Is Revenue incl. VAT?

One of the most frequently asked questions among starting entrepreneurs and bol.com sellers is: is turnover including VAT? The answer is not always straightforward, as it depends on the context - think of your accounting, VAT return, invoicing, and reporting. In this comprehensive article, we explain the difference between turnover including and excluding VAT, provide concrete calculation examples, discuss the rules for bol.com sellers, and help you avoid common mistakes.

What is turnover and what is VAT?

Turnover (also known as sales tax or turnover) is the total amount you receive from the sale of products or services. VAT (value-added tax) is a tax that you, as an entrepreneur, collect from the customer and pay to the Tax Authority. In the Netherlands, there are three VAT rates: 21% (standard rate), 9% (reduced rate for food and books, among other things), and 0% (for certain international transactions).

The crucial difference: the VAT you collect is not part of your earnings. It's money that you collect on behalf of the government. That's why it makes a big difference whether you're talking about turnover including or excluding VAT.

Is turnover including VAT or excluding VAT?

The short answer: turnover is usually expressed excluding VAT in most business contexts. When accountants, the Tax Authority, or financial reports talk about 'turnover', they mean the net turnover - so without VAT. The VAT is, after all, not a revenue for your business, but a pass-through to the tax authorities.

However, there are situations where turnover including VAT is used. Think of cash register systems that display customer receipts with VAT-inclusive amounts, or bol.com reports that show the selling price including VAT. To avoid confusion, it's essential to always check whether an amount is including or excluding VAT before processing it in your administration.

When do you use turnover including VAT?

Turnover including VAT is mainly used in consumer-oriented contexts: cash register receipts, web shop prices, and the selling price that customers see on bol.com. The Boloo sales dashboard shows both variants, so you always know exactly which amount you're looking at.

When do you use turnover excluding VAT?

Excluding VAT is the standard for business reports, your VAT return to the Tax Authority, profit and loss accounts, and annual accounts. The commission calculation of bol.com is also based on the selling price excluding VAT.

Calculation examples: from including to excluding VAT and back

Converting between including and excluding VAT is easy if you know the right formula. Below, you'll find a clear table with examples for the three Dutch VAT rates.

Scenario	VAT rate	Price incl. VAT	VAT amount	Price excl. VAT	Formula
Electronics product	21%	€121,00	€21,00	€100,00	€121 / 1,21 = €100
Kitchen appliance	21%	€59,95	€10,41	€49,54	€59,95 / 1,21 = €49,54
Book	9%	€24,99	€2,06	€22,93	€24,99 / 1,09 = €22,93
Food supplement	9%	€34,95	€2,89	€32,06	€34,95 / 1,09 = €32,06
Kids' clothing set	21%	€45,00	€7,81	€37,19	€45 / 1,21 = €37,19
Export to Belgium (B2B)	0%	€200,00	€0,00	€200,00	Intra-community supply
Monthly bol.com revenue	21%	€15.470,42	€2.684,95	€12.785,47	€15.470,42 / 1,21
Mixed rate (mix of products)	21% & 9%	€5.000,00	Variable	Split by product group	Calculate per rate separately

Formulas:

• Excl. VAT = Incl. VAT / (1 + VAT percentage)
• VAT amount = Incl. VAT - Excl. VAT
• Incl. VAT = Excl. VAT * (1 + VAT percentage)

Is revenue incl. VAT on bol.com? Specifically for sellers

On bol.com, the situation is as follows: the sales price that customers see and pay is always incl. VAT. But the commission that bol.com charges is based on the sales price excl. VAT. This means that as a seller, you need to keep track of two amounts:

• Gross sales price (incl. VAT): what the customer pays
• Net sales price (excl. VAT): the basis for commission calculation and your revenue in the accounting

In the bol.com sales portal, you can find your revenue via the sales specification (PDF). Note: the amounts in this specification are incl. VAT. For your VAT return, you need to convert these amounts to excl. VAT. With tools like the Boloo profit calculator, you can directly see what your net revenue and profit are.

VAT return: always report revenue excl. VAT

When filing your VAT return, you always report your revenue excl. VAT. This applies to both section 1a (revenue taxed at 21%) and section 1b (revenue taxed at 9%). The Tax Authority then calculates the VAT due based on these net revenue figures.

