Changes to the RJ and RJk: 2026 edition and 2027 edition
What changes in the Dutch Accounting Guidelines for your 2026 and 2027 annual accounts? Per chapter, with the effective date and the size classes it affects.
The short answer
The 2026 edition applies to financial years from 1 January 2026, the 2027 edition from 1 January 2027. Most changes are clarifications. Substantively notable: covenant breach with waiver of the right to call the loan, no deferred tax on initial recognition, a narrower exemption for share-based payments and publication of micro information (2026), and a fixed classification of interest and dividends in the cash flow statement (2027).
Updated 30 October 2026
Key facts
| Financial year 2025 | 2025 edition (published September 2024) |
| Financial year 2026 | 2026 edition (published September 2025) |
| Financial year 2027 | 2027 edition (published September 2026) |
| Early application | RJ: recommended (RJ 100.206); RJk: normally permitted (RJk A1.107) |
| Classes in the tables | M = micro, S = small, MS = medium-sized, L = large |
How to read this overview
The RJ volume applies to medium-sized and large entities, and to a small entity that chooses it; the RJk applies to micro and small entities. A change in the RJ therefore only affects a small entity on the RJk if the RJk refers to that paragraph or itself changes along with it. Each line below states the chapter, what changes, from which financial year and which classes it affects. Where the RJ presents a change as a clarification without substantive intent, this is stated.
If you are now finishing the 2025 annual accounts, you work with the 2025 edition. Among other things, it replaced the Stramien (framework) with an introductory paragraph on the basic principles, brought a new layout of RJ 214, rules for vitality schemes and early retirement (RJ 271, RJk B14), adjustments for the Future Pensions Act (Wet toekomst pensioenen) and the Pillar Two profit taxes (RJ 272, RJk B15).
2026 edition: applies from financial year 2026
| Topic | Chapter | What changes | Classes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covenant breach | RJ 254.307; RJk B9.206 | If a loan condition is breached at the balance sheet date, the loan stays non-current if the bank waived its right to call the loan before the balance sheet date, or granted a remedy period that runs to at least twelve months after the balance sheet date. New is the waiver as a route of its own. Agreement after the balance sheet date but before preparation is also allowed, provided it is explained. | M, S, MS, L |
| Deferred tax on initial recognition | RJ 272.301–306a; RJk B15.105–106 | No deferred tax for temporary differences that arise on the initial recognition of an asset or liability, if the transaction is not an acquisition, does not affect the result and does not give rise to equal taxable and deductible differences. The RJk also mentions the mandatory exception for goodwill from an acquisition. | M, S, MS, L; not with tax-based policies |
| Share-based payments | RJ 275.103a and 275.603; RJk B14.129 | Only schemes settled by a party outside the consolidation scope remain exempt. Schemes that fell under both the old and the new exemption may leave the comparative figures untouched (RJ-Uiting 2025-12). | S, MS, L |
| Maintenance provision | RJ 212.451 and 212.810; RJk B2.135 | A new estimate of the cost or the interval of major maintenance is spread over the remaining accrual period; catch-up charges lapse. The transition may be prospective. | MS, L; micro and small via the reference in RJk B2.135 |
| Payment discounts | RJ 222, 270 and 273.202; RJk B13.110 and B5.103 | A payment discount is no longer an interest expense. As variable consideration it reduces the revenue, or it is a financing component. | all |
| Preference dividend | RJ 160.209; RJk A4.109 | Preference dividend is a liability at the balance sheet date if the articles of association require it and there is sufficient freely distributable capital; a missing approval by the BV's board is disclosed. | all |
| Statutory reserve for participating interests | RJ 214.510; RJk B3.121 | If you start valuing an existing interest at net asset value, retained profits of the participating interest that are not freely distributable belong in the statutory reserve. | all |
| Cost of inventories | RJ 220.601a | The cost of inventories recognised as an expense is stated in the notes, also with a by-function model. | L; medium-sized exempt |
| Sustainability assurance fees | RJ 390.301 | State separately, or under the other audit engagements with the description "other assurance engagements". | L |
| IFRS and Title 9 | RJ 105 (new); RJ 240 | IFRS paragraphs brought together in RJ 105; RJ 240 newly arranged. No substantive change intended. | MS, L |
RJk only (2026 edition). After a project to make the RJk more accessible, A2, A3, A4, A8, B2, B10 and B18 received clarifications (RJ-Uiting 2025-10): examples of signals of doubt about the going concern assumption (A2.214a), a recommendation to follow the Decree on annual accounts models (Besluit modellen jaarrekening) also where it is not mandatory (A2.114a), the ban on retroactive effect for a change in estimate (A3.205), a scheme for events after the balance sheet date (A4), processing of mandatory reserve movements in the prepared balance sheet (A8.101), cost examples for tangible fixed assets (B2.107a–c), no provision for own risk (B10.103), a discount rate based on high-quality corporate bonds (B10.106) and rules for assets not recognised on the balance sheet (B10.3). The concession rules (B18.3) lapsed. For micro entities it is new that additional information in exceptional circumstances, such as doubt about the going concern assumption, also goes into the filed balance sheet (M1.401). Chapter M2 for micro care providers was added.
