The Chamber clarifies: KvK has ALWAYS fulfilled its legal obligations

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Starting March 27, 2024, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Aruba (KvK) has introduced an important change: a fee will be charged for detailed company information consultations in the online Commercial Register on the KvK website. KvK has noted various reactions and to help clarify these concerns, KvK is publishing the following summary, consisting of the most important points.

According to the 'Handelsregisterverordening' (AB 1991 no. GT 15), KvK is obligated to maintain the Commercial Register in the form of paper files (‘dossiers’) and make this available to any citizen who wishes to consult this public information. However, the online Commercial Register is an extra service provided by KvK and is not legally required, in addition to the Commercial Register available at the KvK office. This means that all data is always available for free to the public at the KvK office, where anyone can view and consult the paper files of a company, as stipulated by law.

Why is KvK Charging a Fee for the Online Commercial Register?

KvK introduced the online Commercial Register on its own initiative; it is not a legal obligation to provide an online Commercial Register. KvK believes in innovation and digitalization, which is why significant investments have been made to create the online Commercial Register, aiming to facilitate access to the Commercial Register for everyone from the comfort of their home or office. Despite the high costs of processing, protecting, and maintaining the database, KvK has not increased its product tariffs since 2009. To continue providing and improving this service, it is essential to have sufficient resources to maintain the online system. Without the necessary resources, KvK cannot sustain this service that benefits our community. Therefore, KvK charges a limited fee for consulting the online Commercial Register. The Chambers of Commerce in Bonaire, Sint Maarten, and the Netherlands also charge a fee before granting access to online data.

Why Do Businesses Pay the Annual Contribution?

This is a legal obligation for all businesses. According to the 'Handelsregisterverordening', all registered businesses are classified based on the capital invested in the business. Based on this, an initial registration fee is charged, and thereafter an annual contribution ('jaarlijkse bijdrage') is charged according to the category the business falls into. The annual contribution, along with the sale of extracts, is KvK's main revenue source. KvK is a sui generis entity that must generate its own income.

Like all organizations, KvK also feels the increase in general expenses. However, since 2009, the prices for the annual contribution and extracts have not been adjusted. KvK understands that this decision may be inconvenient for some businesses, but it is a necessary step to protect the data and maintain a sustainable and lasting system. Without the necessary funds, KvK cannot maintain the Online Commercial Register.

Translation of Extracts

Although KvK is not legally obligated to offer translations of extracts, KvK, with the aim of facilitating our community, offers this service. However, this is an additional service with extra costs, and for this reason, the translation of extracts costs more than Afl. 15, as stipulated by law. The additional cost covers the translation expenses.

Can KvK Charge Extra for Additional Services?

According to the 'Landsverordening op de Kamer van Koophandel en Nijverheid' (AB 1990 no. GT29), KvK can charge additional fees for the extra services it provides, e.g., a fee for consulting the online Commercial Register and an additional fee over the stipulated Afl. 15 for translating extracts.

If you have any questions or need more information or assistance with consulting the Online Register, feel free to contact KvK at email: businessinfo@arubachamber.com or support@arubachamber.com or tel.: 582-1566, ext. 335/342/330.

09-2024- KvK ta clarifica: KvK SEMPER a cumpli cu su obligacionnan legal

Oranjestad – Entrante 27 di maart 2024, Camara di Comercio y Industria Aruba (KvK) a introduci un cambio importante: a cuminsa cobra un tarifa pa consulta informacion detaya di companianan den e Registro Comercial online riba e website di KvK. KvK a tuma nota di diferente reaccion y pa yuda clarifica e puntonan concerni, KvK ta publica e siguiente resumen, cu ta consisti di e puntonan mas importante.

