The WBSO (Research and Development Promotion Act) is a tax scheme for research and development.
What is WBSO?
Do you carry out research and development (R&D) work within your business or as a self-employed person? If so, you may be eligible for a refund of part of your wage costs, as well as other costs and expenses relating to innovation projects, under the The BSO Act. You can make use of the WBSO if:
- you are an entrepreneur with employees who carry out R&D, and your company does not qualify as a public research institution; or.
- you are self-employed and spend at least 500 hours on R&D per calendar year.
The WBSO scheme offers a tax benefit. So make sure you submit your application in good time!
When?
Are you planning to submit a WBSO application for 2017? From Monday 31 October You can submit an application. The deadline for submission is 30 November 2016.
Self-employed people have even more time. They can up to and including 1 January 2017 submit an application.
Within three months of the start of the period to which the application relates, you will receive a notice setting out the decision on your application. If you have opted for actual costs and expenses in your application, this period will be extended by two months.
How?
There are two ways to submit a WBSO application. You can either complete an application form online or download an application form. Both forms can be found at mijn.rvo.nl. You will need an eHerkenning (level 2+) for this.
Information
You can find all the information about the WBSO in the document published by the central government WBSO 2017 Guide
Start-up directors and major shareholders
Are you a director and major shareholder (DGA) of an innovative start-up? If so, from 2017 onwards, you may limit the salary you receive from your private limited company (B.V.) to the statutory minimum wage. A DGA must receive a salary of at least 75% of the salary most comparable to that of the DGA, but no less than €44,000.
The Government wishes to encourage innovative start-ups among small and medium-sized enterprises. Consequently, the standard remuneration scheme need not be applied if the private limited company (B.V.):
- R&D work carried out and;
- are deemed to be start-ups for the purposes of the R&D tax relief.
You may set your salary from the private limited company at the lower level for a maximum of three years. This arrangement is temporary and will expire on 1 January 2022.