How to check a company in Denmark

Where can I find official data on a Danish company?

The main source is CVR (Det Centrale Virksomhedsregister) — the central register of all Danish businesses, maintained by Erhvervsstyrelsen (the Danish Business Authority). You search the data at cvr.dk and on the Virk portal (virk.dk), which also holds filed annual reports. Tax (moms) registrations are handled by Skattestyrelsen (skat.dk), and an EU VAT number can be confirmed in the EU's VIES system.

Danish registry data is also published as open data, so many private services (e.g. proff.dk) aggregate it. They can be convenient, but they are not the register: in case of discrepancies, the CVR entry prevails.

Basic company data and filed annual reports are public in Denmark — but kept in Danish, and how much financial detail is disclosed depends on the company's size class (regnskabsklasse), so you still have to read it yourself.

What is the CVR number and how do I read it?

The CVR number (CVR-nummer) is an 8-digit identifier of a Danish company, assigned by Erhvervsstyrelsen upon registration. It is the equivalent of a combined company and tax ID: it identifies the entity in all dealings with the authorities.

The Danish VAT number (momsnummer) is derived directly from the CVR number: the prefix DK and the 8 digits (DK + CVR). This is the number you provide and verify in the VIES system for intra-EU transactions. Note: not every company with a CVR number is VAT-registered — a small entity below the registration threshold may have a CVR but no active moms.

A separate unit is the so-called P-number (P-nummer), which identifies a single establishment/branch (produktionsenhed) of a company. One company (one CVR) can have several P-numbers, one per location.

How do I check a Danish company step by step?

1. Ask the counterparty for their CVR number — you will also find it on invoices, in contracts and usually in the website footer.

2. Look the company up at cvr.dk or on Virk and compare the name, legal form, address and status with what the counterparty told you. Check the date of establishment and the industry (industry code).

3. Confirm the VAT (moms) registration: for intra-EU transactions, verify the DK + CVR number in the VIES system and keep a dated confirmation.

4. Review the latest annual report (årsrapport) filed with Erhvervsstyrelsen: revenue (if disclosed), result, equity, balance sheet total, employment.

5. Check the beneficial owners (reelle ejere) and the legal owners (legale ejere) in CVR.

6. Verify the status: “Normal/Aktiv” is an operating company; “Under konkurs”, “Under tvangsopløsning”, “Under frivillig likvidation”, “Under rekonstruktion” or “Ophørt” are signals that call for caution.

What legal forms do Danish companies have?

The most common capital form is the ApS (anpartsselskab) — a private limited company. According to Erhvervsstyrelsen, the minimum share capital of an ApS is DKK 20,000 (reduced in 2019 from DKK 50,000). The larger form is the A/S (aktieselskab) with a minimum capital of DKK 400,000, used among others by listed companies.

An important historical change: the IVS form (iværksætterselskab, an “entrepreneurial company” with capital from DKK 1) was abolished in 2019; existing IVS had to convert into ApS. If you come across an IVS, it is an entity with an unsettled status — worth clarifying.

Among partnership forms: enkeltmandsvirksomhed (sole proprietorship — the owner is liable with all personal assets), I/S (interessentskab — general partnership, partners personally and jointly liable) and K/S (kommanditselskab — limited partnership). The legal form tells you who is liable for obligations and what reporting duties apply.

When must a Danish company be VAT (moms) registered?

According to Skattestyrelsen, a business operating in Denmark must register for VAT (moms) if its taxable turnover exceeds DKK 50,000 over a 12-month period. That is why a very small or very young entity may have a CVR number and operate legally without an active moms registration — this need not be a warning sign.

What does this mean for verification? If a counterparty declares sales above that threshold but has no active moms number (does not pass VIES verification), that is a signal to clarify. Conversely, the absence of moms at a small service provider below the threshold is normal. Always confirm the EU VAT number in VIES before settling an intra-Community transaction — it is your basis for applying the 0% rate.

Do Danish companies publish financial statements?

Yes — according to Erhvervsstyrelsen, capital companies (including ApS and A/S) are required to file an annual report (årsrapport), which becomes public on cvr.dk and Virk. It is in Danish, though, and how much it discloses depends on the size class — so the raw filing still has to be read and interpreted.

The scope of disclosed data depends on the company's size class (regnskabsklasse B/C/D). The smallest companies (class B) may use simplifications and do not have to disclose a full income statement, including revenue — so a missing “turnover” item at a small company is normal, not data hiding.

From the report you can usually read the result, equity, balance sheet total and number of employees. Mind freshness: the report describes a completed financial year. According to Erhvervsstyrelsen, late filing incurs fees, and persistent failure can lead to compulsory dissolution (tvangsopløsning) — which is why a missing recent report is a significant warning sign.

How do I check beneficial owners (reelle ejere)?

