How much is VAT on hotel stays?
From 1 January 2026, the VAT rate on hotel stays will be 21%. This applies only to the accommodation portion of the hotel bill. For the VAT rate on meals and drinks, please see our explanation of VAT in the catering industry. The time of the overnight stay determines which rate applies, not the time of booking or payment. This is stated in the explanation of the Tax authorities on VAT on accommodation.
Reclaim VAT on hotel stay
VAT on accommodation may be deductible; VAT on food and drink is not. You may reclaim VAT on the accommodation part of a business hotel stay as input VAT. To that end, the overnight stay must be used for VAT-taxable activities and you must have a suitable invoice. In the case of exempt turnover or participation in the KOR, VAT deduction may not apply. You may not deduct the VAT on food and drink, not even if this is on the same hotel bill. Therefore, it is important that the invoice is itemised, so that it is clear which part relates to accommodation.
Hotel accommodation costs deductible
Hotel expenses may be deductible from your profits, but not always in full. The tax authorities distinguish between ordinary business overnight stays and expenses that fall under entertainment. Thresholds and alternative deduction percentages also apply. Which rules apply depends on the purpose of the trip and the type of expenses.
Conferences, seminars and study tours
A deduction limit applies to these costs. As a business owner for income tax purposes, in 2026 you can choose either the 80% deduction for the relevant mixed costs, or a deduction in excess of the combined annual threshold of €5,700. The threshold does not apply separately for each conference or type of expense. Different rules apply for corporation tax. Read the explanation about limited deductible expenses.
Travel and accommodation expenses
The maximum of €1,500 applies to travel and accommodation costs in connection with conferences, seminars, symposia, excursions and study trips. It is not a general limit for all business hotel stays. If participation was necessary for your work, this additional limit no longer applies. The general deduction restriction for these mixed expenses will continue to apply.
Food and drink
Costs for food and drink during a business overnight stay are limited deductible. These expenses fall under entertainment expenses. You apply the same threshold or fixed deduction percentage for them. You may not reclaim the VAT on these expenses, even if they appear on the hotel bill.
Breakfast, parking and tourist tax
Breakfast is considered food and falls under the restricted deduction. With parking, the profit deduction also depends on the car: for a private car, parking costs are already included in the per-kilometre rate. View the explanation about VAT on parking fees. Tourist tax does not include VAT and, for profit deduction purposes, follows the business purpose and any limitation on accommodation costs.
Processing in your accounts
Split the invoice into accommodation, meals and other expenses. Assess both the VAT deduction and the deduction from your profit for each component. Also keep the purpose and date of the business trip.
Example of a standard commercial assignment in 2026: Your hotel bill includes €121 for accommodation, including €21 VAT. You meet the conditions for a full VAT deduction: €21 is input VAT and €100 is accommodation costs. In addition, the invoice shows €21.80 for breakfast, including €1.80 VAT. You cannot deduct this breakfast VAT. If this breakfast forms part of your business accommodation costs and you opt for the 80% method, you deduct 80% × €21.80 = €17.44 from your profit. This example does not relate to a conference or a private trip.
VAT on hotel stays abroad
You do not deduct foreign VAT in your Dutch VAT return. For a hotel in another EU country, a refund may be possible under the rules of that country. If you do not submit a VAT return there, the request goes through the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration. Submit it before 1 October of the following year and check the threshold amounts and conditions. Read how to reclaim VAT from another EU country.
