DutchNews.nl - Tax office ordered to publish tax rulings

Tax office ordered to publish tax rulings

Monday 11 May 2009

The tax office has been ordered to make public some 20 advance tax agreements made with multinationals and industrial sectors, the Telegraaf reports on Monday.

The paper says tax news service Fiscaal up to Date has used freedom of information legislation to force the tax office to publish the deals.

One ruling covering the sex industry states that prostitutes can claim 20% of their income as tax-free expenses - an agreement which breaks the law, the paper says.

Advance tax rulings

The company hopes forcing the tax office to reveal details of other advance tax rulings made with major companies may uncover other illegal deals.

The tax office wants to seal 1,500 covenants to cover sectors such as housing corporations, car dealers, staffing agencies and churches. By agreeing on tax payments in advance, companies have less red tape to deal with and tax inspectors only intervene when they suspect the covenant is being broken.

The Dutch practise of agreeing tax rulings in advance is a major draw to foreign firms.

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Its a well known fact that, the Netherlands actively encourages multinationals to set up their base here by promoting tax breaks and incentives. Moreover, there is no tax on entertainment royalties. Now thats a good reason why the Rolling Stones and U2 set up their flags of convenience. The advanced tax ruling set-up is flexible, generous and also allows multinationals and entertainers to practically agree their due tax bills before setting-up for business.

Judging by the evidence, the Tax Office is guilty of Institutional discrimination against the average single or family person who earn their living and pay their due (full) taxes as good civilian citizens of a democratic society, while in real life they are subsidizing the multinationals and entertainers (Tax-dodgers) who have set-up bases of convenience here in the Netherlands, by invitation, and with the full approval of the Tax Office. Why has the Tax office forsaken the commoners (who finance and support this parasitical bureaucratic money-making machine we call Tax Office, from spent blood, sweat and tears while trying to earn a hand-to-mouth existence), in favour of multinationals and entertainers (Tax dodgers) whose main objective is to make a profit by exploiting Tax regulations loopholes by invitation and with full approval of the Tax Office ? Suffice to say that, the Tax Office has become an accomplice in this global corporate financial fraud of its own making, and is also guilty of Institutional Discrimination against the commoners. Where is the common sense of accountability, governance and justice ?

By Small Brother | May 11, 2009 4:24 PM

Any institution which does not suppose the people good, and the magistrate (insert tax office) corruptible, is evil.
Maximilien Robespierre (where are you?)

By AW | May 11, 2009 7:36 PM

Yeah! Thats what i say too! But if we don't take action against the tax office, if we merely eat our dinner, watch tv and let it happen, then we can't expect better.

What would tell the average, tax paying good civilian citizen (e.g. me) to *do* about these tax dodgers?

By Small Brothers little brother | May 11, 2009 7:54 PM

Sounds like this type of taxation environment encourages everyone to cheat on their tax where ever possible. Why pay more than you can get away with?

By Viv | May 12, 2009 12:46 AM

It is always the average people who surfer. 42% of your gross income is taken by the tax office while the multinationals and industrial sectors are allow to dodge taxes.

By kwabena | May 12, 2009 7:53 AM

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