2024-04-02 06:00:00
“They say it’s very easy these days to file taxes. But that’s not it. I tried yesterday, but it didn’t work.” Nicci, who prefers not to have her surname in the newspaper (“You sometimes hear such scary stories, about threats and such”), wanted to call the Tax Authorities, but when she crossed the Stadhuisplein in Almere-Stad, she suddenly saw that blue bus. She decided to submit her question immediately.
“Up until now I have gotten something back every year, but now I have to pay a lot of money. How is that possible?” she asks in despair. “My husband normally took care of that, but he passed away. Now I suddenly had to start working with DigiD. I didn’t manage that well.”
Nicci is advised to make an appointment at the tax office a little further away. They can help her there. “I didn’t know that at all,” says Nicci. “You should have just seen me, I was almost in tears. But now I have a smile on my face again. That gentleman helped me so nicely.”
Especially a lot of referrals
The Tax Authorities can help with the annual tax return. But less than five percent of Dutch people know this, and that is why the Tax Authorities bus is now traveling through the country. It visits nine cities throughout the country between the end of March and mid-April. “A little help is never far away,” reads the message on the side of the bus. And neither is coffee, because passers-by can get it for free.
The Tax Authorities Bus is not intended for overly detailed questions. “People cannot come here for help with a folder under their arm or a pocket full of unopened envelopes,” says Tax Authorities employee Bjorn Meijer. “We especially want to let people know where they can get that help.”
Meijer sums up: “There are 21 tax offices and sixteen support points in our country where employees are ready to support people with tax-related matters. They can also go there for questions about allowances or payment issues.” In addition, libraries, social workers and social counselors offer help in this area, says Meijer. “That is also unknown to many people.”
Above expectations
In the meantime, passers-by regularly sit on the blue stools around the blue table that the employees of the Tax Authorities bus, dressed in blue jackets, have placed. They even laid a piece of blue carpet on the pavement.
The run-up has exceeded expectations, says employee Allaart Peeks. “I get all kinds of questions. About income from abroad, for example, about how to make an appointment with the tax authorities, or about property tax. For the latter, I refer to the back,” says Peeks with a nod to the town hall, just behind the bus. “The property tax runs through the municipality, and people often don’t know that.”
“I had a question,” a passerby interrupts hesitantly. “I always have my tax return done by a tax consultant, but he no longer responds to my emails. Now I have to do it myself, but my eyesight is poor. I don’t see the difference between a 6 and an 8.” She is also advised to make an appointment at the tax office. “Oh yes, it’s at the station, right? Then I’ll take my stuff with me. And a magnifying glass.”
Ready in fifteen minutes
It is not news to everyone that the Tax Authorities can help with their tax return. Resident Bert Smit has been making an appointment at the tax office for twenty years. “I take all my documents with me and I’m done in fifteen minutes,” he says. “The big advantage of this is that if something deviates from the previous declaration, you can immediately ask what to do with it.” He is planning a slightly longer appointment next year, he announces. “We bought a new house this year.”
Smit thinks the Tax Authorities bus is a good idea. “The tax authorities were negatively in the news for a while, which did them no good. This might create a little more trust.”
Bjorn Meijer hopes so too. “Things have certainly gone wrong in the past, but we prefer to look ahead. By pointing out possible help and their right to benefits, we hope to improve their income.”
“Young people in particular leave a lot behind,” says colleague Peeks. “As soon as you start working as a shelf stacker and payroll tax is withheld, you can request a refund. Even if it’s just a few bucks, it’s still worth it. You can enjoy that night out again.”
Nicci’s surname is known to the editors.
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