Submitting a WBSO application at RVO can feel like a black box for many entrepreneurs. Which form do you fill in? How does the RVO portal work? And which mistakes lead to rejection? This guide walks you through everything step by step.

What is the WBSO application form?

The WBSO application form is the digital form on mijn.rvo.nl used to request an S&O declaration (R&D tax credit). Paper forms are no longer accepted — everything is handled digitally through the RVO portal.

Each application includes:

Company details — KvK number, contact person, sector
Project descriptions — technical description of your R&D projects
Hours estimate — how many R&D hours per employee per project
Costs and expenses — optional: materials, prototypes, external hires

Logging in to mijn.rvo.nl for WBSO

To submit a WBSO application you need eHerkenning level 3 — a digital authentication tool for businesses, similar to DigiD but for organizations.

Getting eHerkenning

Order eHerkenning from an authorized provider (e.g., KPN, Digidentity)
Choose level 3 (EH3) — the minimum for RVO services
Complete the identification process (takes 1-5 business days)
Activate your eHerkenning and log in to mijn.rvo.nl

Note: If you use an advisor, you can authorize them via the Chain Authorization Register (Ketenmachtigingenregister) to submit on your behalf.

The WBSO form step by step

1. Basic details

Enter your company name, KvK number and contact details. Make sure your SBI code is correct — it influences the assessment.

2. Project description — the most important part

The project description is where most applications fail. RVO evaluates whether your project is technically innovative. A strong description includes:

The technical problem — What specific technical challenge are you solving?
The proposed solution — What approach did you choose and why?
The innovative character — Why is this novel compared to existing solutions?
The uncertainties — What technical risks exist?

Common mistakes:

Writing too commercially ("we want more revenue") instead of technically
Being too vague ("we'll use AI") without a specific problem
Copying last year's description without updates

3. Entering R&D hours

Estimate the hours employees will spend on R&D. Be realistic — overestimating leads to problems during the realization report.

Tip: Use our free WBSO calculator to estimate your benefit based on your hours estimate.

4. Costs and expenses (optional)

Beyond labor costs, you can also declare:

Materials and supplies for prototypes
Hiring external R&D personnel
Costs for intellectual property usage rights

WBSO deadlines 2026

Period	Submit before	S&O declaration valid from
Full 2026	December 20, 2025	January 1, 2026
11 months	January 31, 2026	February 1, 2026
10 months	February 28, 2026	March 1, 2026
Per quarter	1 day before quarter starts	Start of quarter

Missed the deadline? You can still submit during the year, but you lose the months before your start date. The earlier you apply, the more benefit you receive.

Frequently asked questions about WBSO at RVO

How long does the assessment take?

RVO aims to process applications within 3 months. During the annual peak (December/January), this may take longer.

Can I modify my application after submission?

No, once submitted you cannot edit the application. However, RVO may ask additional questions, giving you the opportunity to provide more information.

What if my application is rejected?

You can file an objection within 6 weeks of the decision. Often it's more effective to improve the project description and submit a new application for the remaining period.

Do I need to apply every year?

Yes, the WBSO declaration is valid per calendar year. You must reapply each year, even for ongoing projects.

Automate your WBSO application

Filling in the RVO form takes an average of 15-30 hours per application. With Manna, you automate this process:

AI-powered project descriptions — our AI generates RVO-compliant text based on your input
Automatic hours estimation — based on your team and project planning
Compliance monitoring — real-time checks that your application meets all requirements
Realization report — automatically generated from your time tracking

Calculate your WBSO benefit with our free calculator, or contact us for a free demo.

Read also:

WBSO via RVO: application form & deadlines 2026