VAT Number – Registration & Compliance Help in the Netherlands
Applying for a VAT number in the Netherlands, or unsure whether you even need one?
UnitCity provides end-to-end help with Dutch VAT registration and ongoing VAT compliance – so you can trade, invoice, and file correctly from day one.
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What Is a VAT Number?
VAT (Value Added Tax – btw in Dutch, short for belasting toegevoegde waarde) is the consumption tax charged on most goods and services in the Netherlands.
If your business is active here, you generally charge VAT to your customers, collect it, and pass it on to the Netherlands Tax Administration (Belastingdienst) through periodic VAT returns.
To do this, your business needs a VAT number.
In the Netherlands you even can receive two:
The VAT identification number
(btw-identificatienummer, or btw-id)
Your public number. It goes on your invoices, your website, and is used for trade within the EU.
The VAT tax number (omzetbelastingnummer)
Your private number, used only for correspondence and filings with the Belastingdienst (applicable to individual entrepreneurs).
A typical btw-id looks like NL123456789B01: the country code NL, nine digits, the letter B, and two check digits.
VAT Registration in the Netherlands: Who Needs a Number?
VAT registration in the Netherlands is required if you:
Register a business in the Netherlands – a BV, an eenmanszaak (sole proprietorship), or a VOF
Store goods in the Netherlands (including in a warehouse or fulfilment centre)
Import goods into the EU through the Netherlands
Sell from Dutch stock or provide taxable services here
Run a foreign company that supplies goods or services to Dutch businesses
When Dutch residents register a business at the KVK (Chamber of Commerce), the Belastingdienst usually assesses your VAT status and issues both numbers automatically, typically within about 10 working days.
Foreign businesses without a Dutch establishment or Dutch companies with no local management have to register manually with the Belastingdienst, as well as the businesses based outside the EU, that in certain situations may also need a Dutch fiscal representative.
You may not need a separate Dutch VAT number if:
You only make cross-border B2C distance sales to Dutch consumers from another EU country and report them through the One Stop Shop (OSS) – with no stock or imports in the Netherlands;
You are a Dutch business with turnover under the small-business scheme (KOR) threshold and opt in for the KOR scheme – you then don’t charge VAT or file regular returns.
VAT Registration & Compliance Help from UnitCity
The rules are clear, but the paperwork is detailed and the process is handled in Dutch – which is where most delays and mistakes happen.
UnitCity is a Rotterdam-based business and tax firm that gives expats and foreign companies practical help with Dutch VAT registration and compliance.
Our VAT help covers:
Checking whether you need VAT registration in the Netherlands (or whether the OSS scheme is enough)
Handling your VAT registration with the Belastingdienst
Ongoing VAT compliance – invoicing setup and periodic VAT returns – as part of our bookkeeping and tax compliance service
Coordinating a fiscal representative for non-EU companies
VAT registration is often one step in a bigger setup, so many clients combine it with company incorporation or the 30% ruling application.
Need a Dutch VAT number?
Send us a message and we’ll get back to you – we typically reply within a few hours on business days.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long does it take to get a Dutch VAT number?
For a business registered at the KVK, the Belastingdienst usually issues VAT numbers within about 10 working days. Registrations for foreign businesses are slower – often 2–6 weeks for straightforward EU cases, and longer for non-EU companies or setups involving a fiscal representative. It’s best to start before you begin trading, importing, or holding stock.
Can I get a VAT number without registering a Dutch company?
Yes. A foreign business without a Dutch establishment doesn’t register at the KVK – it applies for VAT directly with the Belastingdienst using the foreign-entrepreneur procedure. You can hold a Dutch VAT number without incorporating a Dutch entity.
Do I need a Dutch VAT number if I only sell online to Dutch consumers?
Not always. If you sell cross-border B2C to Dutch customers from another EU country and stay within the EU-wide distance-sales rules, you can often report Dutch VAT through the One Stop Shop (OSS) instead of registering locally. But the moment you store or import goods in the Netherlands, a local Dutch VAT number is usually required.
What is Article 23, and do I need it?
Article 23 is a separate permit that lets you defer import VAT and report it in your Dutch VAT return instead of paying it at customs – a cash-flow advantage for importers. It is not the same as a VAT number, and foreign businesses generally need a Dutch fiscal representative to use it. We advise on this during the initial check.
How often will I have to file VAT returns?
Most businesses file quarterly, digitally, with the return and payment due within one months of the end of the period. A return is required even for a quarter with no activity. We can handle your filings as part of ongoing bookkeeping.
How do I check whether a VAT number is valid?
Use the European Commission’s VIES tool to confirm an EU VAT ID before applying 0% VAT or the reverse charge on cross-border B2B sales. There is no public database of all Dutch VAT numbers – you request a business partner’s number from them directly.
What is the difference between a VAT number and an EORI number?
A VAT number is for reporting and charging VAT; an EORI number is what customs uses to identify you when you import or export goods. If you trade internationally, your EORI number is linked to your Dutch VAT ID automatically.
What happens to my VAT number if I close or move my business?
If you deregister at the KVK, deregistration with the Belastingdienst follows automatically and both numbers are cancelled, with written confirmation. We handle deregistration cleanly as part of a closure or restructuring so you don’t leave open filing obligations behind.
