Associations, decipher the workings of your 2024 chart of accounts to understand your obligations

The Associative Chart of Accounts (PCA): a well-known accounting reference for many associations, this chart was updated at the beginning of 2020. But do you know what it is exactly?

What is the voluntary sector chart of accounts? How will the 2024 Association Chart of Accounts change things for associations? Who is it aimed at? What is the structure of the accounts and how do you keep your association's accounts using the chart of accounts? Appvizer answers your questions.

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What is the association chart of accounts?

The association chart of accounts (PCA) is a simplified version of the general chart of accounts (PCG) and is specially adapted to associations.

Its aim is to provide a single reference framework for standardising the accounts of associations, while taking into account certain specific features.

Like the PCG, it comprises eight classes of accounts, divided into the income statement and the balance sheet .

The 2024 charities chart of accounts? The same since 2020!

Repeal of the CRC 99-01 Association Accounting Plan

Expected for years and published in the Journal Officiel in December 2018, the new association chart of accounts finally came into force on 1 January 2020.

✅ Updated by the French Accounting Standards Authority, the new ANC regulation 2018-06 thus repeals CRC regulation 99-01, which had applied since 1 January 2000.

CRC regulation 99-01 was introduced to regulate the accounting of associations, which until then had no defined accounting obligations.

With the new 2020 chart of accounts for associations, the usual chapter-based organisation has been replaced by an article-based organisation, modelled on the General Chart of Accounts.

What has changed in 2020 for the association chart of accounts?

The new chart of accounts for associations has been modernised and clarified, with the aim of making accounting and financial management more transparent.

Here are some of the changes to note

• voluntary contributions in kind (volunteering, donations or provision of services) must be valued at the foot of the profit and loss account,
• new names:
  • Association funds become shareholders' equity,
  • profits become surpluses
  • losses to deficits, etc.
• the balance sheet and profit and loss account must be presented using standard summary tables,
• the various types of investment subsidy are no longer distinguished and are recorded in the income or investment subsidy account,
• loans for use are now considered as voluntary contributions in kind.

Associations' chart of accounts: which associations and which obligations?

Associations covered by the voluntary sector chart of accounts

The following associations are affected by the plan

• that receive public funding or donations in excess of €153,000 over the year,
• have a balance sheet in excess of €3,100,000 or €1,550,000 and more than 50 employees,
• are subject to corporation tax (IS),
• receive more than half their budget from local authorities, or more than €75,000,
• recognised as being of public utility or general interest,
• responsible for collecting funds for continuing vocational training (organismes paritaires agréés),
• seeking approval from a public authority,
• whose exclusive mission is scientific or medical assistance or research,
• operating in the management of health and social establishments,
• appealing to public generosity,
• political and electoral financing,
• which issue real estate securities,
• sports groups and federations.

What documents must be included in the PCA?

• an income statement
• a balance sheet
• and an appendix if two of the following thresholds are reached:
  • a balance sheet in excess of €350,000
  • sales in excess of €700,000,
  • more than 10 employees.

Chart of accounts: small associations

Small associations are not required to follow the association chart of accounts. However, it is recommended that these associations draw inspiration from it.

💡 Note: small associations generally keep cash accounts.

In practical terms, this means that they can simply record expenditure and income chronologically in a simple notebook or Excel file.

But this simplified system only applies to small associations that are required to report to their members.

In fact, associations that fall into one of the categories mentioned above and that exceed a subsidy threshold or that are recognised as being of public interest, for example, are not eligible for these simplified measures.

See also: How do you manage an association's cash flow?

The voluntary sector chart of accounts explained

The different accounts in the PCA

In practice, the association chart of accounts is modelled on the General Chart of Accounts. There are eight different classes of accounts, each with several sub-categories:

• Class 1: Capital accounts
• Class 2: Fixed asset accounts
• Class 3: Stock and work-in-progress accounts
• Class 4: Third-party accounts
• Class 5: Financial accounts
• Class 6: Expense accounts
• Class 7: Income accounts
• Class 8: Treatment of voluntary contributions in kind

👉 Account classes 1 to 5 refer to balance sheet accounts.

👉 Account classes 6 and 7 refer to income statement accounts.

Class 8 is a special class located at the foot of the balance sheet, as explained above.

Special features of the association chart of accounts compared with the French General Chart of Accounts (PCG)

This eighth and final category differs from the General Chart of Accounts. In the general chart of accounts, the eighth class refers to Special Accounts.

Under each sub-class, there are associated accounts.

By way of example, here is a summary table of Class 8 accounts in the association chart of accounts:

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You know all about the association chart of accounts!

You are now familiar with the ins and outs of the chart of accounts for associations, which has been in place since 2020 and will still be valid in 2024. This reference framework will enable you to present your annual accounts in a clear and detailed way.