Thousands of organisations still lack the Suomi.fi e-Authorizations required in electronic services

Suomi.fi e-Authorizations replaced the Katso identification in the authorities' electronic services last year. However, thousands of enterprises, associations and other communities still lack Suomi.fi e-Authorizations. Many features have been developed for Suomi.fi e-Authorizations in the autumn to make authorisation easier than before.

At the latest during the spring, many organisations must acquire Suomi.fi e-Authorizations to be able to use the electronic services of the Tax Administration and other authorities.  It is a good idea to set up the mandates well before important due dates. 

Most organisations can independently set up mandates in Suomi.fi e-Authorizations

The easiest way to use electronic services on behalf of an organisation is if Suomi.fi e-Authorizations can check the person’s right of representation from a trade, association or tax partnership register. 

For example, the company's chief executive officer, the entrepreneur, the association’s chairperson or the person in charge of a forest property, agricultural or real estate partnership can handle matters with their personal banking ID, mobile certificate or electronic ID card. An association is required to have a rule concerning signing that enables exclusive representation.  

A person with the right of representation may also log in to Suomi.fi e-Authorizations and authorise another person or another organisation, such as an accounting agency, to manage matters on their behalf. In this case, there is no need to submit a separate application. 

The mandate application can now be signed by accepting it with a strong identification, in which case there is no need for a paper application 

Some organisations cannot manage authorisation on their own in Suomi.fi e-Authorizations. Instead, they must submit a mandate application. Such organisations include state or municipal organisations, some associations, estates of deceased persons, foundations, parishes and foreign companies. At the moment, the processing time for mandate applications is two to three weeks. 

For these organisations, it is now easier to submit a mandate application than before if all signatories in the organisation have electronic identification tools. The mandate application can now be signed using a Finnish strong identification tool, i.e., an online banking ID, a mobile certificate or an electronic ID card certificate. In this case, it is no longer necessary to print and sign the mandate application by hand. You will no longer need to attach copies of identity cards or scan the complete application either. 

If only some of the signatories have access to electronic identification, the signed paper application and a copy of the identity card are required only for persons who do not have means of electronic identification. 

Signed paper applications with attachments are still required from foreign companies, for example. 

Suomi.fi e-Authorizations 

•  In the e-Authorizations e, you can digitally grant another person an authorisation to act on behalf of a company or community. It provides users with a smooth and secure self-service regardless of time and place.
• The Authorizations service is safe and up to date. It checks the right to act on behalf of a party from the authorisation register, the Finnish Patent and Registration Office, the Register of Associations or the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.
• Around 29 million mandates have already been created in the service launched in 2016.
• Each month, over 8 million mandate checks are carried out in the e-Authorizations service.
• The e-Authorizations have been integrated into more than 166 electronic services utilised by 250 private and public sector service providers. In addition to these, the service is also available in all pharmacies in Finland.