It seems simple, but it often takes more time and research than you think. Start 2026 without worries. In this blog, you will find practical tips for organizing your administration. From accurate time registration to leave management: with this checklist, you can start 2026 flawlessly.
1. Accurate time recording required from 1 January 2026
From 1 January 2026, accurate time registration will be mandatory for flex workers and temporary workers. This means that employers must keep track of exactly when employees are working to comply with the new regulations. Good preparation and your administration in order prevents risks.
Action points:
- Check whether your system is suitable for accurate time registration for flex workers and temporary workers.
- Make sure all employees know how to register their hours correctly.
- Keep track of time: this way you keep an overview of how many hours you worked on which project for which client.
2. Stricter enforcement among self-employed workers in 2026
The DBA Act is being replaced by a new focus on bogus self-employment. The tax authorities will check more strictly whether cooperation with freelancers meets the criteria of true independence. Incorrect or unclear agreements can lead to fines or additional taxes.
Action points:
- Check whether the cooperation between self-employed person and employer meets the criteria of independence.
- Make sure that the work agreements match the actual situation. This, for example, should not involve a relationship of authority.
- Keep time records so that you can demonstrate during an audit that there is no false self-employment.
3. WTTA legislation as of 1 January 2027
From 1 January 2027, new rules for working time and administration will come into effect through the Transparent and Testable Employment Relations Act (WTTA). It is wise to prepare for this now so that your organization can meet the new requirements in time.
Action points:
- Familiarize yourself with the new WTTA legislation and what impact it has on your organization.
- Check that your current administration and time registration systems meet the new requirements.
- Schedule training courses or information sessions for your team about upcoming changes.
4. How to arrange your 2025 year-end
The end of the year ensures that you can start the new year on a clean sheet. This process involves more than just closing the books. It's important to check all finances and correct any mistakes before entering the new year.
Action points:
- Check all outstanding invoices and make sure they have been paid or are correctly booked as outstanding.
- Process all declarations, expenses and trips for a complete overview of your financial situation.
- Complete projects that are linked to the current financial year 2025.
- Generate reports on turnover, costs, and profits to analyze how your organization performed in 2025.
💡 Tip for Timechimp users: By connecting TimeChimp to Power BI, you can easily create comprehensive reports and perform analyses.
5. Make a plan for the year transition
The transition from one financial year to the next is a good time to evaluate and optimize processes. By making a concrete plan, you ensure that you are ready for a flying start in January.
Action points:
- Project evaluation: Analyze ongoing projects and identify which ones will continue in 2026.
- Set budgets per project and by department, based on previous year's results.
- Planning: Make sure you plan the first weeks of the new year in a clear and organized way, so everyone knows what is expected of them.
- Make sure your team is aware of the plans for 2026 to make the year transition as smooth as possible.
💡 Tip for Timechimp users: Plan the first weeks of the new year effortlessly and clearly with the Planning Module. Distribute tasks within your team and easily keep an overview. This way, you can start the year efficiently and well prepared.
7. Mobility budget and sustainable travel
Sustainable travel is becoming increasingly important, both for employees and employers. With the Work-related Passenger Mobility Act companies with more than 100 employees are obliged to contribute to a more sustainable mobility policy.
A mobility budget offers a flexible solution for employees and encourages more sustainable behavior, while the company can save costs and gain tax benefits.
Action points:
- Provide insight into the declarations and reports for all trips in order to easily manage mileage registration.
- Communicate to your employees what the mobility budget includes and how they can make use of it and register it.
- Make sure you can submit the requested 2025 data for the reporting obligation by 30 June 2026.
💡 Tip for Timechimp users: With TimeChimp, you can easily record commutes and business trips.
8. Modification of leave arrangements
New rules for vacation and compensation hours come into force. Allocating a leave balance correctly to your employees ensures transparency and prevents frustration. With a good overview, you can start 2026 organized and transparent.
Action points:
- Check the current balance: Make sure leave days from 2025 will be transferred or expired properly, depending on policy.
- Add the new balance: Add the balance to all your employees at once under the new leave arrangements.
- Communicate clearly: Let employees know what their new balance is and make it clear where they can apply for leave.
- Create different “pots”: In advance, create different types of leave cards for statutory and non-statutory leave.
💡 Tip for Timechimp users: TimeChimp makes it easy to keep track of leave correctly according to the new regulations. Employees have real-time insight into their leave balance and can easily request leave, and you can approve it immediately. So organized.
9. Preparation of tax returns
Good preparation prevents stress and ensures efficient tax returns. This starts with a complete overview of your administration.
Action points:
- Start collecting all the necessary documents for your tax return on time.
- Make sure that employees have entered all their declarations and kilometers.
- Make sure that all your 2025 hours have been offered and that the rejected hours have been processed.
- List possible deductions and discuss them with your tax advisor.
- Write down important dates for the declaration in your agenda, so you will never be faced with surprises.
10. Schedule holidays
Good holiday planning ensures that your employees can leave the office behind with peace of mind. During peak periods, keeping an overview of these days is crucial.
Action points:
- Make an overview of the holidays so that everyone knows which days the organization is closed.
- Encourage timely leave requests: by planning leave early, you can prevent last-minute chaos and avoid gaps in the schedule.
💡 Tip for Timechimp users: In this article, you can read how to set up the holidays for your employees in your area.
11. Invoicing prefix
A billing 'prefix' provides a professional look and makes your administration organized. This way, you know immediately when the invoice has been created.
Action points:
- Make sure you have created all 2025 invoices so that you can close the financial year. Be aware of which invoices are still outstanding, have not been paid and which hours still need to be invoiced.
- After the last invoice of 2025, set the new prefix for 2026: For example, use the year followed by a unique number (e.g. 2026-001).
💡 Tip for Timechimp users: Add the new invoice prefix to your settings once you've completed all invoices before 2025. In this article, you'll find out where to do this.
12. Updating prices
A new year also means new prices. Updating prices at the beginning of the year ensures that you continue to respond to inflation, higher costs or market developments.
Action points:
- Analyze your current rates and see if they are still in line with costs and market prices.
- Communicate any price changes to your customers in good time so that they are aware of the new rates.
- Adjust the new rates in your systems: make sure the costs for your employees, projects, and tasks are updated. For example, registrations for 2026 are automatically charged with these new costs.
Conclusion
With these tips, you'll have everything you need to complete your administration before 2025 and start 2026 organized. Whether it's accurate time registration, new leave arrangements or stricter enforcement among freelancers: good preparation prevents stress and gives your team a clear start to the new year.
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