Audit Requirements in the Netherlands

Audit requirements in the Netherlands apply based on several criteria that must be met by a company; however, there are also audit exemptions in place. Our auditors are at the service of clients with solutions adapted to their companies’ qualification criteria.

Quick Facts
Audited financial statement filing required (YES/NO)	Yes, for medium-sized and large companies
Financial statement filing deadlines	Within 8 days after adoption, and at the latest 12 months after the financial year ends.
Mandatory appointment of auditors (YES/NO)	Yes, for medium-sized and large companies (micro and small companies are exempt)
Accepted accounting standards	Dutch Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financing Reporting Standards (IFRS)
Documents to be verified by auditors	Financial statements, annual accounts
Content of the financial statement	Balance sheet, cash flow statement, profit and loss account, directors' report
Audit requirements for foreign companies	Branches of foreign companies must file a copy of the parent company's financial statements in the Netherlands.
Corporate tax rate	19% (up to EUR 200,000), 25.8% above EUR 200,000 (2026)
Audit services availability (YES/NO)	Yes
Types of audit services available	Internal and external audits
Audit legislation applicable	Dutch Civil Law, Book 2 and Audit Firms Supervision Act
Annual meeting of shareholders to approve audited financial accounts (YES/NO)	Yes, the financial accounts must be approved by the shareholders before being filed.
Availability of forensic audit services in the Netherlands (YES/NO)	Yes, forensic audit services are also available in the Netherlands.
Audit exemptions (if any)	Yes, for micro and small companies
Regulations to be respected by auditors in the Netherlands	International Standards of Auditing (ISA)
Auditors’ accreditations	Audit firms performing statutory audits must hold an AFM (Authority for Financial Markets) licence; the auditor must be a registered accountant (RA, or AA with audit entitlement).
Annual filing requirements for companies	Companies must prepare annual accounts within 5 months of the financial year-end (extendable by up to 5 months for BVs/NVs) and file them within 8 days of adoption, at the latest 12 months after the year-end.
Special audit requirements (if any)	No
Appointment of auditors in Dutch companies	Auditors are appointed by the shareholders.
Other services available	– payroll; – tax registration; – VAT registration; – drafting and filing financial statements, etc.

What are the audit services that you offer in the Netherlands?

We offer both statutory and mandatory audit services, as well as financial audits, at the request of our corporate clients.

What are the audit requirements in the Netherlands?

The auditor’s report must verify whether a set of conditions is met. For example, the appointed person must verify if the financial statements contain information in accordance with the principles of accounting firms in the Netherlands and if the financial statements contain accurate information about the financial situation for the respective year. At the same time, the auditor must verify if the management board’s report respects the legal requirements and if the report includes any important additional information.

What types of companies do you service in the Netherlands?

Our Dutch accounting firm is at the service of local and foreign clients with audit solutions applicable to the business forms they operate under.

Here is also an infographic on this subject:

What are the companies that must undergo audits in the Netherlands?

Medium and large-sized companies are required by law to have their accounts audited. The audit must be performed by an independent auditor, meaning the person cannot be employed by the respective company.

IMPORTANT! Our Dutch auditors can perform independent audits, as they are qualified and registered with the Royal Netherlands Institute of Chartered Accountants, as required by law.

How do I know if my Dutch company must have its accounts audited?

In the Netherlands, companies are categorized into:

micro;
small;
medium;
large.

As mentioned above, only the last two categories must submit audited accounts on an annual basis, and the size is determined based on the:

assets value;
net turnover;
number of employees.

What are the minimum conditions that require a Dutch company’s accounts audited?

Provided two of the following criteria are met:

the value of assets in the balance sheet is more than EUR 7.5 million;
the net turnover for the respective financial year is above EUR 15 million;
the average number of employees is 50 or more.

NOTE: The two conditions must be met for 2 consecutive years.

Here is also a video on this subject:

What documents do you require to perform an audit for a Dutch company?

The financial statement, which comprises several other documents, and our team of accountants in the Netherlands presents them below:

the balance sheet – it is the main document which prescribes the current situation of the assets and liabilities of the respective company that is audited in the Netherlands;
the cash flow statement – it prescribes the current financial situation of the company’s operating activities, as well as its financing and investment matters;
the profit and loss account – it presents the company’s net profit and loss;
the director’s report – a document that must be prepared by medium-sized and large companies (micro and small companies are exempt) and which is completed by the board of directors, presenting the general financial situation of the business.

Need accounting services in other countries? We can put you in contact with our partners

In case you need audit services in another European country, for example, in Denmark, you should know that there are 3 main types of audits that can be performed in that jurisdiction: financial audits, compliance audits, and operational audits. For more details about these types of audits or for customized accounting services, you may reach out to our partners – LawyersDenmark.com.

In case you need these services in another country, for example, in Malta, we can put you in contact with our partners who are experienced accountants.

We have an extensive network of partners who are experts in legal, company formation, and accounting matters; therefore, if you intend to open a company in a foreign jurisdiction, such as Cuba, or if you need legal services in this country or in any other jurisdiction, we can put you in contact with our affiliates.

Also, we can recommend our partners in Singapore, in case you need professional accounting services for your Singapore business.

We can also help you if you need audit services in other countries, such as Turkey, where we can put you in touch with our partner Turkish accountants who provide such services.

For more details on this topic and personalized consultancy for your business, please contact our accounting firm in the Netherlands. Our Dutch accountants can offer in-depth information concerning the audit procedures available for your type of company operating in the Netherlands and can also advise on any other accounting procedure applicable here.