WILLEMSTAD, THE HAGUE – The Dutch Tax Authority has concluded that a Besloten Vennootschap (BV) incorporated in Curaçao is comparable to a BV in the Netherlands. This assessment means that Curaçaoan BVs will fall under the same fiscal regime as their Dutch counterparts, an important clarification for tax purposes and legal classification. 

The tax authority regularly assesses whether business structures in other jurisdictions align with those in the Netherlands. Although Curaçao adopted its own version of the Civil Code in 2010, it remains largely based on the Dutch legal framework. Fundamental principles and many provisions are similar, though there have been some changes due to later civil law reforms. 

These differences, however, are not considered substantial enough to affect the core nature of a Curaçaoan BV. Like in the Netherlands, the Curaçaoan Naamloze Vennootschap (NV) and BV are corporate entities with legal personality. At incorporation, shareholders contribute risk-bearing capital in exchange for one or more shares — a key feature of corporate structuring. 

Curaçao’s civil law also recognizes partnership forms similar to those in the Netherlands, such as the general partnership (openbare vennootschap) and limited partnership (stille vennootschap), both of which are based on contractual cooperation between two or more individuals. 

This recognition of legal equivalency helps to streamline fiscal processes between Curaçao and the Netherlands and reinforces Curaçao’s alignment with international legal and financial standards.