Full Service Accountancy

Schipper Accountants is a full service accountancy company offering a wide range of services, including accountancy, tax consulting, auditing, pension advice, personnel services and corporate finance. Schipper’s history dates back to 1938. Today, we have 10 branches in the Southwest of the Netherlands.

Due to our close proximity to the Belgian border we are specialized in cross border situations in Dutch income tax returns. For a number of years now, we offer our services to expats hired by local businesses. Filing a tax return, especially when you have started to work in a foreign country, can be difficult. Every country does things in their own way and have their own set of rules. While our main specialty are Dutch tax returns, we take care of Belgian tax returns too; also if you live in Belgium and work in the Netherlands.

It is our experience that expats/internationals who come to work in the Netherlands are usually not invited to file a Dutch tax return. If you are not invited to file a tax return, you are often not obligated to file a tax return. However, you are always allowed to voluntarily file a tax return. This might even be advantageous. Expats with a moderate to high income and who have started working in the Netherlands, are during the course of the year often entitled to a substantial tax rebate. You can only get the tax rebate if you file a tax return.

Some internationals will migrate to the Netherlands. From the moment you migrate to the Netherlands and become a fiscal resident, the Netherlands is allowed to tax your worldwide income. Therefore, if income arises from somewhere outside the Netherlands, it must be included in the Dutch tax return. Fortunately,  the Netherlands have concluded tax treaties with most countries in the world. The non-Dutch income might therefore be exempt from taxation in the Netherlands, if the treaty says so. However, in most treaties the right to tax savings is allocated to the country of residency, which would be the Netherlands. Our country has a practical way of taxing savings. Based on the underlying value of the assets, a fictitious income is calculated and that income is then taxed. Therefore, when filing a tax return in the Netherlands, the value of all your worldwide savings, stocks etc., must be included in your tax return.

Mortgage interest deduction; the mortgage interest for your main residence might be tax deductible, but can only be claimed if you file a tax return.

30% ruling; expats who start to work in the Netherlands are confronted with a lot of additional expenses. An employer is allowed to reimburse these expenses tax free. Normally the employee will have to prove that the expenses actually arose. Expats qualifying for the 30% ruling do not have to prove this. It is assumed that 30% of the employee's gross wage is to cover expenses and therefore tax free. The employer and employee may apply for the 30% ruling together, and if granted, 30% of the employee's wages are tax free for a period of five (5) years. Additionally, expats qualifying for the 30% ruling may opt for partial non-residency in their income tax return. As a consequence no tax will be due on savings.

Allowances; when expats/internationals come to work in the Netherlands,it can be the case that they also pay social security premiums. This may entitle to certain allowances. Since most of the allowances are income dependent,  the income tax return is used to assess the right to the allowance. We can assist with the application.

Schipper Accountants can assist with a range of fiscal problems. Please contact us to see what we can do for you and of course we can give you a quote beforehand on the cost of our services.

The Expat Center Zeeland can provide a contact person.

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