OKPO: what is this abbreviation and where should it be used?

In the accounting and financial documents, the lettering of OKPO is very common. What kind of abbreviation is that? Not everyone knows. Meanwhile, this is one of the most important codes characterizing the activities of any legal entity.

What he really is?

OKPO is a common abbreviation, obtained from the first letters meaning the name of the statistical classifier, namely the All-Russian Classifier of Enterprises and Organizations.

The main code of any enterprise, organization, entrepreneur, from the appropriateness of appropriation of which depends to a great extent on the further existence of the economic entity - this is how most economists treat the concept of OKPO. What this is, you can understand, having studied the Order of Rosstat of July 29, 2008 for number 174. It highlights the purpose, classification and characteristics of OKPO, the procedure for making updates and changes.

What is it for?

The state OKPO code is required for registration and statistical recording of economic entities. The unambiguous identification of any economic subject of the Russian Federation - this is how you can formulate the basic function of the OKPO code. That this makes it possible to quickly find any firm or entrepreneur in the Rosstat databases is quite obvious.

In addition, the code is used:

• As the main identifier for inter-agency information exchange;
• For the integration of all federal databases of various departments and ministries;
• To create a common information space of the Russian Federation;
• To ensure comparability of data;
• To organize quick information retrieval.

Changes in OKPO codes can only be made by Rosstat.

How is it appropriated?

The objects of classification by OKPO code are absolutely all legal entities: enterprises and organizations of any form of ownership, their branches, representative offices, organizations that conduct activities without the formation of a legal entity, and individual entrepreneurs.

The principles of code formation are set forth in the Decree of the State Standard of Russia of 30.12.1993 No. 297. They are quite simple: the code has an 8-bit structure for organizations and a 10-digit structure for individual entrepreneurs. The first 7 or 9 digits is actually the number, the last digit is the encrypted key.

The code is assigned for the entire period of existence of the legal entity (by the way, irrespective of what happened with it) until its liquidation. After the liquidation, information on the economic entity is extracted from all databases, where its OKPO is used by the entrepreneur or organization.

After 10 years, a newly formed legal entity may sometimes be assigned an already used OKPO code. That this may lead to the fact that different organizations will be assigned the same code is not significant, since it will not affect the activity of the new economic entity in any way.

How to get it?

The assignment of the OKPO code of the organization by Rosstat authorities takes place taking into account the information from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities, which they receive electronically from the tax authorities. In addition, the organization must provide a statement signed by the head, as well as a certain package of title documents. Organizations must provide Rosstat with copies of:

• Extracts from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities;
• Statute;
• The decision (protocol) of the meeting to which the head is appointed;
• OGRN certificates;
• Certificates of INN.

A complete list of necessary documents can be found in the territorial offices of the Federal State Statistics Service. Notification of the codes assigned to the organization statistics bodies are sent by mail or provided in electronic form.

OKPO for IP is assigned in a simplified manner, with notification of the codes sent only to those entrepreneurs who are required to provide statistical reporting. Other PIs can receive a notification if they request the request from their territorial agency Rosstat.

How can it be used?

The OKPO code is an essential requisite, its use in financial documents is mandatory. For example, the OKPO code should be indicated:

• On the letterhead of the organization, the entrepreneur;
• In the requisites of the parties when concluding any contracts.

Without this code, it is impossible to perform the majority of legally significant actions, for example, opening a bank account in a bank or registering for off-budget funds.

How can I find out?

Beginning accountants often wonder: "Where to look OKPO?" A fixed list of these codes does not exist, as daily legal entities are organized and liquidated. In order to clarify the OKPO of its own organization, it is enough to apply to the Rosstat authorities with an official request. In response, the territorial agency Rosstat sends a letter, which indicates all the statistics codes assigned to a certain legal entity.

You can find the code OKPO, if you know the TIN and OGRN of the organization or entrepreneur. You need to apply to the Inspectorate of the Federal Tax Service at the place of registration with a request for the issuance of an extract from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities for legal entities and extracts from the EGRIP for individual entrepreneurs. Both these extracts contain basic information about the economic subject, among which there is the required code.

Extract on paper can be sent by registered mail, or it can be received directly in the Inspectorate of the Federal Tax Service. Today you can get statements on the official portal of the Federal Tax Service. The data contained in the unified state registers are publicly available, therefore everyone can receive information contained in them.