With tax advice, the Dutch entrepreneur achieves better business results than without it. This is stated by a large majority (65%) in research among 273 entrepreneurs conducted by Nextens, a provider of tax filing software and part of RELX. The advice of tax advisors is therefore widely followed: 63 percent of entrepreneurs say they always do this properly.

Despite the added value of tax advisors, entrepreneurs do not want to be constantly engaged in tax filings. Only 37 percent have a need for tax advice throughout the year.

Expectations about the tax advisor

Dutch entrepreneurs expect a lot from their tax advisors. They place more value on the advice given by the tax advisor than on filing the tax return (65%). Additionally, nine out of ten entrepreneurs expect the person who files the tax returns to also provide proactive tax advice.

Juliette Goetzee, Managing Director at Nextens: "We understand all too well that the tax side of running a business can sometimes be complicated. It is therefore not surprising that they expect more from their tax advisor. It is nice when the tax return is taken off their hands, but the real added value lies in providing advice. By pointing out certain tax schemes to entrepreneurs, they can gain many benefits and save money. Since providing advice can be time-consuming, we are launching a new tool that gives automated advisory signals to tax professionals. With Tax advice as a service (Faas), we help these professionals to proactively fulfill their advisory role. So they can help their clients navigate the tax waters as effectively as possible."