Documents Required for Business Registration in Suriname

Updated 3 months ago

To complete your VAT registration in Suriname, you will need to gather a specific set of documents before starting the application. This article lists everything you need so you can prepare ahead of time and avoid delays.

Required Documents

The following documents are required when registering for VAT through the DoTC online portal:

Active email address	Required to create a portal account and receive confirmation.
Chamber of Commerce extract (KKF) or Certificate of Incorporation	An official extract from the Suriname Chamber of Commerce (KKF) for businesses registered locally, or a Certificate of Incorporation for foreign businesses. If the business does not yet have local registration, a contract or permit may be submitted instead.
Identification document	A national ID card, driver's licence, or passport of the business owner or director.
Bank account details	Your business bank account information (if available at time of application).

NOTE: There is no explicit statutory requirement to have documents translated into Dutch or notarized. However, all communications with the DoTC are conducted in Dutch, so it is good practice to have key documents translated if they are in another language.

About the FIN (Fiscal Identification Number)

Upon approval, your business will receive a Fiscal Identification Number (FIN), a unique 10-digit identifier assigned by the DoTC. This number must appear on all VAT invoices you issue in Suriname.

For B2B invoices, both the supplier's and the buyer's FIN must appear on the invoice.

The FIN can also be used for customs declarations in Suriname — there is no separate customs or EORI-equivalent number required.

Post-Registration Requirements

Once registered, you are required to notify the DoTC promptly of any changes to your registration details. This includes:

Change of business address
Change of business activity or cessation of taxable activities
Change in legal structure or ownership
Updates to bank account details
Change in directors or legal representatives
Changes to your VAT threshold status

Record Retention

You are required to retain all VAT-related records, including invoices, import and export documents, and accounting records, for a minimum of seven years from the end of the calendar year to which the records relate.

Electronic storage is explicitly accepted under Suriname's VAT Act. There is no requirement to store records within Suriname, and records may be stored abroad.

💡 TIP: Make sure your records are organized by calendar year and easy to retrieve. The DoTC can request access to your records at any time during the seven-year retention period.

How Kintsugi Helps

Kintsugi guides you through the document preparation process and flags what is needed before you begin the registration submission. Once your registration is active, Kintsugi stores and manages your compliance records automatically, keeping everything organized and audit-ready.

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