
Tens of thousands of Dutch people with a US passport could suffer as a result of Fatca (Foreign account tax compliance act). This law is designed to track down American black money savers abroad and to make them pay tax.
In some cases, these Dutch residential ‘US persons’, as the American Tax office (IRS) calls them, owe tens of thousands of dollars in overdue taxes. All US citizens must declare their income and assets in the US.
If they do not complete a tax declaration soon, they could incur hefty fines. Or even a prison sentence in the worst case scenario. It is estimated that 30,000 Dutch people with American passports plus another 70,000 to 100,000 Dutch people with an American ‘Green card’ are affected.
Many of these people are unaware of the consequences of Facta. A survey conducted of more than 500 Dutch Americans by Daan Durlacher and Michael Littaur—who have set up the advisory center AmericansOverseas.org to assist with tax declarations – has shown that more than half of the respondents have not yet been approached by their bank.
According to the arrangement made by the Netherlands with the US, about the provision of financial details to the IRS, it was agreed that from July 1, 2014 the banks would register US persons in their database. The Ministerial Department of Finance and Taxation will collect this data next month and subsequently pass this on to the US.
‘The Fatca tax law affects about 30,000 Dutch citizens with an American passport.’
Of those customers who have been contacted by their bank, the majority complain that they have been inadequately or incorrectly informed about the implications of Fatca. They are also unaware that they are on a list that ultimately ends up at the IRS, according to the survey conducted by AmericansOverseas.org. Almost half of the respondents state that they need to cancel certain banking services, such as investment products and investment mortgages.
Durlacher is himself a ‘US person’ by his American mother but was born and raised in the Netherlands. He has also learned what Fatca can mean.
‘After an unbelievable pile of paperwork, I received a hefty fine, that I have been able to reduce to a fraction of the original but only after a lot of trouble and costs.’
Durlacher refers to various harrowing cases. He knows of an elderly couple in the Netherlands who bought a house a long time ago for ƒ100,000 and have since sold it for €800,000.
‘They now need to pay capital gains tax in the US.’The Netherlands, together with other European countries, needs to talk to the IRS to get clarification.’
VVD-Lower House member Helma Neppérus. Dutch-American citizens who have never completed a tax return are facing difficult choices. They either make use of a repentance scheme and then complete a tax return every year.
Those who does not want to do this, can denounce their American nationality status at great costs. In this case, the applicant does need to complete tax returns for the last six years. A tax advisor with knowledge of the US tax system is essential, according to Durlacher
VVD-Lower House member Helma Neppérus describes this as a chaotic situation. A tangled web of rules that is affecting Dutch Americans. ‘Dutch people should not have to pay double taxes on their assets’.
This VVD-politician, together with other Parliamentarians, has already presented the State Secretary of Finance Eric Wiebes with questions about this. He is not satisfied with the answers received thus far. ‘The Netherlands, together with other European countries, needs to talk to the IRS to get clarification.’
Taco Mulder is an economist and writes for Holland’s most prominent Financial Newspaper FD (Financieel Dagblad). He now writes for the section FD Personal Finance. In his 30-year career at FD he reported on the Financial markets, developments on competition agreements, and fiscal matters.
A version of this article appeared on the 28th of August in the Financieel Dagblad. Copyright the Financieel Dagblad and respectively the author(s). Click here to view the original publication.
Understanding the US tax system, the obligations, and all the additional terms can be difficult. Especially if one lives outside of America. Is your question not answered? Contact us.
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