The pre-completed tax return (VIA)
In the Netherlands, you can submit your income tax return from the 1st of March. A large part of relevant data for this declaration will be pre-filled in the online tax form. In Dutch, this pre-completed tax return is called VIA (vooraf ingevulde aangifte). Kees de Boekhouder also uses the VIA. What this means for…
Mandatory occupational disability insurance (AOV) for self-employed professionals
As a self-employed professional, you have various options to protect your income in the case of illness or a disability. You can set aside money, join a bread fund or take out occupational disability insurance (AOV in Dutch). The latter is currently a much debated topic, as there are plans to make AOV mandatory for…
Obtaining VAT number
When you start out as a self-employed professional or set up a general or commercial partnership or private limited company, you’ll need a VAT number. But what exactly is a VAT number? What do you need it for? And how do you apply for one? What is a VAT number?A VAT number is an identification…
The business account
Do you really need a business account? This is a legitimate question that many entrepreneurs have when they’re starting their business. The answer is simple: no, it is not mandatory to have a business account. However, it is recommended to open a second bank account in addition to your private account. Here’s everything you need…
Study costs – business or private?
Your company is running smoothly and you want to broaden your professional knowledge by following a course or study. Or maybe you want to get an education to completely change your career path. Is it possible to just enter these costs in your bookkeeping? Or do you have to take certain rules into account? Business…
Declaring private items as business assets – smart or not?
You started a company and you want to get to work. There’s a good chance you will need a laptop or maybe certain equipment or tools. But do you need to buy these items again if you want to declare them as a company asset or is it also possible to declare that drill or…
Your motorcycle as a business asset
As an entrepreneur, you, your goods or your materials will need to be transported once in a while. In some cases it could be a good idea to purchase a vehicle yourself. Next to the obvious choices like a car or a bike there is another option for your business: a motorcycle. But how do…
Sandy van Helden – illustrator
“I started without any business plan, which I later came to regret. It was very much a search in the beginning, but I learned through trial and error.” Sandy van Helden has been working as a professional illustrator since 2015. In recent years, she has managed to work for a number of major brands such…
The provisional assessment
Every year, many people receive a blue envelope containing a ‘provisional assessment’ in their mail. It often states quite a substantial amount of payable tax, which can be pretty difficult to trace back. How does the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration calculate this amount? And why do you even get such a provisional assessment? DepositA…
