The 90-Day Checklist: What to Handle Right After Your BV Is Registered

After BV registration Netherlands, you have three things to sort out in the first 90 days: tax registration, a business bank account, and UBO registration. Miss any of these and you cannot legally invoice, pay yourself, or stay compliant with the Chamber of Commerce (KVK). This guide lays out what to do, in what order, and by when. 

Why the first 90 days matter 

Getting your BV registered at the KVK is the easy part. It is one appointment and one fee (€85.15 in 2026). What happens next decides whether your company can actually operate.  Most founders assume registration equals "done." It does not. A registered BV with no tax numbers, no bank account, and no UBO filing cannot legally trade. This is the gap between "incorporated" and "operational" and it is where most delays happen.  Below is the post incorporation checklist Netherlands founders actually need, broken into three phases. 

Phase 1: Week 1 to 2 Tax and legal foundations 

1. Confirm your RSIN and VAT number

After the KVK registration, the Belastingdienst (Tax Authority) automatically issues your RSIN (a tax identification number for legal entities) and, in most cases, a VAT (BTW) number. This usually arrives within two weeks by post. 

• Check your letterbox and your KVK-linked address. 

• If nothing arrives after two weeks, contact the Belastingdienst directly. Do not assume it is "still processing." 

• You need the VAT number to invoice clients, especially within the EU. 

2. Register your UBO (Ultimate Beneficial Owner)

Every Dutch BV must register its UBOs the individuals who own or control more than 25% of the company in the UBO register held by the KVK. This is a separate step from incorporation and has its own deadline. 

• Gather ID documents and ownership percentages for all UBOs. 

• File through the KVK's UBO registration portal. 

• Skipping this is not a paperwork technicality non-compliance can result in fines. 

3. Set up your administration (bookkeeping) system

Dutch law requires you to keep financial records for at least seven years. Decide now, not later, whether you will use an accountant, a bookkeeping app, or both. 

Phase 2: Week 2 to 6 Banking and payroll 

4. Open a business bank account

This is usually the slowest step in the entire process often slower than incorporation itself. 

• Dutch banks apply strict KYC (know-your-customer) checks, particularly for non-resident directors. 

• If a traditional Dutch bank declines or delays you, fintech business accounts are a common fallback but verify their current onboarding rules before relying on one. 

• Do not wait until you need to pay a supplier to start this. Start it the same week your VAT number arrives. 

5. Register as an employer, if applicable

If you or anyone else will draw a salary from the BV, you need to register as an employer with the Belastingdienst for payroll tax purposes. 

• If you are a director-shareholder (DGA), note that Dutch tax law generally requires a mandatory minimum director's salary this is not optional just because the company is new or has no revenue yet. 

• Set up payroll administration before the first payment, not after. 

6. Get business insurance sorted

Liability insurance, professional indemnity, or sector-specific cover figure out what your industry legally requires versus what is simply sensible. This is a "what to do after starting a BV" step people delay until something goes wrong, which is the wrong order. 

Phase 3: Month 2 to 3 Operational and compliance setup 

7. Understand your corporate tax obligations

As of 2026, Dutch corporate income tax (CIT) is: 

• 19% on the first €200,000 of profit 

• 25.8% on profit above that threshold 

These rates are unchanged from 2025. Know your filing deadlines now first tax return timing is not something to figure out in month 11. 

8. Draft or finalize internal governance documents

• Shareholder agreements, if there is more than one shareholder. 

• A clear record of director responsibilities and decision-making authority. 

• This matters more than founders think disputes are far cheaper to prevent than to resolve. 

9. Set up contracts and invoicing templates

Your VAT number needs to appear on every invoice. Build compliant templates now rather than fixing invoices retroactively later. 

10. Review your registered office address

Your BV needs a valid registered office address in the Netherlands on public record at the KVK. If you are using a virtual or service address, confirm it meets KVK requirements this is checked, not assumed. 

11. Calendar your recurring compliance dates

By day 90, you should have a working calendar covering: 

• VAT return deadlines (usually quarterly) 

• Annual financial statement filing with the KVK 

• Corporate tax return deadlines 

• UBO register update obligations if ownership changes 

Common mistakes founders make after BV registration Netherlands 

• Treating KVK registration as the finish line. It is the starting line. The real work tax, banking, compliance comes after. 

• Delaying the bank account. Because it takes the longest, it should start first, not last. 

• Skipping or delaying UBO registration. This has real financial penalties, not just a warning. 

• Not budgeting for the mandatory DGA salary. New founders often assume they can defer paying themselves indefinitely. Dutch tax rules generally do not allow that once you are a director-shareholder. 

• No bookkeeping system in place before the first invoice. Retrofitting records after the fact is more expensive than setting them up correctly from day one. 

FAQ 

What is the first thing to do after BV registration in the Netherlands? Confirm your RSIN and VAT number arrive from the Belastingdienst, then start your business bank account application in parallel it takes the longest.  How long does it take to get a VAT number after BV registration? Typically within about two weeks of KVK registration, though it can vary.  Do I need to register UBOs separately from KVK incorporation? Yes. UBO registration is a distinct filing requirement with its own deadline and is not automatically completed during incorporation.  Is paying myself a salary optional if my BV has no revenue yet? Generally no. Directors who are also shareholders (DGAs) are usually required to draw a minimum salary under Dutch tax rules, regardless of early-stage revenue.  What are the 2026 corporate tax rates for a Dutch BV? 19% on profit up to €200,000, and 25.8% on profit above that threshold. 

Bottom line 

The BV registered next steps are not optional add-ons they are the actual work of running a compliant company. Tax registration, banking, and UBO filing should all be moving in parallel within the first two weeks, not sequenced one after another. Founders who treat the KVK appointment as "done" lose weeks catching up on things that should have started on day one.