RVO

Definition

RVO, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, is the implementing body of the Ministry of Economic Affairs that manages numerous subsidy and tax schemes for entrepreneurs on the government's behalf, including the WBSO, as well as schemes such as the MIT and Eurostars. For the WBSO, RVO does not collect or pay out money itself, since the benefit runs through the Tax Administration; RVO assesses applications, issues S&O declarations, and later checks the realisation reports. All communication runs through the mijn.rvo.nl portal: this is where you submit your WBSO application, track its status, download your decision, and send in your realisation report. Access requires eHerkenning level eH3 (legal entities) or DigiD (sole traders). For entrepreneurs new to subsidies, RVO is usually the first point of contact: alongside the WBSO, RVO also points to complementary schemes that can be combined with an S&O declaration, such as the innovation box for profit from innovation.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly does RVO do?

RVO (Netherlands Enterprise Agency) administers subsidy and tax schemes for entrepreneurs on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, including the WBSO, and assesses applications, issues decisions, and checks their realisation afterwards.

How do you submit an application to RVO?

You submit a WBSO application digitally via the mijn.rvo.nl portal, for which legal entities need eHerkenning level eH3, while sole traders can also use DigiD.

Why doesn't the WBSO benefit run directly through RVO?

RVO assesses the application and issues the S&O declaration, but the financial benefit itself runs through a reduction on payroll tax or a deduction in income tax at the Tax Administration.