In this guide
Which line, what it costs, how many hours it is open
| Your situation | Line | Number | Cost of the call | Open per week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| You live in the Netherlands (taxes and toeslagen) | Tax Information Line for Residents (BelastingTelefoon) | 0800 0543; +31 555 385 385 when you are abroad | Free from the Netherlands; international charges may apply from abroad | 57 hours (Mon to Thu 8:00 to 20:00, Fri 8:00 to 17:00) |
| You live abroad and pay Dutch tax | Tax Information Line for Non-resident Tax Issues | +31 555 385 385; (055) 5 385 385 from the Netherlands | International charges may apply | 57 hours (same hours) |
| Car import or car taxes | Tax Information Line Cars | 0800 0749; +31 55 538 53 74 from abroad | Free from the Netherlands | 45 hours (Mon to Fri 8:00 to 17:00) |
Our sums: open hours per week from the hours on the Belastingdienst’s English pages “Tax Information Line for Residents”, “Tax Information Line for Non-resident Tax Issues” and “Tax Information Line Cars” (4 × 12 + 9 = 57; 5 × 9 = 45), checked 3 November 2026. Only the car line states that it arranges an English-speaking call-back if you reach someone who does not speak English.
Calling about a refund? Phone staff cannot see when your decision comes. The Belastingdienst’s rule: file before 1 April and you hear before 1 July, and money back on an assessment is paid within 1 week of the date on it. To check what a full year’s tax on your salary should be, use the salary after tax calculator (2026 rates).
You can ask questions in English, but the forms are Dutch. This page lists the numbers, hours and help options, with sources from belastingdienst.nl checked on 28 October 2026. For the return itself, see how to file Dutch taxes as an expat.
💡 Related: DigiD guide for expats, MijnOverheid Berichtenbox explained, Dutch bureaucracy survival guide.
Which number to call
| Line | For whom | Number | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| BelastingTelefoon (Tax Information Line for Residents) | People living in the Netherlands, questions about taxes and toeslagen | 0800 0543 (free from the Netherlands); +31 555 385 385 from abroad | Mon–Thu 8:00–20:00, Fri 8:00–17:00 |
| BelastingTelefoon Buitenland (Tax Information Line for Non-resident Tax Issues) | People living abroad, and businesses based abroad, who pay tax in the Netherlands | +31 555 385 385 from abroad; 055 5 385 385 from the Netherlands | Mon–Thu 8:00–20:00, Fri 8:00–17:00 |
| Tax Information Line Cars | Importing a car or motorcycle, and the taxes on it | 0800 0749 (free from the Netherlands); +31 55 538 53 74 from abroad | Mon–Fri 8:00–17:00 |
Source: belastingdienst.nl, English pages “Tax Information Line for Residents”, “Tax Information Line for Non-resident Tax Issues” and “Tax Information Line Cars”; Dutch page “BelastingTelefoon Buitenland”, checked 28 October 2026.
Before you call:
- Have your BSN ready. The Belastingdienst says that without a citizen service number (or RSIN for a legal entity) it gives no personal or company information.
- Keep the letter at hand. If your question is about an assessment or letter, its reference and date help the staff member find it.
- Allow time. The English pages do not show waiting times, but the Dutch page “Telefoonnummers Belastingdienst” shows the average waiting time over the last 15 minutes for each line. If you would rather not wait on the line, book a call appointment (see below).
Phone numbers from abroad can carry international call charges, as the Belastingdienst notes. If you are temporarily abroad but still live in the Netherlands, the residents’ line is the right one: dial it via +31 555 385 385.
Is English spoken on the phone?
The Belastingdienst lists the same numbers on its English pages and does not run a separate English line. On the car line it states that if you reach an employee who does not speak English, it will arrange for someone who does to call you back. For the general lines it does not publish a language policy, so start the call by asking whether the staff member can continue in English.
Appointments, video calls and letters
Appointments. The Belastingdienst’s English page “Make an appointment with an employee of the Tax Administration” says the online booking tool is not yet available in English, so you book in Dutch (or ask the BelastingTelefoon to schedule the appointment for you). You choose the topic, then either enter your postcode to find the nearest office or support point for an in-person visit, or pick a time for a (video) call. You get a confirmation email with what to bring, and an SMS reminder 24 hours before. You can bring your partner or housemate and handle both of your matters in one appointment.
Language at appointments: the same page says that if you do not speak Dutch or English, staff can only assist you if you bring an interpreter. English is therefore a working language at appointments.
Video calls run in the browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Edge) through a link in the confirmation email. The Belastingdienst says it does not record the conversation, and you may not record it either.
Letters. You can send a question by letter and get a reply by letter. This is useful when you want a written answer.
Email: not an option. In the Belastingdienst’s words: “We do not have a general email address.” It only emails taxpayers who have given explicit permission, in specific cases. Treat any unexpected email “from the Belastingdienst” asking you to pay or log in with suspicion; the Belastingdienst’s page on scams and fake messages explains the common tricks.
Can you file your Dutch tax return in English?
Not in an English version. The online return in Mijn Belastingdienst uses Dutch screens and questions. What the Belastingdienst does offer in English:
| English resource on belastingdienst.nl | What it covers |
|---|---|
| “Filing an online tax return in 4 steps” | Documents to collect, opening the return with DigiD or a European login, checking the pre-filled data, signing and submitting; Dutch button names are translated in brackets |
| “Filing a tax return in case of emigration or immigration” | The M return for the year you moved to or left the Netherlands, online or on the paper form M |
| “Tax return for non-resident taxpayers” | The return if you lived abroad all year but had Dutch income |
| “Actual return in your 2025 tax return” and related box 3 pages | Reporting your actual box 3 return: for 2025 in the income tax return itself, for 2024 and earlier with the form Opgaaf werkelijk rendement, which is only available in Dutch (situation when we checked on 28 October 2026) |
| Order form for a provisional assessment for non-resident taxpayers | Requesting or changing a provisional assessment from abroad |
Source: belastingdienst.nl/english, checked 28 October 2026.