Sectors. RJ 400, 404 and 405 follow the 2025 corporate governance code with the risk management statement (already from financial year 2025). RJ 610 received distribution capital and spreading capital from the Future Pensions Act. The limit for a small fundraising organisation went to € 1.000.000 (RJ 650, RJk C2; from financial year 2025, may already be applied for 2024). RJ 655 and RJk C3 follow the amended Regeling openbare jaarverantwoording WMG (public annual reporting regulation for care providers); RJ 660 allows a compact management report.
2027 edition: applies from financial year 2027
| Topic | Chapter | What changes | Classes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Separate disclosure | RJ 115.213a; RJk A2.113a | Besides the numerical rules of thumb (5% of the balance sheet total, 10% of the category), you weigh qualitative features: nature, function, liquidity, measurement basis, uncertainty, term and restrictions on use. Source: IFRS 18. | all |
| Decree on models when not required | RJ 115.216; RJk A2.114a | Recommendation to follow the Besluit modellen jaarrekening as far as possible, also where it is not prescribed, such as for micro entities (art. 1(3) of that decree). The RJk has had the recommendation since 2026 and now also refers to section C. | all |
| Cash flow statement | RJ 360.212, 213 and 213a | Interest and dividends received belong to investing, interest paid (also capitalised) and dividends paid to financing. Only whoever has investing or financing as a normal business may show them as operating. The indirect method starts from a subtotal from the profit and loss account, preferably the operating result as now defined. Paragraph 216 lapses. | MS, L; S with a voluntary cash flow statement |
| Participating interest without significant influence | RJ 214.305; RJk B3.109 and B3.126 | When measured at current value, value changes may go directly to the result, with a revaluation reserve if frequent prices are lacking. At cost, the dividend is the first item of the financial income. For small entities, processing in the result was already permitted; the RJk clarifies. | S, MS, L; not micro |
| Realised revaluation | RJ 240.222 | If you take a realised revaluation through the result, you show the gross amount, including the release of the deferred tax, on its own line before the financial income and expenses. | MS, L |
| Pillar Two liability | RJ 252.517 and 272.717; RJk B10.205 | If the entity is liable for top-up tax on low-taxed group components, it discloses this. | all, in groups under the Minimum Tax Act 2024 (Wet minimumbelasting 2024) |
| Turnover percentage | RJ 270.601 | A medium-sized entity that shows a gross operating result states the percentage increase or decrease in net turnover. This was already in art. 2:397(3) DCC. | MS |
| Early retirement | RJ 271.405 | The best estimate of the provision follows the rules of RJ 252. | MS, L |
| Cost of hedging | RJ 290.608a, 641 and 642 | Unavoidable costs of a derivative or part of the derivative may be left outside the hedge relationship; their treatment has been worked out. Paragraph 628 lapses. | MS, L |
| Consolidation | RJ 217 | Newly arranged with a transposition table; no substantive change intended. | MS, L |
| True and fair view requirement for small entities | RJk B18.104 | The reference was corrected to art. 2:362(4) DCC: additional information that the true and fair view requires, such as important events. | S |
Earlier effective date. A few changes are in the 2027 edition but already apply to financial year 2026: the beleidswaarde for housing associations (RJ 645, RJ-Uiting 2026-7), the Regeling openbare jaarverantwoording Jeugdwet (public annual reporting regulation under the Youth Act; RJ 655, RJk C3 and M2) and the transitional rule for share-based payments (RJ 275.603). In addition, RJ 611 (premium pension institutions) and RJ 600 and 605 (banks, insurers) received adjustments from 2027, and the sector chapters RJ 640 and 650 and RJk C1 and C2 expressly take precedence over the general chapters.
Case: a covenant breach on 31 December 2026
Kozijnfabriek Haverkamp BV (fictitious, small) has a bank loan of € 900.000, repayable at € 150.000 per year. The bank requires a solvency ratio of at least 25%; on 31 December 2026 it is 22%, which makes the loan immediately repayable under its terms. Current assets are € 1.200.000, other current liabilities € 700.000.
| Scenario | Classification of loan (RJk B9.206) | Current liabilities | Current ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. On 18 December 2026 the bank waives in writing its right to call the loan because of this breach | € 750.000 non-current, € 150.000 repayment current | € 850.000 | 1,41 |
| B. On 20 December 2026 a remedy period runs to and including 30 September 2027 | Remedy period shorter than twelve months: € 900.000 current | € 1.600.000 | 0,75 |
| C. The waiver is signed on 10 February 2027; preparation on 20 April 2027 | Non-current is allowed, with an explanation of this choice (art. 9 Besluit modellen jaarrekening) | € 850.000 | 1,41 |
Scenario A was not expressly regulated before financial year 2026; it is now a route of its own. If Haverkamp expects, despite the waiver, again not to meet the requirement within twelve months, it may still show the loan as current and disclose that (RJk B9.206a). A medium-sized or large BV follows the same line via RJ 254.307 and 254.307a.
