against the
subsidary.代表处受比利时在社会，财金和统计领域的法律及规章制
度的制约。总部对子公司的任何索赔将不承担责任。
Company structures in the EU
www.ABC.be
entity.代表处受比利时在社会，财金和统计领域的
法律及规章制度的制约。但是无权向本地实体索赔
。
总部将对本地公司的任何索赔负全责。 度的制约。总部对子公司的任何索赔将不承担责任。
Tax Consequence 税税税税务责务责务责务责任任任任 No tax consequence as no "local business" is
done。不是“当地商业行为”而不承担纳税义务。
Taxation is based on the local portion of the HQ sales figures. The
double taxation treaty is significant if
applicable.总公司收入的当地部分将纳税。如果有双重避免税收协议，将发
挥其重要作用。
Taxation is based on the subsidariy's sales figures. The
double taxation treaty, if applicable, is significant for the
dividents
.税务将基于子公司的销售收入。如果有避免双重税收协议，将对分
红其重要作用。
Publication of annual
accounts年度会年度会年度会年度会计计计计公告公告公告公告
no legal entity, no
publications无实体，没有公布的必要。
The head office will translate all annual accounts and publish in
detail with the National Bank.
总部将进行年度会计审核并向比利时国家银行上报明细。
Only the local subsidiary accounts have to be published.
Sales minus purchases and minus costs will be taxed. The
double taxation treaty with Hong Kong is
significant.只是当地子公司需公布账务。在收入除去购买和成本的
部分将缴税。比利时和香港的避免双重税务协议将发挥重要作用。
VAT and VAT
exemption增增增增值值值值税税税税及豁免及豁免及豁免及豁免
no VAT nr, no recuperation of VAT
无增值税号。
VAT nr with exemption增值税号及豁免 VAT nr with exemption增值税号及豁免
Bank Account 银银银银行行行行帐号帐号帐号帐号 Difficult unless good relationship with your
current banker's local
correspondent.困难除非和当地银行有良好的合作
关系。
？ Local bank account当地银行帐号
Sales and invoicing销销销销售和票据售和票据售和票据售和票据 They are not permitted to partake in sales
activities.不允许进行销售业务
Unlike a representative office, a branch office is permitted to carry
out sales activities, thereby facilitating the building of customer
relationships.不同于代表处，分公司可以开展销售业务并建立客户关系。
The local entity can do any business the dead of
incorporation allows it to
do.子公司可以开展任何母公司允许的业务。
Share capital股本股本股本股本结结结结构构构构 No share capital 无 No share capital无 NV minimum EUR 61,500
BVBA minimum Euro 18500, of which Euro 6200 should be
paid
up.股份公司最低资本要求61，500欧元。有限公司最低资本要求18
500欧元，其中6200欧元要求兑现。
Incorporation time公司注册公司注册公司注册公司注册时间时间时间时间 Maximum 1 weeks from delivering all the
documents递交所有文件后最多一个星期
Maximum 1 weeks from delivering all the
documents递交所有文件后最多一个星期
Maximum 1 weeks from delivering all the
documents递交所有文件后最多一个星期
Incorporation
Budget公司注册公司注册公司注册公司注册费费费费用用用用
Euro 2500 all in excluding
translations。2500欧元包括除翻译外的所有费用
。
Euro 3500 all in excluding
translations。3500欧元包括除翻译外的所有费用。
Euro 3500 all in excluding translations
3500欧元包括除翻译外的所有费用。
Regus office types 办办办办公公公公类类类类型型型型 Virutal Office,
虚拟办公室及，灵活办公室和常规办公室
Virtual Office Plus and regular office 灵活办公室和常规办公室 Virtual Office Plus and regular office 灵活办公室和常规办公室
M:_archiveABCNVMarketingMarketingKanalenActiviteitenCountriesChinaBusiness trip 2010 April-June[compare company types (with rep office).xls]Sheet1
M:dataABC ServicesMarketingChinatoolscompare company types (with rep office).xls 9/05/2013](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/comparecompanytypeswithrepofficecn-130804081255-phpapp01/85/Compare-company-types-with-rep-office-cn-1-320.jpg)
