räkenskaperna

Räkenskaperna is a Swedish term that refers to the financial records of an entity, documenting its economic activities over a specified period. They include the transactions that affect assets, liabilities and equity, as well as income and expenses. Räkenskaperna are typically kept using a double-entry bookkeeping system, where each transaction is recorded in a journal and then posted to ledgers.

The primary purpose of räkenskaperna is to monitor liquidity, profitability and the overall financial position, and to fulfill legal requirements while providing decision-support for management, investors, authorities and lenders. They also serve as a basis for tax reporting and external auditing.

The main components of räkenskaperna are the balance sheet (balansräkning), the income statement (resultaträkning) and the cash flow statement (kassaflödesanalys), along with notes in the annual report (årsredovisning). The balance sheet presents assets, liabilities and equity at the end of the period; the income statement shows revenues and expenses for the period; the cash flow statement tracks cash inflows and outflows. Notes explain accounting policies, significant events and other information relevant to users’ understanding.

Räkenskaperna are governed in Sweden by the Bokföringslagen (Accounting Act) and the Årsredovisningslagen (Annual Accounts Act). Smaller entities may face simplified requirements, while larger companies and organizations are subject to stricter reporting and often external audits. In sum, räkenskaperna provide transparency, support taxation and aid comparisons over time and between different entities.