Case: interest and dividends in the 2027 cash flow statement
Distributiecentrum Delta BV (fictitious, medium-sized) pays € 85.000 interest in 2027, receives € 12.000 interest and € 30.000 dividend from a minority interest, and distributes € 200.000 dividend. Up to and including 2026 it showed all interest in operating cash flow.
- From 2027: interest and dividends received, together € 42.000, under investing activities; interest paid of € 85.000 under financing activities, next to the dividend paid of € 200.000.
- Operating cash flow for 2027 is therefore € 43.000 higher than under the old layout (€ 85.000 interest paid out, € 42.000 receipts out).
- Delta classifies the comparative figures for 2026 in the same way and explains the revision (art. 2:363(5) DCC). If it starts the indirect method from the result after taxes, this must reconcile with a subtotal of the model; the RJ recommends the operating result.
Checklist per size class
| Class | Financial year 2026: check | Financial year 2027: check |
|---|---|---|
| Micro | Classification of loans on covenant breach; also file additional information on doubt about the going concern assumption (M1.401); no provision for own risk | Qualitative criteria when combining items; Besluit modellen as an example |
| Small | Covenant breach; deferred tax on initial recognition; payment discounts; preference dividend; reserve movements in the prepared balance sheet | Qualitative criteria; participating interests without significant influence; additional information for the true and fair view (B18.104) |
| Medium-sized | RJ 254.307; maintenance provision RJ 212.451; share-based payments RJ 275; preference dividend | Cash flow statement RJ 360; turnover percentage; RJ 214.305; RJ 315 exemption for financial assets |
| Large | As medium-sized, plus cost of inventories (220.601a) and assurance fees (390.301) | As medium-sized, plus RJ 240.222, Pillar Two disclosure and hedging (RJ 290) |
If you are unsure which edition belongs to your financial year: the edition rules on the hub.
How it works at Jaarrekening.io
Jaarrekening.io records each substantive change from the editions with the start date of the financial year for which it applies. For an earlier financial year such a question appears as a voluntary choice, from the effective date as a mandatory question. A 2025 annual accounts set therefore has no requirements from the 2026 edition imposed on it, but you can already apply them.
Sources
- Ten geleide to the RJ volume, 2026 annual edition (PDF, rjnet.nl, in Dutch)
- Ten geleide to the RJk volume, 2026 annual edition (PDF, rjnet.nl, in Dutch)
- Ten geleide to the RJ volume, 2027 annual edition (PDF, rjnet.nl, in Dutch)
- Ten geleide to the RJk volume, 2027 annual edition (PDF, rjnet.nl, in Dutch)
- RJ-Uiting 2025-3A: amendments to the RJ volume after comments (rjnet.nl, in Dutch)
- RJ-Uiting 2025-3B: amendments to the RJk volume after comments (rjnet.nl, in Dutch)
- RJ-Uiting 2025-2: deferred taxes on initial recognition (rjnet.nl, in Dutch)
- RJ-Uiting 2025-12: exemption for share-based payments (rjnet.nl, in Dutch)
- RJ-Uiting 2026-5A: amendments to the RJ volume after comments (rjnet.nl, in Dutch)
- RJ-Uiting 2026-5B: amendments to the RJk volume after comments (rjnet.nl, in Dutch)
- RJ-Uiting 2026-6: amendments following IFRS 18 (rjnet.nl, in Dutch)
Frequently asked questions
What changes in the 2026 edition of the RJ?
The 2026 edition applies to financial years from 1 January 2026. Substantively important are, among others: a loan stays non-current after a covenant breach if the bank waived its right to call the loan before the balance sheet date (RJ 254, RJk B9), no deferred tax on initial recognition of certain assets (RJ 272, RJk B15), a narrower exemption for share-based payments (RJ 275) and payment discounts that are no longer booked as interest. The RJk also received many clarifications and a new chapter M2.
What changes in the 2027 edition of the RJ?
The 2027 edition applies to financial years from 1 January 2027. The main changes: qualitative criteria for separate disclosure (RJ 115, RJk A2), a fixed classification of interest and dividends in the cash flow statement (RJ 360), value changes of participating interests without significant influence in the result (RJ 214) and a disclosure on liability for Pillar Two profit tax.
Do I have to apply the 2026 edition to my 2025 annual accounts already?
No. For a financial year that begins in 2025, the 2025 edition applies. The RJ recommends earlier application of new Guidelines and the RJk normally permits it, unless a Guideline says otherwise. Do watch out for changes that have their own, earlier effective date, such as some sector rules.
Where do I find the official list of changes?
In the Ten geleide (foreword) to each annual edition of the RJ and RJk volumes, as a PDF on rjnet.nl under Richtlijnen, Ten geleides. The underlying RJ-Uitingen (RJ publications) are on rjnet.nl under Uitingen, with the effective date per publication. In the volume itself a vertical bar appears next to every amended paragraph.
Does a change from the 2027 edition sometimes already apply to financial year 2026?
Yes, if the RJ-Uiting states an earlier effective date. Examples: the beleidswaarde (policy value) for housing associations (RJ 645), the new rules for youth care providers (RJ 655, RJk C3 and M2) and the transitional rule for share-based payments (RJ 275.603). These are in the 2027 edition but apply from financial year 2026.
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