4 ms·

I recognize this as well. I once didn't fill in my Dutch VAT taxes (0 euro's by the way, it was an administrative formality) and I was fined. Another time the

I recognize this as well. I once didn't fill in my Dutch VAT taxes (0 euro's by the way, it was an administrative formality) and I was fined. Another time the tax authorities didn't pay me money back for almost 9 months, and it was only because I found out and they forgot because of some administrative mishap. However, I'm not allowed to fine them. I find it weird, because I'm pretty sure the mistake is similar in behavior and intention. Yet, I have to pay up and they don't.

smegger001 6y ago
ultimately it comes down to because they have more guns and goons than you do.
- anoncake 6y ago
  It comes down to because allowing the state to fine its citizens is necessary while allowing each citizen to fine the state would be absurd.
  - kebman 6y ago
    Why do states need to pay reparations from time to time, then?
    - anoncake 6y ago
      To whom?
tialaramex 6y ago
Huh. HMRC in the UK realised they owed me money back in, IIRC 2018 and kept sending me actual paper cheques as their computer worked through consequences of the mistake year by year for the next few weeks. It was tiresome actually because I had to go to a physical bank, but I guess if it annoyed me that much I needn't have paid the cheques in. They pay 0.5% (which is better than most of my bank accounts) on all sums they owe as a result of their own mistake rather than either your mistake or some third party screwing up (e.g. your employer fat-fingers paperwork causing you to pay say £1000 extra tax, you don't notice for two years, then you point out the mistake, HMRC are happy to fix it but won't pay you 0.5% interest on the mistake because it wasn't their fault)
- n4r9 6y ago
  Yes, HMRC is generally a very good service. Will be a sad day when it gets outsourced to a contractor:(
kebman 6y ago
Though you may not know it, you may still be eligible for penalty interest on the sum. State and governmental bodies often don't bother to mention loopholes that goes against their favour, however, so you'll have to look them up yourself. I don't know Dutch tax laws, sadly.

smegger001 6y ago

ultimately it comes down to because they have more guns and goons than you do.

anoncake 6y ago
It comes down to because allowing the state to fine its citizens is necessary while allowing each citizen to fine the state would be absurd.
- kebman 6y ago
  Why do states need to pay reparations from time to time, then?
  - anoncake 6y ago
    To whom?

tialaramex 6y ago

Huh. HMRC in the UK realised they owed me money back in, IIRC 2018 and kept sending me actual paper cheques as their computer worked through consequences of the mistake year by year for the next few weeks. It was tiresome actually because I had to go to a physical bank, but I guess if it annoyed me that much I needn't have paid the cheques in. They pay 0.5% (which is better than most of my bank accounts) on all sums they owe as a result of their own mistake rather than either your mistake or some third party screwing up (e.g. your employer fat-fingers paperwork causing you to pay say £1000 extra tax, you don't notice for two years, then you point out the mistake, HMRC are happy to fix it but won't pay you 0.5% interest on the mistake because it wasn't their fault)

n4r9 6y ago
Yes, HMRC is generally a very good service. Will be a sad day when it gets outsourced to a contractor:(

kebman 6y ago

Though you may not know it, you may still be eligible for penalty interest on the sum. State and governmental bodies often don't bother to mention loopholes that goes against their favour, however, so you'll have to look them up yourself. I don't know Dutch tax laws, sadly.