How do you file your tax return in 2023?

If you have a job and have an income, you must fill in a tax return every year. This is to see if enough tax has been paid.

If you don't do this or don’t do it in time, you can get a risk a fine. As a student, you must therefore also complete your tax return.

Do you want to file a tax return for 2022? Then you can do that from March 1. Then your declaration is ready in Mijn Belastingdienst. Make sure to do you file a tax return before July 14, 2023. But, how do you file a tax return? What do you need for your tax return, and what should you pay attention to when completing your tax return? Read it in this blog. 

How do you file a tax return?

This can be done very easily with your DigiD on the website of the Belastingdienst.. There is also an easy-to-use and handy app, 'Income tax return', which is created by the Dutch government. The app can be downloaded at IOS and Android. Nowadays, the tax authorities already collect a lot of information that you will need, so it is only necessary that you check that data if it is correct. You may need to change your details, or add some information. Once you have filled in everything, sign it with your DigiD and then click the 'Send' button. When you see the 'Receipt confirmation' page, you are done, this means that the Belastingdienst has received your submitted request. Usually you will receive a message within 4 weeks.

Tip: After you have sent your application for a provisional assessment, you can always check what you have entered. You only need to log in to Mijn Belastingdienst. There you will find a pdf with the information you entered.

What do you need to complete your tax return?

Completing the tax return seems more difficult than it is, but good preparation is half the work. Therefore, make sure you have all the information and documents at hand so that you can go through the tax return in no time. The website of the Belastingdienst lists exactly which documents these are, but if you are a student you only need the following:

When you are a student you have few deductions. The most important thing you need when completing the tax return is the annual statement for 2022. You have probably already received this from your employer. Isn't this the case? Then contact them.

What should you pay attention to when filling the tax return?

Many of your details have already been filled in by the Belastingdienst. All you have to do is compare this data with the data on your own papers, such as your annual statement. Take your annual statement and check whether the tax deducted and wages received are the same as those in your tax return.

If anything else is missing or incorrect, you must supplement or correct this information. Additions or improvements can only be made via the website, not via the app.

The deductible item where things often go 'wrong' with students is the payroll tax credit. In the Netherlands, you may only apply for a payroll tax credit from one employer. Employers sometimes misinform about this, which means that you run the risk that you have paid too little tax. As a result, it may be that the tax return shows that you still have to pay money back. Read more about payroll tax credit. Read the blog about payroll tax credit here.

Filled everything in? And now? What do you do after checking your data?

After checking all your data, you will receive a calculation of your income tax. This may be more or less than the tax you paid. Depending on how much you have given too much or too little, you can get money back or have to pay it back.

If you have paid too much tax, the tax return may be positive. Is the amount you have transferred too much more than €16? That means you get this back. This amount will be refunded to your account just before the summer. For this reason, some students choose to deliberately turn off their payroll tax and use it as a kind of piggy bank.

Have you paid too little tax? Then it gets more annoying. Is the amount that you have paid too little more than €49? Then you will still have to pay it.

At the end of your tax return, you sign it with your DigiD and it will be sent back to the tax authorities. They will check the data again. Please note: even if you do not sign your return and do not return it to the tax authorities, your return will still be checked and you risk a fine.

Tax advantage if you work through an employment agency, like Recruit a Student 

A major advantage of working through an employment agency is that the employment agency is always your employer. This way you can work for different clients under the same contract. This means that you can simply turn on your payroll tax credit without causing problems with your tax return. Recruit a Student is always looking for young motivated students who want to discover and develop themselves in the labor market. Are you interested in this? Register now and immediately view the vacancies that are open in your area.