Tax office of the Netherlands (Belastingdienst)

By Manja van KesterenUpdated on Apr 25, 2025

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All expats who live and work in the Netherlands will have contact with the tax office (Belastingdienst) at one point or another.

What is the Belastingdienst?

The Belastingdienst, which literally means "tax service" or Dutch tax office, is the government department responsible for the assessment and collection of taxes, custom duties and excise duties in the Netherlands. The Dutch tax office falls under the Dutch Ministry of Finance and also manages the payment of social allowances such as healthcare benefits and unemployment benefits.

Expats and the Dutch tax office

Most expats in the Netherlands come into contact with the Belastingdienst when they:

Apply for a BSN
File an annual income tax return
Apply for government allowances such as rent allowance or child benefits
Apply for the 30% ruling
Start a business or become a freelancer

Other tax organisations in the Netherlands

The Belastingdienst is not the only government organisation in the Netherlands authorised to collect taxes. Local city councils (gemeenten) also collect property, waste and tourist taxes while regional water boards (waterschappen) have rates for flood protection and clean water.

Correspondence with the Belastingdienst

Since 2016, the Belastingdienst has done all of its communication online. To receive digital correspondence from the Dutch tax office, instead of the old blue envelopes via mail, you need to set up your online account at mijnoverheid.nl using your DigiD.

Note: Never ignore letters or messages from the Dutch tax office! They often require you to take action.

Using the Belastingdienst online services

The Belastingdienst offers two main online services - Mijn Belastingdienst and Mijn Toeslagen - where you can complete a number of administrative tasks.

Via Mijn Belastingdienst, you can:

File and amend your income tax return
Request an extension for your income tax return
File other tax returns such as for inheritance tax or gift tax

Via your Mijn Toeslagen account, you can apply for benefits and allowances, change your details, and read decisions regarding your applications, as well as the calculations for your benefits.

Calling the Dutch tax office

You can call the Belastingtelefoon for free on 0800 0543 (8am - 8pm Monday to Thursday, 8am - 5pm Friday) to receive information and assistance on all tax-related issues. The phone line is only available in Dutch. If you are calling from abroad, the number is +31 555 385 385.

Belastingdienst phone line and English

Since 2008, the Dutch tax office phone helpdesk is only available to callers in Dutch. This is apparently to avoid misunderstandings between clients and tax office employees, especially if such miscommunications lead to financial mistakes and legal implications.

There is a small chance that employees at local Belastingdienst offices may speak English to you in person, or that written correspondence may receive a reply in English - but it depends on the person who replies. To overcome this language obstacle, it is best to seek out a tax advisor.

Visiting the Dutch tax office

There are Belastingdienst offices all over the Netherlands which you can visit in person. You must make an appointment in advance by calling the Belastingtelefoon on 0800 0543 (free).