Choosing annual accounts software
Short answer
Annual accounts software calculates your figures and generates the documents, but does not check your bookkeeping. When choosing, look at whether the accounting policies and notes are included, whether the KVK publication documents come out of it, and whether you can try it without paying first.
How to approach it
The tool monitors the structure, calculates the totals and the corporation tax, checks whether the balance sheet balances and delivers the PDFs — including the documents for KVK.
Eerst invullen, pas betalen als je de stukken downloadt. Eenmalig € 60,44 per boekjaar, geen abonnement.
Annual accounts software — also called an annual accounts program, annual accounts tool or application — takes over the calculation work and the structure: you enter your figures and the tool checks whether the balance sheet balances, calculates the tax and produces the PDFs. What to look out for is set out below.
What software does for you
- Monitor the structure: the right items in the right place, so you do not forget anything.
- Calculate: totals, depreciation, the corporation tax and the reconciliation of equity.
- Check: does the balance sheet balance, does equity reconcile, are the mandatory fields completed?
- Texts: the accounting policies and the notes based on what you have entered.
- Output: a clean PDF and, for a legal entity, the documents for KVK.
Which types are there?
The four differ mainly in what they ask of you and what they check for you. A package requires you to keep records all year; a separate tool requires closed bookkeeping and a few hours of entering data.
- An accounting package with an annual accounts module: your bookkeeping and the annual accounts in the same package.
- A separate annual accounts tool: you transfer the figures from your bookkeeping and the tool produces the documents. This is what ZelfJaarrekening.nl is.
- An Excel template: freely configurable, without checks and without ready-made texts.
- Your accountant's or bookkeeper's portal: they prepare the documents and file them.
The three routes side by side
The table below shows the same routes, worked out by subject: what it costs, who does the work, whether you get a report and when you would be better off choosing something else.
| Kolom | ZelfJaarrekening.nl | A bookkeeper | An accounting package |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you pay | € 49.95 excl. VAT per financial year, one-off. No subscription. | An hourly rate or a fixed amount per year; that depends strongly on your bookkeeping. Always ask for a quotation. | Usually a monthly subscription, including in months when you do nothing. |
| Who does the work | You, step by step through the wizard. The calculations and the texts come from the tool. | The bookkeeper or accountant. You supply your bookkeeping. | You. You keep your own bookkeeping and usually prepare the annual accounts yourself. |
| What it asks of you | Closed bookkeeping and a few hours of entering data. You need your figures. | Little: you supply and then review. You do depend on their schedule. | That you keep your bookkeeping in that package all year. |
| Report with the documents | None. You remain responsible for the accuracy — that is also stated in the disclaimer. | Can issue a compilation, review or audit opinion if needed. | None. The documents come out without a report, just as with us. |
| Tax returns | Not included. You do get the taxable profit calculation and the corporation tax in the documents. | Often included, together with the tax returns and contact with the Belastingdienst. | Sometimes, usually as a separate module or service. |
| Check on your figures | Per field, plus the balance sheet check down to the cent and warnings for illogical figures. | A person looks over your shoulder and knows the rules; they also see things that software does not. | Mainly input checks: whether an amount is readable, not whether it is logical. |
| How fast | Immediately. You can start tonight and download the documents the same day. | In the busy months (March to June) it can take a while before it is your turn. | Immediately, but you must first have your entire bookkeeping in order. |
| When this is the wrong choice | If you need a report, if your bookkeeping is not in order, or if you would rather be fully taken care of. | If your bookkeeping is simple and you want to be able to do it yourself without annual costs. | If you only need annual accounts and do not plan to keep your bookkeeping in that package. |
What it costs and what you pay for
At ZelfJaarrekening.nl you pay once per financial year, and only when you want to download the documents. Entering, checking and viewing the preview costs nothing and does not require payment details. There is no subscription and there are no costs per page.
What other parties charge differs by package and by situation. We do not mention other parties' prices here; ask them for a quotation stating what is and is not included.
For a BV or a sole trader?
The difference is not in the calculations but in what you must do with the documents. A BV must have the annual accounts adopted and file the publication documents; which documents those are depends on the size class. For a sole trader there is no filing obligation, and the annual accounts are mainly for yourself, the bank and the Belastingdienst.
The same tool covers both situations: you choose your legal form and the parts that belong to it are automatically switched on or skipped.
What to watch out for when choosing
- Does the tool calculate the corporation tax and the tax reconciliation itself, or do you have to enter them yourself?
- Does it check the balance sheet and the reconciliation of equity? Those are the two checks that find errors.
- Can you switch the accounting policies on and off individually, with the legal source included?
- What happens to your data: where is it stored, and what if you stop?
- What does it cost: one-off per financial year, or a subscription that continues?
- Can you try first and pay only when you are done?
Test with your own figures
Enter a few known items and see whether the totals match what you have calculated yourself. That way you quickly see whether the tool can handle your situation — for example with financial years that do not follow the calendar year or a VOF.Excel, accounting package or annual accounts tool
In practice they work together: your accounting package supplies the figures, an annual accounts tool turns them into annual accounts you can file. If you have few transactions, Excel can suffice as a source.
What that transition looks like step by step — from trial balance to the documents for KVK — is described in the article about the route from accounting package to annual accounts.
| Kolom | What it does do | What it does not do |
|---|---|---|
| Excel | Fully freely configurable | No checks, no structure and no statutory texts; you only see errors afterwards |
| Accounting package | Day-to-day entries, VAT and bank links | Usually no complete annual accounts with accounting policies and publication document |
| Annual accounts tool | Structure, checks, calculations and the PDFs | No bookkeeping and no tax advice |
What software does not do for you
A tool does not know whether your bookkeeping is complete. If an invoice or a private withdrawal is missing, it will not notice — it calculates with what you enter.
A tool does not provide a report or tax advice. For a compilation report or audit opinion you remain dependent on an accountant, and tax choices remain human work.
And the responsibility remains with you. Software is a tool, not a responsible party.
How it works at ZelfJaarrekening.nl
The tool follows the route an accountant also takes: company details, figures, accounting policies, checks, preview and download. The balance sheet is checked immediately and equity is reconciled, with an explanation for each item.
You can enter everything for free and view your annual accounts in the preview. Only when you want to download the final PDFs do you pay once for that financial year — no subscription.
Frequently asked questions
Which software do I need for my annual accounts?
Can software prepare annual accounts without errors?
Is a subscription needed?
Can I try the software first?
Read more
- From accounting package to annual accountsThe six steps from trial balance to the KVK documents.
- Annual accounts of a BVPreparing, adopting and filing.
- Annual accounts for a sole traderWhat is and is not mandatory.
- Preparing annual accounts yourself in 8 stepsWhat you need and where it goes wrong.
- Preparing annual accounts: the basicsWhich parts belong in them.
- Annual accounts for a BVExtra requirements for a legal entity, including filing.
- Annual accounts exampleA completed set of annual accounts with figures that balance.
Prepare your annual accounts yourself?
Work through the wizard, check your figures and download the annual accounts and the KVK filing documents as PDFs. € 60,44 per financial year, once.
Je vult eerst alles in en bekijkt het resultaat — betalen doe je pas als je de stukken wilt downloaden. Geen abonnement. En zit er een fout in de stukken die wij kunnen herstellen? Dan leveren we gratis een nieuwe versie, zo vaak als nodig.
Deze uitleg is algemeen bedoeld. Controleer bij KVK, de Belastingdienst of je accountant of de regels in jouw situatie nog zo gelden. ZelfJaarrekening.nl is a tool, not an accounting firm; you cannot derive rights from this explanation.