Information system description of the Finnish Business Information System
Description of information system pursuant to § 18, Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621/1999)
Name of the information system
Business Information System (BIS)
(in Finnish:
Names and addresses of authorities responsible for the system
Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH)
Mailing address: Finnish Patent and Registration Office, FI-00091 PRH, Finland
Street address:
Tel. +358 29 509 5000
Finnish Tax Administration
Mailing address: P.O. Box 325, FI-00052 VERO, Finland
Street address:
Purpose of use
Business Information System (BIS) is in existence to facilitate issuance of identity codes to business companies and other organisations, to coordinate collection of facts and information in the BIS itself, in the tax database of the Tax Administration, and in the Trade Register, the Register of Associations and the Register of Foundations of the
Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH).
The maintenance of the information system is based on Business Information Act (244/2001).
Sources of data
The information contained in the information system is collected from submitted Notifications regarding Start-up, Amendments or Termination of Business, originating from businesses and organisations.
In addition, information is obtained from Tax Administration registers and databases regarding employers, tax prepayments, and taxpayers liable for VAT, from the PRH Trade Register, the Register of Associations or the Register of Foundations.
Start year of information collection
In 2001, when BIS was established, registered details of existing businesses and organisations dating back to end of 19th century were copied.
Updating frequency
BIS is being updated daily.
Publicity/confidentiality of information; rules governing public disclosure
Access to publicly disclosed BIS information is open to all through the website.
Public disclosure covers the following details:
- Business ID
- Company name, Organisation name
- Names and languages
- Municipality (of domicile) where business management is located
- Publicly disclosable contact details/addresses
- Principal line of business
- Legal form of incorporation
- Information on entries in the following registers: the VAT Register, the Employer Register, the Prepayment Register, the Trade Register, the Register of Associations and the Register of Foundations.
- Information on liquidation, interruption of business, termination of business.
- Information on legal operating capacity (bankruptcy, liquidation or restructuring).
- Personal identity codes.
- Self-employed individual’s real name, if he/she uses a business name.
- Street address, if not intended for disclosure
- Individual’s ID, principal line of business, language, legal operating capacity, if he/she pursues non-business activities.
The obligation of confidentiality concerns the details saved in the database for tax purposes (under § 1 and § 4, Act on public disclosure and confidentiality of tax information 1346/1999).
Further information
Further details on BIS: www.ytj.fi.
Privacy statement for the BIS
More information on the registers of the Finnish Tax Administration and the Finnish Patent and Registration Office: