Bol.com VAT Invoice

As a seller on bol.com, a correct bol.com VAT invoice is essential for your administration. Whether you're just starting out or are already experienced, keeping track of VAT invoices, correctly calculating VAT amounts, and submitting your tax return on time are obligations you can't avoid. In this article, we'll explain step by step how to handle your invoicing on bol.com professionally, avoid common mistakes, and automate your administration with smart tools.

What is a bol.com VAT invoice?

A bol.com VAT invoice is an official document that you, as a seller, create for every sale via the platform. This invoice contains all legally required information, such as your VAT number, the invoice amount including and excluding VAT, and the applied VAT rates. Bol.com does not create invoices on behalf of sellers - as an entrepreneur, you are responsible for creating and sending invoices to your customers.

The difference with a regular invoice lies mainly in the context: when selling on bol.com, you have to deal with platform costs, commissions, and potential logistical costs that are invoiced separately by bol.com to you. So, you have two types of invoices: invoices you create for your customers, and invoices bol.com sends to you for their services.

Which VAT rates apply to bol.com sellers?

In the Netherlands, two VAT rates are relevant for bol.com sellers. It's crucial that you apply the correct rate to your products, as errors can lead to additional taxes from the Tax Authority.

VAT rate	Percentage	Applicable products	Examples on bol.com
High rate	21%	Most goods and services	Electronics, clothing, toys, household items
Low rate	9%	Essential goods and specific categories	Books, food, children's clothing (specific items)
Exempt (0%)	0%	Intra-Community supplies (EU export)	Sales to business customers in other EU countries with a valid VAT number
Small Business Scheme (KOR)	0%	Annual turnover below €20,000	Small sellers who opt for KOR - no VAT on the invoice

Be careful with mixed supplies

Do you sell both books (9% VAT) and electronics (21% VAT)? Then you need to apply the correct rate per product category. Your invoicing software should be able to split this automatically. A common mistake is applying one rate to all products, which can lead to problems during a Tax Authority inspection.

How do you download invoices from bol.com?

Bol.com sends invoices for their services (commissions, logistical costs, advertising costs) to you as a seller. You can find these invoices in the sales portal under Finance → Invoices. Here, you can download your invoices per period as a PDF. You need these invoices for your VAT return to settle the VAT on purchase costs (pre-tax).

Step-by-step guide

1. Log in to partner.bol.com
2. Go to the Finance menu
3. Click on Invoices or Financial overview
4. Select the desired period (month/quarter)
5. Download the invoices as a PDF
6. Save them in order in your accounting system (per month or quarter)

Tip: download your invoices at least monthly and store them for 7 years - this is the statutory retention period for your administration in the Netherlands.

VAT return as a bol.com seller

As a bol.com seller, you file your VAT return with the tax authorities, usually quarterly (sometimes monthly for higher turnovers). Your return consists of stating your total turnover, the VAT due, and the input tax you can deduct.

Part of the return	What you fill in	Where you find it
Section 1a - Supplies/services taxed at 21%	Turnover excl. VAT of products with 21%	Sales reports bol.com + your own administration
Section 1b - Supplies/services taxed at 9%	Turnover excl. VAT of products with 9%	Sales reports bol.com + your own administration
Section 5b - Input tax	VAT you've paid on purchases and costs	Purchase invoices + bol.com platform invoices
To be paid/received	VAT due minus input tax	Automatically calculated

Common mistakes when filing VAT returns

The most common mistake is forgetting to include the bol.com commission invoices as input tax. You pay VAT on the commission that bol.com charges you, and you can claim this VAT back through your return. With an average commission of 10-15% and a turnover of €50,000, this can quickly add up to €1,000-€1,500 in VAT refunds per year.

Another common mistake is not splitting VAT rates. Use the profit calculator to get a clear view of your margins and VAT amounts per product.

Creating invoices for your customers

Although bol.com handles the payment, as a seller, you are legally required to make invoices available to your customers. A correct bol.com VAT invoice for your customers must include at least the following information:

• Your company name and address details
• Your VAT identification number (VAT ID)
• Your KvK number
• A unique, consecutive invoice number
• The invoice date
• Customer's name and address
• Description of the product supplied
• Number of products supplied
• Price per product excluding VAT
• Applied VAT rate and VAT amount
• Total amount including VAT

Manually creating invoices for large numbers of orders is impractical. With Boloo's automatic invoicing, your invoices are automatically generated as soon as an order is shipped. This saves you hours of work per week and prevents errors.

Bol.com commission and VAT: how does it work?

Bol.com charges a commission on every sale. As a seller, you pay VAT on this commission. This means that the commission you pay is actually higher than the percentage that bol.com communicates, because 21% VAT is added on top.

