VAT support connected to the Dutch accounting process.

Kanso supports foreign-owned Dutch entities and international finance teams with practical Dutch VAT compliance as part of the wider accounting process.

We help with:

• periodic Dutch VAT filing routines;
• VAT reconciliations with the accounting records;
• review of transaction coding and recurring VAT treatment;
• communication with overseas finance teams;
• coordination around filing deadlines;
• identification of recurring VAT process issues.

The result is a VAT process that is clearer, more predictable and better connected to the Dutch administration.

Read our articles about the most recurring aspects of international VAT here:

• Dutch VAT Basics for Foreign-Owned Companies
• Reverse-Charging Services to and from the Netherlands
• The 0% VAT Rate for International Sales of Goods
• Non-EU Transactions and Dutch VAT: When Supplies May Be Outside the Scope
• OSS VAT Returns for EU Cross-Border Sales

Clear routines. Practical communication. Fewer last-minute surprises.

Kanso is designed for companies that want their Dutch VAT process handled as part of a controlled accounting workflow.

Our approach is built around:

• clear filing responsibilities;
• direct English-language communication;
• proper connection between VAT and accounting data;
• automation where it improves recurring workflows;
• early identification of inconsistencies or missing information;
• a practical service model for international companies.

VAT compliance should not be treated as an isolated filing task. It should fit the way the Dutch entity is accounted for and reported to the wider group.

See also Btw (omzetbelasting) | Belastingdienst

Frequently asked questions

Do foreign-owned Dutch BVs need to file Dutch VAT returns?

A foreign-owned Dutch BV may need to file Dutch VAT returns if it is registered as a VAT entrepreneur in the Netherlands. After registration with the Chamber of Commerce, the Dutch Tax Administration assesses whether the business is an entrepreneur for VAT purposes and informs the business when VAT returns and payments are due.

For a foreign shareholder, the practical point is that the Dutch BV’s VAT position should be checked early. A Dutch BV can exist legally, but the VAT filing obligation depends on its VAT registration, activities and instructions from the Dutch Tax Administration.

How often are Dutch VAT returns filed?

Dutch VAT returns are commonly filed quarterly, but the Dutch Tax Administration may require returns monthly, quarterly or annually. The Tax Administration informs the business when it must file VAT returns and make VAT payments. A different reporting schedule can also be applied for. Requesting monthly filing may make sense when the company expects to be largely in a repayment position.

For foreign-owned Dutch BVs, the VAT return frequency should be included in the accounting calendar so that bookkeeping, VAT review and payment deadlines are aligned.

What makes international VAT compliance difficult in the Netherlands?

International VAT compliance becomes difficult when VAT treatment, invoices, bookkeeping and VAT returns are handled separately. A foreign-owned Dutch BV may have domestic transactions, EU transactions, non-EU transactions, reverse-charge entries, 0% VAT supplies or OSS-related positions.

The accounting records should support the VAT return. If VAT codes are wrong, intercompany invoices are late or cross-border transactions are not documented, the VAT return becomes a correction exercise rather than a controlled filing process.
How should Dutch VAT returns reconcile to the accounting records?

How should Dutch VAT returns reconcile to the accounting records?

The VAT return should be supported by the Dutch ledger. Output VAT, input VAT, reverse-charge entries and other VAT positions should be traceable from invoices and accounting records to the VAT return.

This matters because VAT compliance is not only the act of filing a return. The file should show why the return is correct, what transactions were included, and whether open VAT questions were resolved before filing.

Can a Dutch BV have nil VAT returns?

Yes. If a VAT return is issued, it may still need to be filed even when there was no Dutch business activity during that period. The Dutch Tax Administration states that if a VAT return must be filed, this also applies if no business was conducted in the Netherlands during that period.

For dormant or inactive Dutch BVs, this is a common trap. The company may have little or no activity, but the VAT filing obligation may continue until the VAT position is changed or the Tax Administration no longer expects returns.

Does Kanso support reverse-charge and 0% VAT review?

Yes. Kanso supports foreign-owned Dutch BVs with practical VAT review as part of the accounting process. This can include reverse-charge transactions, 0% VAT supplies, EU and non-EU transactions, invoice coding and reconciliation between the VAT return and the Dutch ledger.

The reverse-charge mechanism can apply in cross-border situations and affects how VAT is shown on invoices and in the return. Business.gov.nl and the Dutch Tax Administration explain that reverse charging may apply to services or goods in international business situations, and that the invoice should not simply show ordinary Dutch VAT where the reverse-charge mechanism applies.

Discuss your Dutch VAT requirement

Tell us about the Dutch entity, VAT filing position, current accounting setup and recurring deadlines.

We will review the situation and suggest the most useful and practical next steps.