Filing using Standard Business Reporting

You can use SBR to file financial statements quickly and easily, whether you are an intermediary, who handles the filing of financial statements for your clients, or an entrepreneur.

What is SBR?

SBR is the national standard for the digital exchange of business reports, such as tax returns and financial statements. The Netherlands Chamber of Commerce KVK is one of the parties that uses this method. SBR can also be used for reports to the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration, Statistics Netherlands and various banks. Read more about the government's SBR programme.

How does it work?

There are various methods for filing via SBR. The method best suited for your business partly depends on your business category. 

Businesses in the micro and small business categories only have to file a limited set of financial statements. If you only file a few financial statements each year, you can use SBR, but you can also enter them manually via the online service for filing your financial statements yourself. 

Medium and large companies have to file more extensive financial statements. For these companies, it is quicker and easier to use SBR. To do so, you will need suitable software and a PKIoverheid certificate. If your company is medium-sized, but you are not equipped with SBR software, you can draw up an XBRL annual financial statement and file it using the KVK XBRL tool.

Advantages

Filing with SBR is a quick and easy process that ensures good quality. After filing, you will immediately receive confirmation in your software and e-mail, without having to wait for processing by KVK and publication of the financial statements in the Business Register. Moreover, as this is an automated process, the likelihood of errors (for instance in additions or in the KVK number) is significantly reduced.

Use the correct KVK number

Be careful to use the correct KVK number when filing via SBR. An incorrect KVK number may have unpleasant consequences:

• You think you have files your financial statements, but they cannot be found under your KVK number in the Business Register;
• The company or organisation that the KVK number belongs to is unable to file their own statements, because there is a file already there.

Switching to SBR

All information about switching to SBR is available on the SBR website of the Central government (only in Dutch), where you will also find a software check and a practical step-by-step plan (only in Dutch).