Search Q&A
Suddenly I owe tax?
As per usual I receive my yearly tax forms back, and in the last 6 years I've been living in Belgium I typically receive on average about 800 euros tax back per year
This year suddenly, I have to pay approx 40 euros
Should I go to my local tax office and challenge this?
Are there any English speaking outlets or services where I can get advice on this?
Any help would be great, thanks
There have been many questions about tax on this site over the years and the overwhelming belief seems to be that we will all always get a rebate.
It isn't so.
I've had both rebates and demands - though rebates are more common. However there has always been a print out to show clearly how the figures have been arrived at and I have never found them to be at fault.
Check out the calculation that you have been given to confirm that the figures are accurate. Unless you can find a discrepancy, you owe €40!
Bad luck with your tax office!
In my commune they have always been helpful and, on seeing my obviously English name, start to speak English even though my Dutch is more than adequate.
All you can do is double check YOUR figures and, if you can see an obvious mistake, see whether a visit to your tax office works - perhaps taking a Dutch speaker who you trust with knowledge of your finances.
Several years ago I was told I have to pay about a thousand when I clearly expected a rebate of well over a thousand, they sent another letter saying they will rebate about 800, then they asked for the thousand again, and finally came to rebate close to 2000. It took about two months for this drama. So if in doubt, do check, mine is not the only case.
I lived in Belgium for 14 years. My wife was always the major earner though I did my bit and when I questioned taxation on what was clearly a very low wage (mine), I was told we would get money back. Ha! Not ONCE did we see a rebates, not ONCE!
In fact all we saw was a steadily rising tax bill. Tax on car, tax on phone, tax on internet......It just never stopped going UP.
Far from a refund, my "favourite" was when my Wife was paid her annual bonus. She was left with roughly 40 percent of the amount awarded, and when you went to the tax office to complete the return, the amount to pay was pretty much the 40 percent left over! That happened year after year!
Now where the hell did that bonus go?
Best, from Prague.
Surprise every year. Mine is usually 1000 either way, but I have had it up to over 5000 both ways. The joys of being self-employed.