According to Erhvervsstyrelsen, most Danish companies are required to register and keep up to date information about their beneficial owners (reelle ejere) — an obligation stemming from EU anti-money laundering rules. A beneficial owner is the person who ultimately controls the company, as a rule through more than 25% of shares or votes, directly or indirectly. The Danish register also distinguishes “legale ejere” (legal owners).

Beneficial owner data is public in CVR — a major advantage compared with countries where access is restricted. Bear in mind that access rules for such registers across the EU have been adjusted in recent years following EU case law; you will find the current scope at cvr.dk. If a company shows no registered beneficial owner (“ingen reelle ejere”, with the management as fallback beneficiary), verify whether this is justified by the ownership structure.

How do I check bankruptcy and other statuses (konkurs, tvangsopløsning)?

A company's status in CVR is one of the most important signals. The most common values are: “Normal/Aktiv” (operating), “Under konkurs” (bankruptcy — the estate is managed by a receiver), “Under tvangsopløsning” (compulsory dissolution ordered by the court, e.g. for failing to file a report), “Under frivillig likvidation” (voluntary liquidation), “Under rekonstruktion” (reorganisation under protection) and “Ophørt/Opløst” (the company has ceased to exist).

Each of these statuses carries a different risk — do not treat them interchangeably. In particular, “tvangsopløsning” is often confused with normal liquidation, but it signals that the authority has forced the dissolution of the company. Check the status directly before signing a contract and before larger payments — it can change within weeks. It is also worth looking at the change history in CVR: frequent changes of address, name or management can be an early sign of trouble.

How do I check enforcement debts (Gældsstyrelsen)?

CVR shows registry data and reports, but not current payment arrears. Enforcement of public debts in Denmark is handled by Gældsstyrelsen (the Danish Debt Collection Agency). A full picture of payment reliability therefore only emerges from combining sources: CVR data, the annual report and — for larger trade-credit limits — a commercial credit report assessing risk.

In practice: for a new counterparty, combine three things — the CVR status, the health from the latest årsrapport (equity, result) and payment security matched to the risk (prepayment, shorter terms, a smaller first order). Danish data is public but scattered and in Danish, so pulling these three signals into one assessment is exactly what a NordScan report does for you.

How to read a Danish annual report — what to look at?

An årsrapport consists of a few standard parts: the management report (ledelsesberetning), the income statement (resultatopgørelse), the balance sheet (balance) and the notes (noter); companies with an auditor also include the audit report (revisionspåtegning).

What to look at in practice? First, equity (egenkapital): is it positive, and is it not shrinking year after year — negative equity is a serious signal. Second, the result (resultat) and — if disclosed — revenue: a single weaker year is not a verdict, but a downward trend is. Third, employment: a sudden drop in headcount can precede trouble. Fourth, the auditor's opinion, if any: take qualifications in the revisionspåtegning seriously.

You do not need to be an analyst — comparing the last two or three years and asking the counterparty about anything that stands out is enough.

Does every Danish company have an auditor (revisor)?

No. According to Erhvervsstyrelsen, the smallest companies may — after meeting size conditions for two consecutive years — opt out of having the accounts audited (fravalg af revision). In practice, this means the reports of many small Danish companies are not examined by an independent auditor.

What does this change for verification? A missing audit report (revisionspåtegning) at a small company is normal, not a warning sign. For larger contracts, however, it is worth knowing whether the numbers you are basing your decision on have been independently verified. Information about the auditor and any opt-out is in the annual report itself and in the CVR entry.

How do I check who represents a Danish company?

In the CVR entry you will find the management (direktion), any board (bestyrelse) and the signing rule (tegningsregel) — who may sign obligations on behalf of the company and in what configuration. This matters for larger contracts: a signature by an unauthorised person can trigger disputes over the validity of the obligation.

In practice: before signing a large contract, compare the signatory with the tegningsregel in CVR and make sure they are authorised alone or jointly with another named person. If representation is joint, ensure you get the full set of signatures.

When and how often should you check a Danish counterparty?

The minimum is a check before the first contract and before any transaction involving prepayment or deferred payment terms. A CVR status can change within a few weeks: entering tvangsopløsning, konkurs or rekonstruktion rarely announces itself far in advance.

Good practices: repeat the check when renewing a contract and when raising a trade-credit limit; monitor key suppliers and customers periodically, e.g. quarterly; save dated verification confirmations (e.g. the VIES result) — they document your diligence should the transaction later prove problematic. Because the data is in Danish and spread across CVR, Virk and Gældsstyrelsen, a repeatable routine — or a report that pulls it together for you — matters more than any single manual check.

The key Danish terms at a glance

CVR-nummer — the 8-digit company identifier. Moms — Danish VAT; the EU VAT number is DK + CVR. Årsrapport — the annual financial report, public at cvr.dk (in Danish). Reelle ejere — beneficial owners (control, as a rule, over 25%); legale ejere — legal owners. Konkurs — bankruptcy; tvangsopløsning — compulsory dissolution by the court; frivillig likvidation — voluntary liquidation; rekonstruktion — reorganisation. Tegningsregel — the company's signing rule. P-nummer — the identifier of a single establishment of a company. Gældsstyrelsen — the debt enforcement authority.