Registro Comercial online: un obligacion stipula den ley?
KvK, a base di stipulacion di ‘Handelsregisterverordening’ (AB 1991 no. GT 15), ta obliga pa mantene e Registro Comercial den e forma di archivo di papel (‘dossiers’) y pone esaki na disposicion pa cualkier cuidadano cu ta desea di consulta e informacion publico aki. E Registro Comercial online, sinembargo, ta un servicio extra di KvK, no obligatorio pa ley, banda di e Registro Comercial disponibel na oficina di KvK. Esaki ta nifica cu tur e datonan semper ta disponibel gratis pa publico en general na oficina di KvK, na unda un y tur por mira y consulta e file (archivo di papel) di un compania, manera stipula den ley.

Pakico KvK ta cobra un suma pa consulta e Registro Comercial online?
KvK a introduci e Registro Comercial online, riba priopio iniciativa, es decir, esaki no ta un obligacion legal pa tin disponibel un Registro Comercial online. KvK ta kere den inovacion y digitalisacion pa cual motibo a haci inversionnan significante pa pone Registro Comercial online, cu e meta pa facilita e acceso na e Registro Comercial pa tur persona for di e comodidad di nan cas of oficina. A pesar di e costonan halto di e proceso, proteccion y mantencion di e database, KvK no a aumenta e tarifanan di su productonan desde aña 2009. Pa KvK por sigui brinda y mehora su servicio, ta esencial pa haya recurso suficiente pa mantene e sistema online. Sin e recurso necesario, KvK no por mantene e servicio aki cu ta facilita nos comunidad. Pa e motibo ey KvK ta cobra un suma limita pa consulta e Registro Comercial online. E Camara di Comercio di Boneiro, Sint Maarten y Hulanda tambe ta cobra un tarifa prome cu nan duna aceso na e datonan online.

Dicon e comerciante ta paga e contribucion anual?
Esaki ta un obligacion legal di tur empresa. Segun ley di e ‘Handelsregisterverordening’, tur empresa cu ta bin registra, ta ser clasifica a base di e capital inverti den e negoshi. A base di esaki ta cobra e suma inicial di inscripcion y despues cada aña ta e cobra e contribucion anual (‘jaarlijkse bijdrage’) segun e categoria cu e empresa ta cay aden. E contribucion anual, banda di e benta di uittreksels, ta e entrada principal di KvK. KvK ta un Sui Generis, cu mester genera su mesun entrada .

Manera tur organisacion, KvK tambe ta sinti e aumento di gasto general. Sinembargo, desde 2009, e prijsnan pa e contribucion anual y uittreksels no a wordo adapta mas. KvK ta compronde cu e decision aki por ta inconveniente pa algun comerciante, pero e ta un paso necesario pa por proteha e datonan y mantene e sistema sostenibel y duradero. Sin fondo necesario, KvK no por mante e Registro Comercial Online.

Traduccion di uittreksels
A pesar cu e no ta un obligacion legal di KvK pa ofrece traduccionnan di uittreksels, KvK, cu e fin pa facilita nos comunidad, ta ofrece esaki. Sinembargo, esaki ta un servicio adicional cu tin costonan adicional, y pa es motibo, e traduccion di uittreksels ta costa mas cu Afl. 15,- manera ta stipula den ley. E costo adicional ta pa cubri e gastonan di traduccion.

KvK por cobra extra pa e servicionan adicional?
Segun e ‘Landsverordening op de Kamer van Koophandel en Nijverheid’ (AB 1990 no. GT29)anfe, KvK por cobra sumanan adicional pa e servicionan extra cu KvK ta brinda, e.o. por cobra un suma pa consulta e Registro Comercial online, y un suma adicional riba e tarifa di Afl. 15,- stipula den ley pa e traduccion di e uittreksels.

Si tin cualkier pregunta of ta desea mas informacion of asistencia pa consulta e Registro Online, por tuma contacto libremente cu KvK na e-mail: businessinfo@arubachamber.com of support@arubachamber.com of tel.: 582-1566, ext. 335/342/330.

Aruba, 21 di juni 2024
Camara di Comercio y Industria (KvK)