Common mistakes when filing VAT returns

Mistake	Consequence	Solution
Reporting revenue incl. VAT as net revenue	Paying too much VAT (21% on a too high amount)	Always convert to excl. VAT first
Applying the wrong VAT rate	Calculating too much or too little VAT	Check the correct rate per product category
Ignoring international sales	VAT penalties for cross-border sales	Apply the OSS scheme or local registration
Not processing returns	Paying VAT on unrealized revenue	Create a credit note and correct VAT
Forgetting input tax	Paying too much VAT (missed deduction)	Administer all purchase invoices with VAT
Not splitting mixed rates	Incorrect return per section	Keep revenue per VAT rate separate

International sales and VAT: OSS scheme

Sell via bol.com to customers in Belgium or other EU countries? Then you'll deal with the OSS scheme (One Stop Shop). Since July 1, 2021, a threshold of €10,000 per year applies to B2C sales to other EU countries. If you exceed this threshold, you must apply the VAT rate of the customer's country.

Example: a Dutch product you sell for €50 including VAT to a Belgian consumer. Instead of 21% Dutch VAT, you charge 21% Belgian VAT. The difference may seem small, but with large volumes, it can impact your revenue and profit calculation by thousands of euros.

VAT rates in the Benelux

For bol.com sellers, Dutch and Belgian rates are particularly relevant. The Netherlands has 21% (standard) and 9% (reduced), while Belgium has 21% (standard), 12% (intermediate), and 6% (reduced). It's essential to apply the correct rate per product, especially if you have a mixed assortment.

How Boloo helps you with VAT administration

Manually calculating VAT on your bol.com revenue is time-consuming and prone to errors - especially when processing hundreds of orders per month. Boloo's automatic invoicing automatically generates VAT-compliant invoices for all your bol.com sales, including the correct VAT rates per product and country.

In addition, the Boloo sales dashboard provides a clear overview of your revenue, both including and excluding VAT. You can see at a glance how much VAT you need to pay, what your net revenue is, and how your profit margins are developing. No more manual calculations, Excel sheets, or risk of errors in your VAT return.

With the profit calculator, you can calculate in advance what a product will yield after deducting VAT, commission, shipping costs, and purchase price. This way, you always know if a product is profitable before you start selling it.

Practical step-by-step guide: calculating VAT on your bol.com revenue

Follow these steps to calculate your VAT correctly:

1. Download your sales specification in the bol.com sales portal (Finances → Sales specification)
2. Split your revenue by VAT rate: group products with 21% VAT and products with 9% VAT separately
3. Calculate the net revenue per group: divide the gross amount by 1.21 (or 1.09 for the reduced rate)
4. Subtract returns: reduce your revenue by the amount of returns (also calculate excluding VAT)
5. Calculate the VAT amount: gross revenue minus net revenue gives the VAT amount to be paid
6. Process pre-taxation: deduct the VAT you've already paid on purchases and expenses
7. Fill in your VAT return: section 1a (21%) and 1b (9%) with the net revenue, section 5b with the pre-taxation

Or save yourself these steps and use Boloo's automatic invoicing to have everything processed automatically.

Frequently asked questions about revenue and VAT

Is revenue including VAT the same as gross revenue?

Yes, in most cases, gross revenue refers to the total amount including VAT that customers pay. Net revenue is the amount excluding VAT. Note: in some contexts, gross revenue can also mean "before deducting discounts", so always check the definition.

Why does bol.com display my revenue including VAT?

Bol.com displays the selling price including VAT in the sales portal by default, as this is the amount the customer pays. For your accounting and VAT return, you need to convert these amounts to exclude VAT.

Do I need to calculate VAT as a small entrepreneur?

If you use the small business scheme (KOR) and your turnover stays below €20,000 per year, you don't have to charge or pay VAT. You also won't charge VAT to your customers. This can be beneficial for new bol.com sellers.

How do I calculate VAT on a mixed assortment?

For a mixed assortment (products with 21% and 9% VAT), you need to split your turnover by rate. You can do this manually per product category or use a tool that does it automatically, such as Boloo automatic invoicing.

What if I accidentally reported turnover including VAT?

Submit a supplementary tax return to the Tax Authority as soon as possible to correct it. You can do this via Mijn Belastingdienst Zakelijk. The sooner you correct it, the smaller the chance of fines or interest.

Conclusion

Is turnover including VAT? In most business contexts, the answer is no - turnover is usually expressed excluding VAT. But as a bol.com seller, you'll deal with amounts that include VAT, and you need to convert them correctly for your VAT return. By using the right formulas, splitting your turnover by VAT rate, and using tools like the Boloo sales dashboard and automatic invoicing, you'll avoid errors and save hours of administrative time. Make sure your VAT administration is in order - it'll save you money, stress, and potential fines.