Home Foreign businesses Starting a business in the Netherlands from abroad
Starting a business in the Netherlands from abroad
A foreign company can do business in the Netherlands in three ways: through a Dutch BV (private limited company), through a branch of its own company, or from abroad without an establishment here. Each route has its own tax consequences.
Your Dutch tax set-up, arranged
We tell you which registrations your route needs and arrange them: VAT, payroll and corporate income tax. The BV itself is incorporated by a civil-law notary.
Three routes
- A Dutch BV: a separate Dutch company, incorporated by a civil-law notary and registered with the KVK (the Dutch Chamber of Commerce). For corporate income tax a BV incorporated under Dutch law counts as established in the Netherlands, also when its owners live abroad
- A branch of your foreign company: a foreign company with an establishment in the Netherlands registers it with the KVK. If the branch is a permanent establishment, its Dutch profit is subject to Dutch corporate income tax
- No establishment: you sell to Dutch customers from abroad. You may still need a Dutch VAT number, for example for stock in the Netherlands or for imports
VAT
A BV that is registered with the KVK does not register separately for VAT: the KVK passes its details to the Dutch tax authorities, which decides on the registration and issues a VAT number. A BV that is managed from abroad, without an office or staff in the Netherlands, may be registered as a foreign business instead.
A foreign company without a Dutch establishment registers through the Registration form Foreign companies when it owes Dutch VAT itself.
Staff in the Netherlands
Employees working in the Netherlands mean Dutch payroll. A foreign company without a Dutch entity can register as an employer itself. See payroll for foreign employers.
The choice between an employer of record and your own payroll is explained on our page on employer of record.
What a Dutch BV files every year
- A corporate income tax return: 19% on profit up to € 200,000, 25.8% above that
- Annual accounts, filed with the KVK
- Its ultimate beneficial owners in the UBO register, and every change within one week
- Dividend tax when the BV distributes profit
What we do
We look at your plans and tell you which route fits from a tax point of view, and what each route requires. A civil-law notary of your choice incorporates the BV; we arrange the tax side: the VAT registration (€ 275 for a foreign company), the payroll registration (€ 195) and the ongoing returns, for example in our Dutch BV package of € 150 per month.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner set up a Dutch BV?
Yes. Owners and directors can live abroad. A civil-law notary incorporates the BV, usually also registers it with the KVK, and the BV needs a registered address in the Netherlands.
BV or branch: which is better?
That depends on your plans, your risks and where the profit should be taxed. A BV is a separate company; a branch is part of your foreign company. We go through the tax side with you before you decide.
Do we need a Dutch VAT number from day one?
A Dutch BV gets its VAT registration through the KVK registration. A foreign company without an establishment only needs one when it owes Dutch VAT itself, for example for stock in the Netherlands.
Planning to do business in the Netherlands? Tell us what you want to set up.
Tell us briefly what is going on. Within one working day you hear what we can do for you and what it costs, before we start.
Rather talk it through? Call now