Calendar
Freelancer deadline calendar
The key tax deadlines for the self-employed, always up to date. Never miss a VAT or income tax return and avoid penalties.
VAT return Q3 2026
31 October 2026
Both your VAT return and payment must be submitted.
Later this year
31 January 2027
30 April 2027
1 May 2027
31 July 2027
31 October 2027
31 January 2028
These dates apply to quarterly returns, which is the case for most freelancers. If you file monthly or yearly, other dates apply.
Rather never think about deadlines again?
We keep an eye on your returns and deadlines and file them on time. You focus on your work.
Book an intro callBeyond the dates
Which deadline applies to you, and what if you miss it?
The calendar above assumes quarterly VAT returns, which is what most freelancers have. Below: when that is different, what being late costs and how to arrange an extension.
Quarterly, monthly or yearly: which period applies?
When you register, the Dutch tax authorities set your VAT filing period. The default is quarterly: you file and pay before the last day of the month following the quarter, so 30 April, 31 July, 31 October and 31 January.
You are placed on monthly filing if you structurally remit large amounts, or if you are repeatedly late. You then file before the last day of the following month. It can also be a choice: if you usually remit VAT but sometimes get a refund, monthly filing gets that money back sooner.
Annual filing is only available on request, if you remit less than € 1,883 in VAT a year and run a sole trader business or a partnership of natural persons. The return is then due by 31 March of the following year. Convenient at low turnover, but you only spot a mistake a year later.
Late: two failures, two penalties
Filing late and paying late are separate failures, each with its own penalty. Anyone who forgets the deadline entirely usually misses both.
For the return there is a grace period of seven calendar days. File within that week and the penalty is usually waived. After that comes a penalty of € 82, even if there was nothing to pay. There is no grace period for payment: paying late or too little costs 3 percent of the outstanding amount, with a minimum of € 50.
If you file nothing at all, the tax authorities estimate your turnover and issue an assessment on that basis. That estimate is almost always higher than reality. Filing late yourself is therefore always better than waiting.
| Situation | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Return filed within 7 days | Usually no penalty |
| Return filed later than 7 days | Penalty of € 82 |
| Paid late or too little | 3% of the amount, minimum € 50 |
| No return at all | Assessment based on an estimate, plus penalties |
| Repeatedly late | Higher penalties and possibly mandatory monthly filing |
Extensions for income tax
If you will not make 1 May, request an extension before that date. You then have until 1 September. If a bookkeeper files for you, that runs through the tax consultants' extension scheme and a longer extension is often possible.
Mind the difference between an extension to file and an extension to pay. An extension to file does not postpone interest: if you receive an assessment with an amount payable after 1 July, tax interest runs on it, 5 percent in 2026. If you expect to owe, request a provisional assessment and pay in advance instead.
How never to miss one again
Put the four VAT dates in your calendar with a reminder two weeks ahead, and file in the first half of the month. That leaves room for a question or an outage.
Keep the VAT you receive in a separate account, so the money is actually there on the deadline. And note: the payment must have reached the tax authorities by the final date, not merely have been sent. Plan for a working day before.
The full overview per deadline
The knowledge base has the complete 2026 calendar with exactly what each deadline requires, including corrections, provisional assessments and the dates for those with staff.
Tax deadlines for freelancers in 2026Further reading
Last step
Ready for bookkeeping without the stress?
Join self-employed professionals who switched to fixed pricing, clear communication, and personal guidance.
Contact
Tell us briefly what you need help with.
Send a message or book a call. You get a reply within 24 hours, every day.
Quick reply
Choose what works best for you: call or email.
© 2026 Fiscly Finance. All rights reserved.
KvK 42009477 · BTW NL005431361B04