eHerkenning: Everything You Need to Know as an Entrepreneur

What is eHerkenning?

eHerkenning is the business equivalent of DigiD. It is a digital identity tool that allows companies to securely log in to government institutions and other service providers, such as:
- Tax Authority (Belastingdienst)
- Chamber of Commerce (KvK)
- UWV
- RVO (subsidies)
- Customs (Douane)
- Municipalities
- Environmental services

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You use eHerkenning to identify yourself digitally on behalf of your company.
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Why do you need eHerkenning?

Without eHerkenning you cannot use important government services. For many business obligations it is even mandatory. Think of:
- Filing VAT, payroll tax and corporate tax returns (logging in to Belastingdienst Zakelijk for legal entities)
- Filing annual accounts with the KvK
- Filing payroll declarations with UWV
- Applying for subsidies at RVO
- Handling customs matters or excise duty notifications
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In short: eHerkenning is needed to meet your legal obligations as a BV.
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Who is required to use eHerkenning?

eHerkenning is mandatory for virtually all organisations with a legal entity, such as private limited companies (BVs), general partnerships (VOFs), foundations, associations and cooperatives.
These legal entities are not permitted to use DigiD to log in to the Tax Authority or Chamber of Commerce. For them, eHerkenning is therefore legally required.

For sole traders and self-employed professionals (ZZP) the situation is different. In many cases they may still log in with their personal DigiD at government portals such as Mijn Belastingdienst Zakelijk.
eHerkenning is therefore (not yet) mandatory for this group, unless they use services where DigiD is not accepted, such as at certain subsidy desks or environmental services.

In short: legal entities are required to use eHerkenning, while sole traders can still use DigiD for most services for the time being.

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What levels are there?

eHerkenning has different security levels, indicated as EH1 through EH4+. The higher the level, the stricter the security and the more sensitive the data it protects.
- EH1: This lowest level is now outdated and is barely used.
- EH2 and EH2+: Sometimes still used for simple actions.
- EH3: By far the most widely used level. Required for virtually all major government services, such as the Tax Authority, UWV, Chamber of Commerce and RVO.
- EH3+: This level gives you access to the Tax Authority only.
- EH4 and EH4+: These levels are for services involving very sensitive data, such as certain government contracts or PKI government certificates.

For most entrepreneurs EH3 is sufficient. This level offers a good balance between security and ease of use and is required as standard by virtually all major government bodies.

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EH3+ variant for the Tax Authority only (with compensation)

If you only need to log in to the Tax Authority, there is a cheaper option available:
eHerkenning EH3+ (Belastingdienst).

This variant is only suitable for access to Mijn Belastingdienst Zakelijk and does not work at other institutions such as RVO or UWV.
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Compensation: €24.20 per year

The government offers an annual reimbursement of €24.20 (incl. VAT) for entrepreneurs who are required to use eHerkenning to log in to the Tax Authority.
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Who qualifies?

- BVs
- VOFs
- Foundations
- Associations
- Cooperatives
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Who does not?

Sole traders and self-employed professionals.
They may still use DigiD when logging in to Belastingdienst Zakelijk and therefore receive no compensation.
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Where do you apply for the compensation?

At the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO): rvo.nl/compensatie-eherkenning

You must apply for the compensation annually yourself.
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What does eHerkenning cost?

Prices vary per provider, level and duration.
You can expect to pay between €40 and €70 per year.

For EH3+ (Tax Authority only) the cost is around €20 excl. VAT, and that amount is reimbursed via RVO.
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How do you apply for eHerkenning? (Step-by-step plan)

1. Choose a provider

Visit www.eherkenning.nl and choose an accredited provider. Most commonly used by self-employed and SMEs are Reconi and Digidentity.
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2. Choose the right level

EH3 for standard government services
EH3+ if you only need the Tax Authority (and want compensation)
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3. Gather your business details

KvK number
Details of the authorised person
Proof of identity (passport or iDin verification)
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4. Complete the application online

Indicate who is authorised to use eHerkenning.
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5. Verification and delivery

After verification you will receive an activation email, SMS token or app link.
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Can you authorise others?

Yes, you can easily authorise an accountant, employee or advisor to log in with your eHerkenning. This is possible via:

the authorisation register (www.eherkenning.nl/machtigen) or
via the portal of your provider

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Summary

eHerkenning is mandatory for legal entities such as BVs and foundations
EH3 is the standard required level
EH3+ Tax Authority is cheaper and is reimbursed
Annual compensation is €24.20 incl. VAT, only for legal entities such as BVs
Sole traders can still use DigiD for now and may need eHerkenning for other purposes such as BIG registration or subsidy applications
Authorisations for your accountant are possible via chain authorisation
Required for VAT returns, corporate tax, KvK filing and UWV for legal entities such as BVs.
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Need help with your application?

At Sarabel we are happy to help entrepreneurs apply for the right eHerkenning tool. Would you like advice on the right level or which provider suits you? Get in touch with us and we will sort it out together, quickly and correctly.

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