After the BV Is Registered: The First-Year Calendar in the Netherlands

Setting up a BV in the Netherlands is a clear process that ends with the notary, the KvK registration and a bank account. Whether the company runs smoothly, however, depends on the structure built in the first year after formation. During the formation process we always tell our clients the same thing: registration is the beginning, the calendar is the real work.

The points below offer a general framework. Because every company’s situation is different, the details should be planned with a Dutch accountant or tax adviser.

The first week: checking the registrations

Once the KvK registration is complete, the company details, directors and UBO (ultimate beneficial owner) registration should be reviewed. Set up a system for following up on the VAT number and correspondence from the tax authority (Belastingdienst), and decide on an address where official mail is checked regularly.

Every quarter: the VAT return

Most companies file their VAT (BTW) return quarterly. Processing sales and purchase invoices regularly is the only way to file on time and correctly. For transactions within and outside the European Union, rules such as reverse charging (btw verlegd) must also be applied correctly on invoices.

Every month: bookkeeping and records

Businesses in the Netherlands are required to keep their books and records for many years. Archiving invoices, bank transactions and contracts digitally and consistently makes filings easier and saves time in case of an audit.

Director’s salary and payroll

If a director-major shareholder (DGA) works for the company, Dutch rules require a customary salary to be paid. If staff or director salaries are paid, the company must register as an employer and file payroll returns monthly. This should be part of the cost plan from the start.

Year end: annual accounts and corporate income tax

At the end of the financial year, the annual accounts must be prepared, adopted by the shareholders and filed with the KvK within the legal deadline. The corporate income tax (vennootschapsbelasting) return is also filed annually. Missing these deadlines can lead to penalties, so setting the calendar from day one matters.

Structure is the foundation of growth

Most entrepreneurs setting up a company in the Netherlands rightly focus on the market and their customers. But a well-organised administrative foundation removes the quietest obstacle to growth. In our company formation service, the aim is not only to complete the registration but to make the first-year calendar clear from the start.

This article is for general information and does not constitute legal or tax advice.

Work with Edda Creative: explore our Company Formation in the Netherlands service or get in touch.