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Extent of IFRS applicationStatusAdditional Information
IFRS Accounting Standards are required for domestic public companies All domestic companies whose securities trade in a regulated market are required to use IFRS Standards as adopted by the EU in their consolidated financial statements.
IFRS Accounting Standards are permitted but not required for domestic public companies
IFRS Accounting Standards are required or permitted for listings by foreign companies IFRS Standards as adopted by the EU are required in their consolidated financial statements except that a foreign company whose home jurisdiction’s standards are deemed by the EU to be equivalent to IFRS Standards may use its home standards.
The IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard is required or permitted No.
The IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard is under consideration No.

Profile last updated: 18 July 2016

RELEVANT JURISDICTIONAL AUTHORITY

Organisation
Raad voor de Jaarverslaggeving [Dutch Accounting Standards Board]
Role of the organisation
Official standard setting body
Website
https://www.rjnet.nl/engelse-pagina/
Email contact
rj@rjnet.nl

COMMITMENT TO GLOBAL FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARDS

Has the jurisdiction made a public commitment in support of moving towards a single set of high quality global accounting standards?

Yes.

Refer to EU/1606/2002 Regulation on the application of international accounting standards (IAS).

Has the jurisdiction made a public commitment towards IFRS Accounting Standards as that single set of high quality global accounting standards?

Yes.

Refer to EU/1606/2002 Regulation on the application of international accounting standards (IAS).

What is the jurisdiction’s status of adoption?
The Netherlands has already adopted IFRS Standards for all or some companies.
Additional comments provided on the adoption status?

As a member state of the European Union, the Netherlands is subject to EU/1606/2002 Regulation on the application of international accounting standards (IAS).

The EU IAS Regulation requires application of IFRS Standards as adopted by the EU for the consolidated financial statements of European companies whose securities trade in a regulated securities market starting in 2005. The EU IAS Regulation gives member states the option to require or permit IFRS Standards as adopted by the EU in separate company financial statements (statutory accounts) and/or in the financial statements of companies whose securities do not trade on a regulated securities market. See the Profile for the European Union for more detailed information about the EU IAS Regulation.

In the Netherlands, the following are regulated markets:

  • ICE Endex Derivatives BV
  • NYSE Euronext - Euronext Amsterdam
  • Euronext EQF - Equities and Indices Derivatives
  • NXchange

The Netherlands used the option under the IAS Regulation to permit optional application of IFRS Standards as adopted by the EU for both the consolidated and separate company accounts of companies that do not trade in a regulated market.

If the jurisdiction has NOT made a public statement supporting the move towards a single set of accounting standards and/or towards IFRS Accounting Standards as that set of standards, explain the jurisdiction's general position towards the adoption of IFRS Accounting Standards in the jurisdiction.
Not applicable.

EXTENT OF IFRS APPLICATION

For DOMESTIC companies whose debt or equity securities trade in a public market in the jurisdiction:

Are all or some domestic companies whose securities trade in a public market either required or permitted to use IFRS Accounting Standards in their consolidated financial statements?
Yes.
If YES, are IFRS Accounting Standards REQUIRED or PERMITTED?
In accordance with the EU Accounting Regulation, IFRS Standards as adopted by the EU are required for the consolidated financial statements of all European companies whose debt or equity securities trade in a regulated market in the Netherlands.
Does that apply to ALL domestic companies whose securities trade in a public market, or only SOME? If some, which ones?
All.
Are IFRS Accounting Standards also required or permitted for more than the consolidated financial statements of companies whose securities trade in a public market?

Yes.

For instance, are IFRS Accounting Standards required or permitted in separate company financial statements of companies whose securities trade in a public market?
Permitted in the separate company financial statements of all publicly traded companies that prepare consolidated financial statements in conformity with IFRS Standards as adopted by the EU.
For instance, are IFRS Accounting Standards required or permitted for companies whose securities do not trade in a public market?
Permitted in both the consolidated and separate company financial statements of all companies whose securities do not trade in a public market.
If the jurisdiction currently does NOT require or permit the use of IFRS Accounting Standards for domestic companies whose securities trade in a public market, are there any plans to permit or require IFRS Accounting Standards for such companies in the future?
Not applicable.

For FOREIGN companies whose debt or equity securities trade in a public market in the jurisdiction:

Are all or some foreign companies whose securities trade in a public market either REQUIRED or PERMITTED to use IFRS Accounting Standards in their consolidated financial statements?
Yes.
If YES, are IFRS Accounting Standards REQUIRED or PERMITTED in such cases?