Product category	Commission (%)	Commission on €100 sale	VAT on commission (21%)	Total costs
Books	6.5%	€6.50	€1.37	€7.87
Electronics	8%	€8.00	€1.68	€9.68
Clothing & fashion	15%	€15.00	€3.15	€18.15
Toys	10%	€10.00	€2.10	€12.10
Garden & DIY	12%	€12.00	€2.52	€14.52
Home	13%	€13.00	€2.73	€15.73
Sports & leisure	11%	€11.00	€2.31	€13.31
Beauty & health	10%	€10.00	€2.10	€12.10

The VAT on commission is deductible and can be claimed back in your VAT return. Don't forget this - it's free money that many sellers leave on the table. Also, check out our article on calculating bol.com commission for more details.

Automating your VAT administration

Manually creating invoices, calculating VAT amounts, and preparing your return takes a lot of time. Especially if you process more than 50 orders per month, automation is essential. With the right tools, you'll not only save time but also avoid costly mistakes.

What can you automate?

• Invoice generation: automatically generate an invoice per order with correct VAT calculation
• VAT overviews: monthly or quarterly overviews of VAT due per rate
• Commission insight: overview of bol.com commissions including VAT for your deductible tax
• Export to accounting software: export data to programs like Exact, Moneybird or e-Boekhouden
• Digital archiving: automatically archive invoices for the statutory retention period of 7 years

With Boloo's automatic invoicing, all your invoices are automatically created as soon as an order reaches the "shipped" status. The invoices contain all legally required information and are automatically sent to your customers. You can also download a monthly VAT overview that you can use directly for your return.

Small Business Scheme (KOR) and bol.com

If your annual turnover remains below €20,000, you can opt for the Small Business Scheme (KOR). This means you don't charge VAT to customers and don't have to file a VAT return. Note: you're also not allowed to deduct input tax.

Should you opt for KOR or not?

The KOR is beneficial if you have low purchase costs (since you'll lose the input tax deduction) and if your customers are individuals (they won't pay VAT anyway). Downside: as soon as you exceed the €20,000 threshold, you must deregister from the KOR and start charging VAT. Many growing bol.com sellers therefore opt for the regular VAT system from the start.

Retention obligation and digital archiving

The Dutch Tax Authority requires you to retain your entire administration - including all invoices - for at least 7 years. For your bol.com VAT invoice administration, this means:

• All outgoing invoices to customers (retain for 7 years)
• All incoming invoices from bol.com (retain for 7 years)
• Purchase invoices from suppliers (retain for 7 years)
• VAT returns and accompanying calculations (retain for 7 years)
• Bank statements and payment overviews (retain for 7 years)

Digital archiving is allowed, provided the documents can no longer be modified and remain accessible throughout the entire retention period. Use a cloud solution or the archiving function of your invoicing software to reliably handle this.

Tips for a flawless VAT administration

Based on the most common mistakes made by bol.com sellers, we've compiled the following practical tips:

1. Split your VAT rates correctly: check per product whether the 9% or 21% rate applies
2. Don't forget the input tax: bol.com commissions include VAT that you can claim back
3. Keep your invoice numbering in order: use consecutive numbers without gaps
4. Submit your tax return on time: late submission leads to fines (at least €68 per time)
5. Store everything digitally: use a structured folder structure per month/year
6. Check your bol.com payments: compare the payment with your own sales overview via the sales dashboard
7. Use automation: human errors are the main cause of VAT problems

Frequently asked questions about bol.com VAT invoice

Do I always have to send an invoice as a bol.com seller?

Yes, you are legally required to make an invoice available to your customers. For business customers, you must always send the invoice. For private customers, you must be able to provide the invoice upon request. With automatic invoicing, this is handled automatically.

Can I claim back the VAT on bol.com commission?

Yes, the VAT you pay on bol.com commission is input tax. You can deduct this in your VAT return under section 5b. This also applies to VAT on other bol.com costs, such as advertising costs and logistics services.

What if I sell to Belgium via bol.com?

Since the introduction of the OSS scheme (One Stop Shop) in July 2021, you can pay VAT on sales to private individuals in other EU countries via a single central desk at the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration. This is mandatory once your total EU sales exceed €10,000 per year. For bol.com sales to Belgium, you must apply Belgian VAT rates (21% standard, 6% for books).

How often do I need to file a VAT return?

Most bol.com sellers file a return every quarter. If your annual turnover is over €200,000 or your VAT amount is over €15,000 per quarter, you must file a return every month. The Tax and Customs Administration will inform you about your filing frequency.

What are the costs if I file my VAT return late?

If you file late, you will receive a penalty of at least €68. If you file late repeatedly, the penalty can increase to €5,514. In addition, the Tax and Customs Administration may impose a default assessment, often higher than the actual VAT amount. Avoid this by always filing your return on time.

A well-organized bol.com VAT invoice administration is the foundation of a successful sales business on the platform. By automating your invoicing, applying your VAT rates correctly, and not forgetting your input tax, you save not only time but also money. With Boloo, you automate your entire invoicing process and always keep control of your VAT administration. Also, check out our articles on the bol invoice and VAT invoice bol for more specific information.