First of all, welcome to the Netherlands!
When you start working in another country, a lot of (tax) issues can come up. We understand that this can be difficult and that is why we are happy to help you.
We have several international clients who moved to the Netherlands, and we use this section to answer the most frequently asked questions, especially for expats.
Which residence permits are there?
Do you want to work in the Netherlands? You need a residence permit for a stay of more than 90 days unless you:
- have a nationality of a country that belongs to the EU, European Economic Area Space or Switzerland.
- Are in possession of a residence permit for research issued by another Member State of the European Union and you will execute part of the studies in the Netherlands. See www.ind.nl for more information.
Which residence permits are there to work?
When you found a job, your employer requests a residence permit for you. You can be admitted for regular work in salaried employment, seasonal work, work experience, transfer within an enterprise, as highly skilled migrant, as a holder of a European blue card, (guest) teacher, doctor in training or as researcher within the meaning of the guideline. Sometimes, different residence permits are possible. In that case, it is up to the employer to make a choice.
Do you want to work in the Netherlands but have not found an employer yet? If you are highly educated, you may be eligible for a residence permit for an orientation year for highly educated people. This allows you to stay in the Netherlands for a maximum of 1 year to find a job as a highly skilled migrant. During the search year you can accept any job or internship.
What is a DigiD?
DigiD (Digital Identification) is an online ID that allows you to identify yourself when making arrangements on the internet, such as with the government, educational institutes, healthcare institutions or your pension fund. When you start living in the Netherlands, you have to apply for a DigiD.
You use your DigiD to do your online administration in The Netherlands. This also includes doing your taxes, applying for benefits and allowances,
How do I apply for a DigiD?
You can apply for a DigiD for free at the website of DigiD by clicking the button that says “apply“. There are three steps you have to go through. Unfortunately, they are only in Dutch. We will explain the steps here shortly:
Step 1 | Personal information
Here, you have to fill in your personal information like BSN, date of birth, postal code and (additional) house number.
Step 2 | Text message authentication
In this step, you can make your DigiD extra secure, by getting a text message authentication when logging in with your DigiD.
Step 3 | Username and passport
In the last step, you choose your username and password (you have to retype this to prevent mistakes). Also, you fill in your number, e-mail address, and you have to accept the terms.
Can I file an online tax return?
The first year you come to the Netherlands, you have to file the migration tax return form (M-form). It is a big booklet of 43 pages, only in Dutch, and not available online. You may wonder why but unfortunately, it is true. We understand that this makes it even harder for you. That is why we are happy to help you with filing your M-form. For more information about the M-form, click here.
Once you filed the M-form in the first year, it is possible to file your tax return online for the next years. This online tax return is called the P-form. You can do this by logging into the website of the Belastingdienst with your DigiD. For more information, click here.
When does the Dutch fiscal year begin and end?
In the Netherlands, the fiscal year is equivalent to the calendar year. So the fiscal year starts on the 1st of January till the 31st of December.
This can be confusing because not every country uses these dates. In some countries, for example, the fiscal year is from July till June or April till March.
Give us a call and we are happy to help!
Do you still have questions after reading the frequently asked questions of our customers? Don’t hesitate to ask them. Or do you want help with filing the annual tax return? Fill in our contact form or give us a call on +31 (0)20 – 2170120.