Required for some and permitted for others. Foreign companies whose securities trade in a regulated market in the Netherlands (and generally in the EU) are required to report under IFRS Standards as adopted by the EU for their consolidated financial statements unless the European Commission has deemed their local accounting standards to be equivalent to IFRS Standards, in which case they may use their local standards. Further details may be found on the 'Financial Reporting' page of the European Commission's website.

Does that apply to ALL foreign companies whose securities trade in a public market, or only SOME? If some, which ones?
All.

IFRS ENDORSEMENT

Which IFRS Accounting Standards are required or permitted for domestic companies?
IFRS Standards as adopted by the European Union, which are IFRS Standards as issued by the with some limited modifications such as the temporary 'carve-out' from IAS 39. However, the resulting financial statements of the majority of companies would still be in full compliance with IFRS Standards.
The auditor’s report and/or the basis of presentation footnote states that financial statements have been prepared in conformity with:
IFRS Standards as adopted by the European Union.
Does the auditor's report and/or the basis of preparation footnote allow for ‘dual reporting’ (conformity with both IFRS Accounting Standards and the jurisdiction’s GAAP)?
No.
Are IFRS Accounting Standards incorporated into law or regulations?
Yes.
If yes, how does that process work?
The process is described in the Profile of the European Union.
If no, how do IFRS Accounting Standards become a requirement in the jurisdiction?
Not applicable.
Does the jurisdiction have a formal process for the 'endorsement' or 'adoption' of new or amended IFRS Accounting Standards (including Interpretations) in place?
Yes.
If yes, what is the process?
The process is described in the Profile of the European Union.
If no, how do new or amended IFRS Accounting Standards become a requirement in the jurisdiction?
Not applicable.
Has the jurisdiction eliminated any accounting policy options permitted by IFRS Accounting Standards and/or made any modifications to any IFRS Accounting Standards?
Yes.
If yes, what are the changes?
Details are in the Profile of the European Union. In addition, all companies in the Netherlands that use IFRS Standards as adopted by the EU are required also to follow a part of the Dutch Accounting Standards for Medium-sized and Large Entities.
Other comments regarding the use of IFRS Accounting Standards in the jurisdiction?
None.

TRANSLATION OF IFRS ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

Are IFRS Accounting Standards translated into the local language?

Yes, they are translated. However, in the Netherlands the original version in English is generally used rather than the translation.

The European Union has 24 official and working languages. They are: Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish and Swedish. Before they are published in the Official Journal of the European Union, and therefore become binding under EU law, individual IFRS Standards must be translated into all of those languages (other than English and Irish).

If they are translated, what is the translation process? In particular, does this process ensure an ongoing translation of the latest updates to IFRS Accounting Standards?

Pursuant to a copyright waiver agreement with the Directorate-General for Translation of the European Commission, the Commission takes care of the translation into the official languages according to their own translation process. The translation only covers the standards and mandatory guidance, which is then published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

In addition, some countries (usually the standard setter or institute) have a translation contract with the IFRS Foundation to produce an ‘official translation’ for publication of a bound volume of IFRS Standards (usually the ‘Red Book’) and publication, in some cases, of individual standards and exposure drafts.

APPLICATION OF THE IFRS FOR SMEs ACCOUNTING STANDARD

Has the jurisdiction adopted the IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard for at least some SMEs?
No.
If no, is the adoption of the IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard under consideration?
Yes.
Did the jurisdiction make any modifications to the IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard?
Not applicable.
If the jurisdiction has made any modifications, what are those modifications?
Not applicable.
Which SMEs use the IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard in the jurisdiction, and are they required or permitted to do so?

The Dutch Accounting Standards Board has developed two levels of standards for companies whose securities are not publicly traded, with options within each of those levels:

  • Small entities must choose between: ─ Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code combined with fiscal valuations; ─ Dutch Accounting Standards for small entities; ─ Dutch Accounting Standards for medium sized and large entities; and ─ IFRS Standards as adopted by the EU combined with a part of the Dutch Accounting Standards for medium-sized and large entities.
  • Medium sized and large entities must choose between: ─ Dutch Accounting Standards for medium-sized and large entities; and ─ IFRS Standards as adopted by the EU combined with a part of the Dutch Accounting Standards for medium sized and large legal entities.

Small entities are those that meet two of the following three criteria: revenue below €8.8 million, assets below €4.4 million, and number of employees below 50.

SMEs are permitted to use the IFRS for SMEs Standard provided that there are no conflicts with the above requirements.

For those SMEs that are not required to use the IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard, what other accounting framework do they use?
Not applicable.
Other comments regarding use of the IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard?
This is a discussion that takes place at the EU level, where to date no decision has been taken on this subject. Consequently, there is no decision in the Netherlands either.