A practical way to work: open the English “4 steps” page in one window and the Dutch return in another. Use a browser translation on the English-language help if needed, but keep the return itself in Dutch, because that is what you sign. The same English page confirms the key dates: if you received an invitation, the return must be in before 1 May; file before 1 April and you hear before 1 July.
Want someone else to handle it? You have three options:
- A partner or friend who reads Dutch, authorised through DigiD Machtigen. Our DigiD guide covers getting and using DigiD itself.
- An English-speaking accountant or tax adviser. See our overviews of English-speaking accountants and tax advisers for expats.
- Free help at a library. The Belastingdienst’s benefits help page points to public libraries with an Informatiepunt Digitale Overheid (IDO) for help with digital government tasks; check in advance what help is available and in which language.
Toeslagen (benefits) questions in English
For residents, the BelastingTelefoon (0800 0543) handles both taxes and toeslagen, according to the Belastingdienst’s English page for residents. Dienst Toeslagen’s English page “Can I get help?” adds:
- You can make a call appointment, so that the line calls you at a time that suits you.
- If phone help is not enough, you can visit a service desk after booking online; the booking page is in Dutch only.
- Benefits Service Points (Toeslagenservicepunten), run by social counsellors and neighbourhood teams, help with questions about money and adjusting your income; bring ID and the letter you received.
- The help offered is often in Dutch, so Dienst Toeslagen advises bringing someone who speaks Dutch.
For how toeslagen work in the first place, see our guide to claiming Dutch benefits as an expat.
Which situation, which route?
| Your situation | Best first route |
|---|---|
| Quick question about your return or an assessment, you live here | BelastingTelefoon 0800 0543, with BSN and letter ready |
| You live abroad and have Dutch income or a Dutch assessment | Non-resident line +31 555 385 385 |
| First or last year in the Netherlands (M return) | English M-return page, then the non-resident line or an appointment if stuck |
| Complex situation (several countries, 30% ruling, business income) | Appointment or a tax adviser |
| You live near the Belgian or German border and work across it | The Belastingdienst’s Cross-Border Employment and Enterprise team (GWO), listed on its “Calling a Tax Information Line” page |
| Question about a car import or car taxes | Tax Information Line Cars |
| You want a written answer | Letter to the Belastingdienst |
| Toeslagen change or repayment | BelastingTelefoon, or a Benefits Service Point with a Dutch-speaking companion |
Checklist before you contact the Belastingdienst
- BSN (and your partner’s, if it concerns a joint return).
- The letter or assessment, with its date and reference.
- DigiD working (or a European login), so you can check Mijn Belastingdienst during the call.
- Your question written down in one or two sentences, plus the tax year it concerns.
- Documents: jaaropgaaf, bank statements on 1 January, mortgage statement, whatever the question is about.
- A pen: note the date, time and name of the staff member, in case you need to refer to the call later.
Waiting for a refund rather than a question? The Belastingdienst pays it within 1 week of the date on your assessment; if it has no account number for you, it sends a letter asking for one, and payment can then take another 3 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Belastingdienst phone number in English?
There is no separate English number. Residents call the BelastingTelefoon on 0800 0543 (free from the Netherlands) or +31 555 385 385 from abroad. Non-residents with Dutch tax matters call +31 555 385 385, or 055 5 385 385 from within the Netherlands. The Belastingdienst's English pages list these same numbers (checked 28 October 2026). Have your citizen service number (BSN) ready; without it, staff will not give personal information.
What are the Belastingdienst opening hours?
The BelastingTelefoon for residents and the Tax Information Line for Non-resident Tax Issues are both open Monday to Thursday from 8:00 to 20:00 and Friday from 8:00 to 17:00. The Tax Information Line Cars, for car import and car taxes, is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 17:00 (belastingdienst.nl, checked 28 October 2026).
Can I file my Dutch tax return in English?
Not in an English version of the form. The online return in Mijn Belastingdienst uses Dutch labels. The Belastingdienst's English page 'Filing an online tax return in 4 steps' walks you through the process and translates the Dutch buttons and questions, and there are English pages for the M return (year of arrival or departure) and returns for non-resident taxpayers. You log in with DigiD or a recognised European login.
Can I email the Belastingdienst?
No. The Belastingdienst says it has no general email address and only communicates by email with people who have given explicit permission, in specific cases. You can call, make an appointment, or write a letter; it replies by letter.
Can I get a face-to-face or video appointment in English?
Yes. The Belastingdienst's English appointment page says you can book a visit to an office or support point near your postcode, or a (video) call. It adds that if you do not speak Dutch or English, it can only help you if you bring an interpreter, so English is an accepted language at appointments. The booking itself asks for the topic and a time; the online booking tool is only available in Dutch, and if booking online does not work, the BelastingTelefoon can schedule the appointment for you.
Who do I call about toeslagen (benefits) in English?
Residents call the same BelastingTelefoon, 0800 0543: the Belastingdienst's English page says this line handles questions about both taxes and benefits (toeslagen). Dienst Toeslagen notes that much of the in-person help, such as at Benefits Service Points, is in Dutch, and advises bringing someone who speaks Dutch.
Can someone else call or file for me?
Yes. The Belastingdienst mentions that someone else can call for you (for example in its help for people with a hearing or speech impairment), and you can authorise a person you trust through DigiD Machtigen to file your return or handle toeslagen for you. A tax adviser can also file for you with their own authorisation.