Short answer: you can deduct costs you incur for your business. If something is used both for business and privately, only the business part counts. Food, drink and entertainment are only partly deductible. Ordinary clothing, personal care and fines never are.
What is usually deductible?
- purchases, materials and tools;
- software, subscriptions and your website;
- phone and internet, for the business part;
- training and professional literature for your work;
- your bookkeeper, bank charges and business insurance;
- travel costs for business trips.
Partly deductible: food, drink and entertainment
For business meals, drinks, business gifts, conferences and study trips, in 2026 you choose between:
- a €5,700 threshold: only the amount above it is deductible, or
- deducting 80% of these costs.
Investments: depreciation and the KIA
If something costs less than €450, you deduct it in full straight away. More expensive assets, such as a €1,500 laptop or a van, are depreciated over several years (at most 20% a year).
If you invest more than €2,900 in total in 2026 (counting only assets of at least €450 each), you may also be entitled to the small-scale investment allowance (KIA): 28% of the amount for total investments between €2,901 and €71,683.
The car: company or private?
| Company car | Private car | |
|---|---|---|
| Costs | All car costs are business costs | You deduct €0.25 per business kilometre (2026) |
| Private use | Benefit in kind (bijtelling): 22% of the list price; for an electric car 18% up to €30,000 | No benefit in kind |
| No benefit in kind if | You prove you drive at most 500 km privately per year (trip log) | — |
Which is cheaper depends on the car’s price, how much you drive for business and whether it is electric. We calculate it for you before you buy or lease.
Keep your receipts
Everything you deduct must be backed by an invoice or receipt. Keep them for 7 years; digital copies are fine.
Sources
This article gives general information and is not personal advice. Rules and amounts change; to find out what applies to your situation, get in touch with us.