These dozen or so terms are enough to navigate the Danish register and a counterparty's documents with confidence.

What to watch out for? Warning signs

Typical warning signs when verifying a Danish counterparty: a very young company seeking a large contract or long payment terms; a status other than “Normal” (especially tvangsopløsning, konkurs, rekonstruktion); no recent annual report or a report filed late; the IVS form, which should have been converted; frequent changes of name, management or address; an address at a “virtual office” with no real presence; discrepancies between what the company says about itself and the CVR entry.

No single signal is decisive on its own — a young company can be an excellent partner. But several signals at once are a good reason to ask for explanations, secure the payment or choose another supplier.

Beware of “real-company” impersonation fraud: the register confirms that a company exists, but not that the person writing to you actually represents it. Confirm the bank account and payment details through a channel from an official source (the company's website, a call-back), not from the invoice you received — especially with a sudden “change of account number” just before a payment.

How long does checking a Danish company take and what does it cost?

Doing it yourself is not one click. You look the company up at cvr.dk in Danish, open the annual report on Virk, verify the EU VAT number in VIES and keep a dated confirmation — and how much financial detail is disclosed depends on the company's size class (regnskabsklasse), so you still have to read it correctly. Enforcement debts sit outside CVR, in a separate source (Gældsstyrelsen).

Commercial credit reports (risk assessment, scoring, arrears data) add a further cost and are worth considering for larger trade-credit limits. If you check counterparties regularly or do not read Danish, a NordScan report shortens the whole process to a single search: registry data, statuses and financials pulled together in your language. Searching is free, and you only buy full reports when you actually need them.

How do I check a Danish company without knowing Danish?

The Danish register is exceptionally open, but the data, statuses and reports are mostly in Danish (cvr.dk offers a partly English version). Statuses and legal forms are easy to confuse — tvangsopløsning is not an ordinary liquidation, and an ApS differs fundamentally from an I/S in liability.

NordScan shows Danish company data in 9 languages: statuses, legal forms and financial fields are translated and explained, and the report links to the sources, so you can always check the original. Enter the CVR number or company name in the search and see the full report — the fastest way from “I have an offer from Denmark” to “I know who I am dealing with”.

Frequently asked questions

How many digits does a Danish CVR number have?

Eight. The EU VAT number is the prefix DK + the 8 digits of the CVR number (DK + CVR).

Is checking a company in Denmark free of charge?

The raw registry data, status and annual reports are public in Denmark at cvr.dk and on Virk, but kept in Danish, and the extent of financial disclosure depends on the company's size class (regnskabsklasse) — you must read and interpret them yourself. Enforcement debts sit outside CVR, in a separate source. Our report pulls these pieces into one readable answer.

What is the difference between CVR and Virk?

CVR is the register itself (the data), while Virk (virk.dk) is the government portal through which companies handle official matters and where annual reports are made available. Both are run by Erhvervsstyrelsen.

How do I check a Danish VAT number?

The EU VAT number is DK + the 8 digits of the CVR number. Verify it in the EU's VIES system; moms registration is handled by Skattestyrelsen.

What does the status “tvangsopløsning” mean?

A compulsory dissolution of the company ordered by the court — most often for failing to file an annual report or other breaches. It is a serious warning sign, different from a voluntary liquidation.

Does the IVS form still exist in Denmark?

No — the IVS (iværksætterselskab) was abolished in 2019, and existing companies were required to convert into ApS. Coming across an active IVS is a signal to clarify its status.

Are Danish annual reports available for free?

The filed annual reports (årsrapport) of capital companies are public at cvr.dk and on Virk, but they are in Danish, and how much is disclosed depends on the size class (regnskabsklasse) — the smallest companies may not show turnover. You still have to read the figures correctly (result, equity, balance-sheet total, headcount) and judge how current they are. That is what our report does.

Is proff.dk an official register?

No — it is a private service aggregating open CVR data. The official source is CVR (cvr.dk / Virk) run by Erhvervsstyrelsen; in case of discrepancies the CVR entry prevails.

What does “reelle ejere” mean in the Danish register?

Beneficial owners — the natural persons who ultimately control the company, as a rule through more than 25% of shares or votes. The data is public in CVR. “Legale ejere”, in turn, are the legal owners (e.g. a parent company).

How do I check a Danish company in my own language?

Enter the CVR number or company name in the NordScan search — the report shows registry data, statuses and financial fields translated into your language, with links to the official sources.

Related guides

• CVR and Virk — the Danish company register explained
• How to start a company in Denmark — step by step
• Sole proprietorship in Denmark (enkeltmandsvirksomhed) — taxes and costs
• ApS company in Denmark (anpartsselskab) — how it works and what it costs
• Running a business in Denmark — obligations and formalities