Deregistering a BV
On this page you can read how to deregister a BV and what the consequences are.
Are you ending a BV? You need to deregister it with KVK. If the BV does not have assets (money or goods), you can use a fast-track liquidation to dissolve and deregister the BV in one go. You can use My KVK to do so. Deregistering is final and has consequences. First, take a look at the articles of association and what they say about dissolution. Then read about the steps you need to take.
Does the BV have assets?
This determines the steps in the deregistration process.
No: you can deregister the BV with fast-track liquidation
Fast-track liquidation (also known as turbo-liquidation) is a fast way to report the dissolution and deregistration to KVK in 1 step. This page tells you how it works.
Yes: you have to dissolve and deregister the BV in several steps
First, you must dissolve the BV; then you must liquidate it; and finally, you must deregister it. Find out how the liquidation process works for a legal entity.
What are assets?
Examples of assets are:
- money in the business bank account or in the petty cash
- money you are owed by clients or the Netherlands Tax Administration, for example
- equipment, such as tools, materials, computers, storage cabinets, company cars or vans
- shares in an operating company
You are not allowed to use fast-track liquidation if the BV still has assets
Does it turn out after deregistration that the BV did have assets after all? Then you risk a lawsuit: creditors can sue you, and a judge may rule that the directors have to pay for the consequences with their (private) money.
This is how fast-track liquidation via My KVK works
Take the decision to dissolve the BV
The shareholders decide together to , in a shareholders' meeting for example. They have to document this decision in writing. If there is more than 1 shareholder, the decision has to be taken in the way described in the articles of association.
The shareholders fix the date of dissolution when they make the decision to dissolve. Usually, the date on which the shareholders made the decision is the dissolution date. They can also choose a date in the future, but they cannot choose a date in the past.
Determine who the custodian of books and records is
This person will keep the records of the BV for at least 7 years after the dissolution. The director who reports the fast-track liquidation in My KVK is automatically appointed the custodian of books and records.
Collect all the documents
You need the following documents for a fast-track liquidation:
- Dissolution decision. This must contain this information:
- the dissolution date;
- signatures of the persons who, according to the articles of association, must sign the minutes of the shareholders' meeting.
- Balance sheet: overview of debts and the equity capital of the BV at the moment of the dissolution decision.
- Statement of income and expenditure: list of money coming in and going out in the last financial year. Also called the profit and loss statement.
Finish your business activities properly
If you had not done so yet, file the financial statements for previous years. Read the Checklist for ending your business, so you know what else you have to arrange when you are ending your business.
Check the consequences for your bank account
Your business bank account is always linked to your company's KVK registration. Check with your bank when, at the latest, you need to close the account.
- Dissolution decision. This must contain this information:
Report the fast-track liquidation to KVK online
The director who is appointed custodian of books and records does this in My KVK. This must be a natural person. For a fast-track liquidation, you will need the following:
- Your DigiD
- Scans of these documents (max 25 MB per document; file type PDF, JPG/JPEG, or BMP):
- the balance sheet
- the statement of income and expenditure
- the signed dissolution decision
- Explanation of the situation: you have to fill in on the form why the BV did not have any assets left on the dissolution date. And, if the debts have not been paid off, why this is so.
- Log in to My KVK with your DigiD
- Select your BV
- Follow the steps in My KVK
- Sign the deregistration form
Inform creditors that the BV has been dissolved
Also tell them that they can request the financial statement, the balance sheet, and the statement of income and expenditure at KVK.
Do you have questions or do you worry about the BV's debts? The KVK Advice Team can help you.
What happens after you have deregistered?
- Your BV will be deregistered on the date you provide to KVK. On the Current processing times page, you can see how many working days it will take for your deregistration to appear in the Business Register.
- You will receive a letter from KVK as soon as your deregistration appears in the Business Register. Keep this letter safe as proof of deregistration.
- We will also deregister the UBOs. You do not need to do this yourself.
- We will forward your deregistration to the Netherlands Tax Administration.
Please note: Make sure you continue to file your tax returns to avoid fines
Continue to submit your returns as long as they are listed in the Mijn Belastingdienst Zakelijk portal. The Tax Administration will send you a letter to let you know when you need to submit your final VAT return.
FAQ about deregistering a BV
To report a fast-track liquidation via regular mail, use form 17A and the help form for fast-track liquidation.
If you report the fast-track liquidation online, it will be entered in the Business Register within a few days. That will allow you to go ahead swiftly with other matters, such as canceling insurance policies. Fast-track liquidation via post will take at least 10 days.
Send form 17A by post to register the dissolution of the BV. You cannot deregister via My KVK.
First deregister the operating company, and only then the holding company. If the operating company and the holding company no longer have any assets, you can deregister via fast-track liquidation in My KVK. If there are still assets, you must dissolve and deregister in stages. Read how to dissolve and deregister a legal entity.
Yes, you can. However, this must be done within 14 days of the dissolution resolution. Please use the Help form for fast-track liquidation to do this.
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