March 1st to April 30st is the main tax filing season in the Netherlands. Many taxpayers entrust their preparation and transmission to the tax authorities (Belastingdienst) to specialists - tax intermediaries (intermediair). Belastingdienst sends paper letters of power of attorney (machtiging). People doubt whether they need to be activated? No need to be afraid! In the Netherlands this is standard and safe practice.
What is a power of attorney (machtiging) for a tax intermediary?
The taxpayer receives as many as 3 machtiging letters:
- Registration machtiging intermediair goedkeuren. This letter contains a power of attorney code that needs to be activated.
- Registration machtiging intermediair afwijzen of intrekken. This is a letter to deactivate the power of attorney code if you decide to refuse the services of a previously selected intermediary.
- Activeren machtigingsregistrations Serviceberichten Aanslag voor uw intermediair. This is a power of attorney to allow an intermediary to review your declaration.
Usually only the first letter is used to activate the power of attorney code. Other letters should be ignored. Details about these letters - in our article.
By activating the code from the first email, you authorize your tax intermediary to access your tax information held by Belastingdienst.
How is customer data used?
Intermediaries use the data contained in the Belastingdienst databases to quickly and accurately complete your declarations. Access to your data allows you to check data through tax authorities’ databases, and in some cases, obtain information that the customer cannot provide.
Of course, you will still have to collect documents confirming data that is not yet in the Belastingdienst databases (earnings, deductions, foreign income, costs of buying a house, investments and savings). However, the intermediary will be able to obtain data on balances on Dutch accounts, salaries received in the Netherlands, benefits received in the Netherlands, information on rent and WOZ-waarde necessary for processing mortgage and other deductions and calculating taxes, if necessary. All this speeds up the processing of declarations and improves the quality of their preparation.
There is no need to be afraid to issue a power of attorney to trusted intermediaries, such as Nalog.nl! They receive limited access to information and use it only in the interests of the client.
We received a letter from the tax office machtiging? Activate it using the link.
