Guide
RSIN vs KVK number
The KVK number and the RSIN both identify a business, but they serve a different purpose. This guide explains the difference and how they relate to the establishment number and VAT number.
What is a KVK number?
The KVK number is the 8-digit identifier the Dutch Chamber of Commerce assigns to every business in the trade register. It's the number you use in day-to-day business: on invoices, in contracts, and to look a company up.
What is an RSIN?
RSIN stands for Rechtspersonen en Samenwerkingsverbanden Informatienummer (Legal Entities and Partnerships Information Number). It's the number the Dutch Tax Authority and other government bodies use to identify a legal entity (such as a BV, foundation or association) when exchanging data.
Sole proprietorships don't get an RSIN; legal entities and partnerships do. The RSIN also forms the basis for a legal entity's VAT identification number.
The difference at a glance
In short: the KVK number identifies the registration in the trade register and is used in business dealings, while the RSIN is used for data exchange between the legal entity and the government. So a business can have both a KVK number and an RSIN.
There's also the establishment number (12 digits), which points to one specific location of a business. A single KVK number can cover multiple establishment numbers.
And the VAT number?
The VAT identification number (btw-id) is what you use for invoicing and VAT returns. For legal entities, the VAT number is derived from the RSIN, supplemented with a country code (NL) and a suffix. That's how the numbers relate, while each keeps its own function.
Frequently asked questions
- Does every business have an RSIN?
- No. Legal entities and partnerships get an RSIN; sole proprietorships don't. Every business registered in the trade register does have a KVK number.
- Is an RSIN the same as a VAT number?
- No, but they're related. For legal entities, the RSIN forms the basis of the VAT identification number, which is supplemented with a country code and a suffix.
- Where do I find a company's RSIN?
- The RSIN is held in the trade register with the legal entity's details. Every Companize profile returns the RSIN where available.
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