Netherlands VAT Calculator

If you sell to customers in the Netherlands, or you buy from a Dutch supplier, VAT is part of almost every price you see. The Netherlands calls this tax BTW, short for belasting over de toegevoegde waarde, and it works the same way as VAT in other countries. The seller adds it to the net price, the buyer pays the gross price, and a VAT registered business settles the difference with the tax office. This page explains the Dutch rates in plain language and gives you a calculator that adds or removes Netherlands VAT in seconds.

Use the tool above when you need a quick answer. Type any amount in euros, choose Add VAT or Remove VAT, and the calculator shows the net amount, the VAT amount, and the gross amount. It uses the standard Dutch rate of 21 percent, which covers most goods and services. The rest of this page explains when the reduced rate of 9 percent applies, shows a worked example, and covers the registration and invoicing basics that matter if you sell in the Netherlands. If you sell across Europe, our EU VAT calculator compares the standard rates across the member states, and our UK VAT calculator covers the rates that apply in the United Kingdom. You can also return to the VAT calculator homepage at any time for the full set of tools.

Netherlands VAT rates: standard and reduced

The Netherlands has two VAT rates. The standard rate is 21 percent and it applies to most goods and services, from electronics and clothing to restaurant meals and most professional services. The reduced rate is 9 percent and it applies to a narrower list of goods and services. Knowing which rate fits your sale matters, because the wrong rate means the wrong price and the wrong VAT return. A small error in the rate can change the total on every invoice, and it can also change the amount you report to the tax office.

The 9 percent rate covers categories such as food and non-alcoholic drinks, water, medicines, books, newspapers and magazines, passenger transport, hotel stays and other tourist accommodation, and some cultural and sporting services. The exact scope of each rate is set by Dutch tax law, and borderline cases exist, so check the category for your product before you pick a rate. A meal served in a restaurant, for example, is treated differently from food bought in a shop, and the same product can fall under different rates depending on how and where it is sold. A zero rate also applies in a small number of cases, such as some international transport, but most everyday sales use 21 percent or 9 percent.

The calculator on this page uses the standard rate of 21 percent, because that is the rate most sellers meet most often. If your sale qualifies for the reduced rate, work out the VAT by hand with the same method shown in the worked example below, or ask your tax adviser to confirm the category. Reduced rates exist for some goods and services, and the calculator note above the results reminds you of that. For comparison, our Germany VAT calculator uses a standard rate of 19 percent, and our France VAT calculator uses a standard rate of 20 percent. Our Ireland VAT calculator uses a standard rate of 23 percent, and our Poland VAT calculator also uses a standard rate of 23 percent.

How to use the Netherlands VAT calculator

The tool takes seconds once you know what each option does:

1. Enter the amount. Type the price in euros. Use the net amount if you want to add VAT, or the gross amount if you want to remove VAT.
2. Choose Add VAT or Remove VAT. Add VAT starts from the net price and adds 21 percent. Remove VAT starts from the gross price and pulls the VAT back out.
3. Read the three results. The tool shows the net amount, the VAT amount, and the gross amount, so you can copy the figure you need into a quote, an invoice, or a receipt check.

Use the calculator before you send a quote, so the customer sees the correct gross price. Use it again when you check a supplier invoice, so you can confirm that the VAT shown on the invoice matches the rate for the goods or services you bought. If the numbers do not match, ask the supplier to check the invoice before you pay it or record it in your accounts.

Worked example: 100 euros at 21 percent

A simple example shows the maths. Suppose you sell a lamp in the Netherlands for a net price of 100 euros, and the standard rate applies.

• VAT: 100 euros times 21 percent equals 21 euros.
• Gross price: 100 euros plus 21 euros equals 121 euros.

So the customer pays 121 euros, and 21 euros of that is VAT. Going the other way, start from a gross price of 121 euros. The VAT inside that price is 121 euros times 21 divided by 121, which is 21 euros, and the net price is 121 euros minus 21 euros, which is 100 euros. The calculator does both directions for you, and it rounds the results to the cent, which keeps your invoices tidy.

You can use the same method for any amount. For a net price of 50 euros at 21 percent, the VAT is 10.50 euros and the gross price is 60.50 euros. For a net price of 250 euros at 21 percent, the VAT is 52.50 euros and the gross price is 302.50 euros. If you work with the reduced rate, replace 21 percent with the rate for your product and follow the same two steps. Multiply by the rate to add VAT, or divide by one plus the rate to remove VAT.

Registration and invoicing basics in the Netherlands

If you run a business that sells goods or services in the Netherlands, you may need to register for VAT with the Dutch tax office, the Belastingdienst. Registration matters because it lets you charge VAT on your sales and reclaim the VAT you pay on business purchases, and because your invoices must show the correct VAT details. The rules depend on where your business is based, what you sell, and how much you sell, so check your own position before you start trading. A business based outside the Netherlands may face different registration rules from a business based in the Netherlands, especially if it sells goods that are stored in the Netherlands or services that are treated as supplied in the Netherlands.

The Netherlands also has a small business scheme, known as the KOR, for qualifying small businesses. Businesses that use such an arrangement may face simpler VAT treatment, and the details depend on turnover and other conditions. If you think a simplified arrangement could fit your business, check the current conditions with the tax office or your adviser, because the limits and the details change over time. Do not assume that an arrangement that fits one business will fit another, even if the two businesses sell similar products.

A Dutch VAT invoice normally shows the seller name and address, the buyer name and address, the seller VAT number, a sequential invoice number, the date of issue, a description of the goods or services, the net amount, the VAT rate applied, the VAT amount, and the gross amount. Keep copies of your invoices and your VAT records, because the tax office can ask to see them later. If you sell to customers in other countries, read our EU VAT calculator page for the cross border rules that apply inside the European Union.

Good record keeping also makes VAT returns easier. Keep a clear list of your sales, your purchases, the VAT you charged, and the VAT you paid. When the return period ends, you can work out the difference and check it against your invoices. If a figure looks wrong, trace it back to the invoice or receipt that created it, rather than changing the total by hand. This habit saves time and it reduces the chance of a mistake that carries forward into the next return.

Frequently asked questions

Final Thoughts

Dutch VAT is simple once you know the two rates and the two directions of the calculation. Most sales use 21 percent, a smaller list uses 9 percent, and the calculator above handles the standard rate for you in both directions. Work through the example with your own figures, check the category when a reduced rate might apply, and keep your invoices complete. If you also sell into other markets, the EU VAT calculator, the UK VAT calculator, the Italy VAT calculator, and the Spain VAT calculator on this site can help you price those sales correctly.