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Here in the Netherlands my employer's data is all pre-filled in. Just have to log in to a mobile app and sign with my citizen's digital ID. (just a login with 2

Here in the Netherlands my employer's data is all pre-filled in. Just have to log in to a mobile app and sign with my citizen's digital ID. (just a login with 2FA). All of that takes about 3 minutes, and it's pretty much sufficient for like 80-90% of my peers (fresh out of college). But with more complex deductions, you need to use the 'full web app', which is also pre-filled but comes with tons of questions. They take me about 20-30 minutes, because I know how it all works nowadays. But the first time it took me 2 hours cause there's lots of definitions and words that aren't frequently used in the Dutch language.

golergka 10y ago
Wait; employees have to fill taxes themselves? Why?
- jschulenklopper 10y ago
  Employers withhold part of your salary - I think it's a fixed percentage based on the height of the salary - and pay that to the tax authority. Yearly, citizens file their taxes, giving information that the employer doesn't have or does not take into account (like gifts to charity, partner income, mortgage interest paid, health care related costs, tax paid on dividend, ...) that results in more or less taxes that should have been paid. After receiving that tax-related information, the DTA calculates what you should pay additionally, or whether you get some of the taxes paid back.
bostik 10y ago
The Finnish system has improved to the point where I can finally say that filing tax returns is a pleasant experience. We get pre-filled tax forms which include salaries and all capital gains from dividends. If the figures are correct, you don't need to do anything: the return has been filed for you. If you need to change or update the information, then you can do it online. The only time an individual (like me) has to actually add to the pre-filled data is when they have additional income from properties or land. Back in 2013, when the online system first started to accept rental income, I would still need to fill in every freaking month. Separately. In 2014, I needed to provide the personal details of the tenants, but at least the rental income and expenses could be aggregated. For tax year 2016, I only needed to provide the aggregate income and expense for the properties in question. My tax returns used to be really complicated, and for nearly a decade the Finnish tax authorities tried to systematically tax me twice on the same income. I used to send documents and letters in every year. But that has changed. When I filed my taxes in March, it took me a grand total of 10 minutes. If I hadn't had the rental income to deal with, it would have been less than 5 minutes. So yes: it's finally a pleasant experience.

golergka 10y ago

Wait; employees have to fill taxes themselves? Why?

jschulenklopper 10y ago
Employers withhold part of your salary - I think it's a fixed percentage based on the height of the salary - and pay that to the tax authority. Yearly, citizens file their taxes, giving information that the employer doesn't have or does not take into account (like gifts to charity, partner income, mortgage interest paid, health care related costs, tax paid on dividend, ...) that results in more or less taxes that should have been paid. After receiving that tax-related information, the DTA calculates what you should pay additionally, or whether you get some of the taxes paid back.

bostik 10y ago

The Finnish system has improved to the point where I can finally say that filing tax returns is a pleasant experience. We get pre-filled tax forms which include salaries and all capital gains from dividends. If the figures are correct, you don't need to do anything: the return has been filed for you. If you need to change or update the information, then you can do it online. The only time an individual (like me) has to actually add to the pre-filled data is when they have additional income from properties or land. Back in 2013, when the online system first started to accept rental income, I would still need to fill in every freaking month. Separately. In 2014, I needed to provide the personal details of the tenants, but at least the rental income and expenses could be aggregated. For tax year 2016, I only needed to provide the aggregate income and expense for the properties in question. My tax returns used to be really complicated, and for nearly a decade the Finnish tax authorities tried to systematically tax me twice on the same income. I used to send documents and letters in every year. But that has changed. When I filed my taxes in March, it took me a grand total of 10 minutes. If I hadn't had the rental income to deal with, it would have been less than 5 minutes. So yes: it's finally a pleasant experience.