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RGS Chart of Accounts

RGS Chart of Accounts

The Referentie Grootboekschema (RGS) is the Dutch reference chart of
accounts — a standard set of account codes that every Dutch accountant,
bookkeeper, and audit firm recognises on sight. This module ships the RGS
3.5 schema, links your ERPNext accounts to it, and ensures the RGS code
flows through to every report and export that needs it.

Why this matters

Two reasons:

  1. Your accountant expects it. A typical Dutch accountant runs across
    dozens of bookkeeping systems a year. RGS codes are the lingua franca —
    they let your accountant understand your books without learning your
    particular chart-of-accounts choices.
  2. XAF audit files require RGS codes. Without RGS, the XAF
    export
    won't validate. RGS isn't optional once you're
    producing audit files for the Belastingdienst.

How it works in ERPNext

Out-of-the-box ERPNext lets you name accounts however you like — Sales
Income
, Trade Receivables, VAT Payable, etc. RGS adds a reference
code on top:

  • Sales Income → linked to RGS code WOmzNOpr (omzet netto, opbrengsten)
  • Trade Receivables → linked to BVorDebHaO (handelsdebiteuren)
  • VAT Payable → linked to BVdrBepBep (af te dragen omzetbelasting)
  • Bank · ABN AMRO → linked to BLimMv (liquide middelen, banktegoed)

You keep your business-friendly account names. The accountant gets the
codes they need. Reports that talk to government services (XAF) get the
correct references.

How RGS gets onto your accounts

When you ran Setup Dutch Localization,
the module:

  1. Imported the full RGS 3.5 schema as RGS Schema Account records
    (about 5,000 codes — global, shared across all NL companies on the
    site).
  2. Added a custom_rgs_schema_account link field to every ERPNext
    Account.
  3. Walked your existing chart of accounts and linked each account to the
    most appropriate RGS code, based on its account number (using a
    mapping table shipped with the app).

If you create a new account afterwards, you'll need to set the RGS code
manually — pick from the dropdown in the Account form. Hit Setup Dutch
Localization
again to re-run the auto-linker for any accounts that came
in via a CSV import.

RGS levels

RGS codes have a hierarchical structure:

  • Level 1 (single letter): broad category — B (Balance), W (Profit
    & Loss), T (Off-balance)
  • Level 2-3: sub-categories
  • Level 4-5: increasingly specific account types

Your bank account ABN AMRO Current maps to a level-4 code; the parent
level-3 code is "all bank accounts"; the level-1 is "Balance Sheet". You
can roll up reports at any level.

To audit which accounts are linked correctly:

  1. Open the Chart of Accounts report.
  2. Filter for the RGS column being empty — those need attention.
  3. For each unlinked account, open the Account form and pick the
    appropriate code from the RGS Schema Account dropdown.

If you find ten or more accounts unlinked, re-run Setup Dutch
Localization
— the auto-linker tops up any newly added accounts in one go.

Common questions

Can I see my P&L grouped by RGS instead of by my account names?
Yes — the Profit and Loss Statement report has a Group By option;
choose RGS Schema Account and it pivots the P&L by RGS code.

My accountant uses a different scheme (older RGS, or a custom one).
Out of the box this app ships RGS 3.5. If your accountant insists on a
different scheme, the RGS Schema Account DocType is editable — you can
import a different code set. Talk to your accountant about whether 3.5
will work first; most firms accept it.

Do I need RGS if I never plan to file XAF or change accountants?
Strictly: no. Practically: yes, because the day will come. Setting it up
upfront costs nothing once Setup Dutch Localization has run.

Last updated 3 months ago
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