Netherlands (Dutch) company obligation to file accounts

All companies must file accounts unless they are one of the following:

• Sole proprietor businesses, VOF, CV

• Associations and societies which either have no business activities or whose business activities generate less than six million guilders net turnover

• Companies which are not registered in the trade register such as partnerships and governmental bodies

• Group companies whose parent company files consolidated accounts. Instead of the annual accounts, the subsidiary company must file a statement of agreement and declaration of liability. The parent company must file annual accounts on behalf of the whole group.

• Companies which have only existed for a short time and have not yet operated throughout an entire accounting year

• Companies with a so-called 'extended first accounting year'. An extended accounting year may not exceed a 24-month period and is only possible during the first year following incorporation or following amendment to the articles of association.

•  Foreign companies (not companies formally registered abroad*) which do not have to file accounts in their country of incorporation.

Companies must prepare annual accounts every year. The annual accounts must be filed within 13 months following the end of the accounting year in question. IE. The annual accounts for the accounting year 1 January 1999 to 31 December 1999 must be filed with the Chamber of Commerce by 1 February 2001 at the latest.