Random depreciation of environmental investments (VAMIL)

If you have a business in the Netherlands and you invest in environmentally friendly business resources, you may be able to use the Random depreciation of environmental investments scheme (Willekeurige afschrijving voor milieu-investeringen, VAMIL). The scheme means that you may write off a random percentage of the costs of business resources for a random year. You can achieve a liquidity or interest advantage in this way. The following costs are eligible for depreciation:

• purchase costs;
• production costs, which are the costs you would incur if your company produced the business asset itself;
• modification costs and/or the cost of purchasing new components.

You can apply the VAMIL scheme in addition to the Environmental investment allowance (MIA).

When do you qualify?

• Your company must be registered in the Netherlands and liable to pay tax in the Netherlands.
• You must invest in a business asset that is on the Environmental List (Milieulijst) drawn up each year by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. You can ask for this list at the Netherlands Enterprise Agency.
• You invest at least €2,500 per year.

Disinvestment surcharge

If you sell or give away the business assets within 5 years after your investment and the total value exceeds €2,300, you must repay a proportion of the allowance via the disinvestment surcharge. For further information, please contact the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration (Belastingdienst).

How to apply?

If you wish to use this scheme, you must notify the Netherlands Enterprise Agency within 3 months of having purchased the business resource. Next, you apply the scheme to your tax return.