The glossary to understand and take action

Indirect control

The ability to exercise control over an entity through one or more intermediate structures or relevant rights.

Notion comptable, fiscale ou juridique · Luxembourg Fiduciaries Editorial Team · Reviewed on

Understand the scope

Definition and points to distinguish

When identifying the beneficial owner, calculating an economic interest is not sufficient to complete the control analysis. Voting rights, ownership chains and applicable agreements must be examined, up to the natural persons concerned. The result must be documented based on the actual structure.

In your file

What this changes in practice

Indirect control is exercised through intermediate entities or arrangements. To identify a beneficial owner, the ownership chain and other relevant means of control must be examined. The name of the immediate shareholder is not always sufficient. A useful organisation chart shows the natural persons, shareholdings and rights enabling an understanding of who actually controls the structure.

A scenario to help you understand

Educational example

A company is held by a holding company. The analysis goes up the chain and examines control rights rather than stopping at the holding company’s name.

Fictitious situation, presented to illustrate the concept.

Prepare for what comes next

Points to check

  • Reconstituer la chaîne de détention
  • Examiner les droits autres que le capital
  • Actualiser l’organigramme

The practical question

Find out more

Le contrôle dépend-il uniquement d’un pourcentage de capital ?

Des droits de vote, accords ou autres moyens peuvent être pertinents selon le cadre étudié. Il faut donc examiner la structure et les pouvoirs réels, pas seulement une colonne de pourcentages. Pour le bénéficiaire effectif, documentez la méthode et les faits retenus. Un organigramme de détention devient plus utile lorsqu’il explique aussi les mécanismes de contrôle.

Connecting concepts

Terms to know as well

Continue with the concepts, contacts and procedures related to this topic.

Beneficial ownerThe beneficial owner is the natural person identified, according to legal criteria, as ultimately owning or controlling an entity or transaction.RBEThe Register of Beneficial Owners (RBE) receives information on natural persons identified as beneficial owners of the entities concerned.KYC — know your customerKYC covers customer due diligence procedures used in particular as part of anti-money laundering due diligence obligations.Update of the RBEAn update of the RBE updates information on beneficial owners when the declared situation changes. It is based on identifying the natural persons concerned under the applicable rules.RCSThe Trade and Companies Register (RCS), managed by Luxembourg Business Registers, centralises registrations and filings for the persons and entities concerned.

Put it into practice

Explore further with our guides

Practical guideRBE: identifying beneficial owners and monitoring changes

Sources and verification

References consulted on 20 September 2026. Official procedures specify the applicable conditions and exceptions.

This guide explains a general process. The applicable rules depend on your situation; it does not constitute personalised advice. Report a correction.

A definition gives you a reference point. To examine your situation, clarify your question with a professional.