EN

Tonnage regulations

Priority: there would be no shipping industry without effective tonnage regulations

Dutch shipowners:

“In order to keep Dutch ship management operations in the Netherlands, the preservation of tonnage regulations is an indispensable part of Dutch shipping.”

The KVNR, together with its members, has drawn up proposals for improvements to the tonnage scheme and presented these to the government, in preparation for its evaluation process. The evaluation report is expected to be published in the first half of 2021.

 

2015 - Arklow - Arklow Breeze - 1.JPG
KVNR - Lodewijk Wisse - Belastingen, Juridische zaken en Nationale Politiek - web
Contact

 

Lodewijk Wisse
Tax and Legal
Kingdom Relations

+31 6 8397 8355
+31 10 2176 270
wisse@kvnr.nl

KVNR - Nathan Habers - Public Relations, Crisiscoördinatie en Geopolitiek - web
Press inquiries

 

Nathan Habers
Public Relations


+31 10 2176 264
habers@kvnr.nl

Context

Tonnage regulations have been part of the Dutch shipping sector since 1996. Since then, practically every country with a maritime sector has introduced similar regulations.

The Dutch tonnage regulations were adjusted back in 2010. Since that time, however, the shipping industry has evolved. New types of ships have entered service; ships deployed for the construction of offshore wind farms, for example. These ships are not included in the tonnage regulations, but should be due to the nature of their operations.

The challenge

Because the tonnage regulations are subject to European subsidy legislation, it is important to keep it as financially attractive as possible.

This can be achieved, for instance, by broadening the scope of regulations as much as possible; in other words, a technically neutral regulation. After all, the tonnage scheme contributes to the competitive position of Dutch shipowners relative to their competitors around the world. Furthermore, the tonnage regulation is of vital importance for the maintaining the appeal of the Dutch flag.

State of play - 10 February 2021

At the end of 2020, the Dutch government evaluated the maritime tax schemes (tonnage scheme, remittance reduction for maritime shipping and arbitrary depreciation of seagoing vessels).

In preparation for this evaluation process, the KVNR, together with its members, has drawn up proposals for improvements for the tonnage scheme and presented these to the government. The evaluation report is expected to be published in the first half of 2021.