Must I file a tax return if I have not received an invitation?
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Detailed explanation, checklist and sources
Sometimes you must. Complete and check the return in Mijn Belastingdienst and compare it with the thresholds for the correct year. Assets relevant to income-related schemes can also make filing necessary. Having no invitation is not a general exemption.
Dutch tax return 2025: help with filling it in
Prepare your Dutch income tax return for 2025. Choose your situation for explanations of 26 fields, examples, document checks and a downloadable guide.
On this page
1. No invitation does not mean no obligation
This guidance concerns Dutch income tax for individuals. You may have to file even without an invitation. If you have received a letter, follow its instruction and deadline. A changed address or missed digital message is therefore a reason to check your post and Berichtenbox as well.
2. Check the correct tax year
Open the return for the correct year in Mijn Belastingdienst and complete all the information. Check pre-filled amounts against your own annual records. You can view the calculation before submitting. Amounts and thresholds vary by tax year; do not automatically apply 2025 information to 2026.
3. Compare the annual thresholds
For the 2025 return, the Belastingdienst states that you must file if you owe €58 or more, before 14 July 2026. That date has now passed; act as soon as possible if you missed this obligation. If you are due a refund of €19 or more, the Belastingdienst recommends submitting the return. Check the official information for other years.
4. Remember income-related schemes
There is an important exception to looking only at the amount payable or refundable. For income-related schemes, such as toeslagen or subsidised legal aid, your assets or those of your partner or minor children can make a return necessary. Check the official asset threshold and reference date for that year. Do not conclude that nothing is required merely because the calculated amount is small. For this exception, the 2025 return guidance specifies assets above €37,395, or €74,790 with a tax partner. This is not the general box 3 exemption or automatically the asset limit for every benefit.
5. Submit and keep confirmation
If filing is required or appropriate, complete signing and submission and keep the receipt confirmation. Filling in a return or saving a PDF alone does not submit it. Our checklist supports preparation; it does not replace the official return form or automatically determine your tax obligations.
6. Unsure, or missed a deadline?
Record why you are unsure: no invitation, unclear income, assets, an international situation or a missed date. Use that information to seek specific help from the Belastingdienst or through our own assistance form. Non-resident tax liability, emigration and business situations may need additional assessment. If you may have a filing obligation, do not wait for a future letter.
Can I view the calculation without immediately filing a return?
Yes. You can enter information and view the result before signing and submitting. Afterwards, check whether you must file and do so in time; saving only the calculation is not enough.
Documents to prepare
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Tax year and any filing invitation or Berichtenbox message
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- Tax year and any filing invitation or Berichtenbox message
- All annual income statements and other income checked
- Assets and relevant income-related schemes
- Result compared with that year's official thresholds
- Deadline for receipt recorded
- Submission and receipt confirmation checked
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Belastingdienst · Aangifteplicht zonder brief ↗Belastingdienst · Aangifte inkomstenbelasting ↗Sources may be in Dutch. General information about Dutch law, not individual legal advice.