Since the beginning of last week, we have all be able to fill in our tax returns online. Those of us that still file their tax return on paper will receive their tax form in the post very soon. Filling in a tax return can often prove time-consuming and stressful and given the complexity of some returns; mistakes can easily be made. In future, those of us that make a mistake on our tax return will no longer have to worry about being given a fine automatically.
A mistake in your tax return will no longer automatically result in a fine
Published:
It's the time of year again during which people in Belgium have to file their tax returns. For most of us this is a task that we don’t relish. In Flanders 24 codes have disappeared from the tax form, while 30 new codes have been added.
One of the new rules relating to this year’s tax declaration is that anyone who cycles to work and receives a mileage allowance for doing so must now declare it. Similarly, people that have not yet retired and do a flexi job must now declare the income they earn from their flexi job.
Worthy of note is that in future making a lone mistake on your tax return won’t result in you having to pay a 10% surcharge on your tax bill for the incorrectly declared amount. The Federal Finance Minister Jan Jambon (Flemish nationalist) says that one should not automatically assume that people that make a mistake on the tax return do so out of ill-intent.
Mr Jambon told VRT News that "People can always make a mistake. You shouldn't then automatically assume that is a mistake has been made through ill-intent. It is all so complex Of course, if one makes the same mistake several times then this would point to fraud being at play".
Fewer paper tax returns
The number of people filing their tax returns on paper is decreasing. This year only those that filed a paper tax return last year will receive a brown envelope with a tax form. Those who received a brown envelope last year but filed their return via the Tax-On-Web platform instead, will receive a letter inviting them to complete the return online or to contact the Tax Office.
This year only between 210,000 and 250,000 envelopes containing paper tax returns will be sent out. This compares to around 1 million big brown envelopes last year. Last year just 5% of taxpayers filed a paper tax return.
Those filing a paper tax return have until midnight on 30 June to do so. Those filing their tax return via Tax-On-Web can do so until 15 July. 1,400 Finance Ministry staff are available to assist members of the public that need help filling in their tax returns.