Receipts
When you are an entrepreneur and do business in The Netherlands, Dutch VAT (called btw) is deductible from your business expenses. You are, however, required to include a correct invoice of the products or services in your administration. In some cases, a receipt is sufficient when you want to deduct the vat. We will explain when that is the case.
Invoice requirements
A condition for deduction of the vat is that you have an invoice for purchase that meet certain invoice requirements. An overview of those invoice requirements are listed here. One of the requirements is that both the name and address of the supplier and the client (you) are mentioned on the invoice.
Sales receipts
However, sales receipts do not always include that information, and it varies whether the vat is deductible.
The principle when doing administration and deductions of sales receipts has a threshold amount: when the business expense is less than €100, and you receive a sales receipt instead of an invoice on your name, you can generally deduct the vat from your income. In this case, we call the sales receipt a ‘simplified invoice’. When [1] the invoice date, [2] the name and address of the supplier, [3] a description of the bought product and in conclusion [4] the amount of vat that needs to be paid are all there, the sales receipt is sufficient.
Exceptions
In the 19th April 2007 decision (nr. CPP2007/308M, Stcrt. Nr. 83) two exceptions are mentioned in relation to the above-mentioned principle that could be important to you, as an entrepreneur. Other requirements apply to:
- Public transportation and taxi transportation;
- Receipts for fuel
Public transportation and taxi
For public transportation and taxi rides, the transport ticket can be considered as an invoice. On this ticket, the following should be included:
• The date;
• The name of the taxi or public transportation company
• The amount you need to pay and/or the amount of vat
It is also valid to have a printout of your OV-chipcard as evidence.
Fuel receipts
In the case of fuel receipt, you do not have to include the name and address of the customer (you), even with payments over €100. You do not to be identifiable. This is the case when the personal information can be tracked by means of payment (atm-card, credit card, etc.
Pay attention! When you pay in cash for your fuel, the VAT is not deductible.
Suggested reading
Read more about the regulations regarding special invoices on this page of the Tax Authorities. Information about regular invoices you can find here. Our sister company Lexlupa also wrote these articles about VAT. Do you have any other questions? Please feel free to contact us! Also, don't hesitate to reach out to us of you need help navigating Dutch websites.