From 1 January 2005 it is obligated for entrepreneurs to file their income tax returns and VAT returns electronically. The tax return will then be sent via a secured connection and with your own password to the tax office. The wage tax returns will follow in 2006.

For everybody else it was not obligated to file the tax return electronically yet. This has changed as of 1 january 2006. All the tax returns must now be filed electronically except the M form. This form can only be filed in paper.

There are several benefits of filing electronically:

1. We get a confirmation of receipt from the tax office, so we will always know that the tax office has received your tax return.
2. The chance of mistakes is less, since the tax return will be put into the system of the tax office automatically. There is no manual work necessary anymore which reduces the chance of mistakes made by the tax office.
3. We can file the tax return quicker and the tax office can deal with the return quicker.
4. We have a total picture of all the tax returns we take care of and what the current situation is.
5. We automatically receive digital copies of the tax assessments as soon as they are created by the tax office. This way we can take immediate action if necessary.

So nothing but benefits in our opinion, as long as the system works.

If we file the tax return for you electronically then we will have to sign the tax return electronically. This is done with a unique digital key which is provided by Diginotar, a digital notary appointed by the government. This key is combined with our tax advisor number and digital postbox. Since we would like to be sure that you agree with the tax return as we file it we will send you a copy of the tax return together with a statement of acceptance which you need to sign. The statement contains a unique fingerprint which is identical to the fingerprint as shown on the tax return. So your approval will only apply to the tax return as presented to you. As soon as changes are made to the tax return this fingerprint will change and not match with the fingerprint on the original statement of acceptance anymore. This is the guarantee that the tax return is not filed with different information then what you have accepted.

The above means that you can receive different papers from us then you are used to from previous years.