HomepageStep-by-step guide for winding up a business
If you wind up your business in the Netherlands, you need to adhere to the rules set by the government. You can use this step-by-step guide to quickly determine your obligations. This guide is not meant for businesspeople who change their legal form, businesspeople who sell or transfer their business or businesspeople whose business goes bankrupt. In this respect, different rules apply.
This step-by-step guide serves merely as a guideline. It is possible that you will need to fulfil other obligations as well. Several steps can be carried out at the same time.
Please note: Also remember to cancel permits, telephone numbers and subscriptions and to terminate running contracts, for example, for office space.
Step-by-step guide
1. Checking whether you are eligible for benefits
If you wish to cease trading, you may as an (older) sole trader receive financial support from your municipality based on the Self-Employed Persons (Provision of Assistance) Decree (Bbz) or the Older and Partially Disabled (Formerly Self-Employed) Persons Income Support (IOAZ). One of the conditions is that you are still being registered in the Trade Register.
2. Deregistering from the Trade Register
You must deregister from the Trade Register of the Chamber of Commerce. You can send the deregistration form or hand it in personally.
3. Checking the deregistration from the Tax and Customs Administration and settling matters fiscally
The Chamber of Commerce will pass on your notification of deregistration to the Tax and Customs Administration. You do not have to deregister separately there. Your VAT number will be stopped. You should draw up the balance sheet and settle with the Tax and Customs Administration fiscally.
4. Checking whether you are eligible for business discontinuation relief
If you discontinue your business, you may be eligible for discontinuation relief (stakingsaftrek). If you use this facility, you will pay less tax on profits on suspension of business.
5. Cancelling product or industry board membership
Send a copy of your deregistration from the Trade Register to the product or industry board where you are a member.
6. Keeping the business' administration
After your business has been wound up, you must keep your administration for at least another 7 years. You may save your paper administration digitally.
7. Dismissing staff
If you employ staff, you must terminate their employment contracts. You require a dismissal permit from the Public Employment Service (UWV WERKbedrijf). You must notify the Tax and Customs Administration about dismissing your employees.
8. Cancelling business insurances
If your business ceases trading, you must also remember to cancel your business insurances.
9. Discontinuing using the domain name of your website
Contact your domain name registrar to discontinue a domain name use. The registrar will pass on the change to the Foundation for Internet Domain Registration in the Netherlands (SIDN).
