Doran calls for greater transparency and fairness in tax assessments

GREAT BAY--Member of Parliament Egbert Doran is calling on the Ministry of Finance to improve the way tax assessments are issued and explained, warning that unclear bills and difficult objection procedures are placing unnecessary pressure on residents and small-business owners.

Speaking during a recent interview on Power 102.7’s Breakfast Lounge, Doran said taxpayers should receive a clear explanation of the amounts they are being instructed to pay and should have reasonable access to information when they believe an assessment is incorrect.

Doran drew on his own experience, saying he once received an assessment for what he described as an unreasonable amount, even though he did not own a company. He said the matter was eventually addressed, but noted that many residents may not know how to challenge an assessment or respond within the required period.

According to Doran, residents who do not understand the process, lack supporting documentation or fail to respond in time may be left with substantial tax bills that they cannot get properly explained.

“The onus of proof is on you,” Doran said, adding that taxpayers may have to locate an old email, document or other evidence to demonstrate that an assessment is incorrect. He warned that those unable to produce the necessary records could remain liable for bills running into hundreds of thousands of guilders.

Doran said the situation is causing considerable stress, particularly for people who lack the financial resources, professional assistance or knowledge needed to navigate the tax system. “We have to work on that because it is putting pressure on a lot of people. A lot of people do not have the ways and means to deal with it,” he said.

He called on the Ministry of Finance to organize an awareness initiative, including the possibility of a public town hall meeting where residents could raise tax-related concerns, learn how assessments are determined and receive guidance on how to address disputed amounts.

Doran said government should not make taxpayers’ lives more difficult through systems that are unclear or inaccessible. “Government should not be in the business of adding a burden on the people, but simplifying the lives of the people,” he said.

The MP stressed that his concerns should not be interpreted as opposition to taxation or lawful collection efforts. He acknowledged that citizens and businesses have an obligation to pay the taxes they legitimately owe. “Taxes need to be paid, without a doubt. But charge me for what I need to pay, and do not come with assessments that you cannot properly explain,” Doran said.

He compared an unexplained assessment to a customer receiving a bill without an itemized description of what was purchased. Taxpayers, he argued, should not simply be presented with a total and instructed to pay without being given a clear breakdown of how the amount was calculated.

Doran said transparency must be a basic part of the relationship between the Tax Administration and the public. Citizens should be able to understand what they are paying, the period covered by the assessment and the basis upon which the amount was calculated. “People have the right to transparency, to know how they are spending their money and where they are spending their money,” he said.

He expressed particular concern about senior citizens, entrepreneurs and small-business owners who may have fewer resources available to challenge disputed assessments or secure professional assistance. Doran said smaller operators appear to face significant collection pressure, while some larger businesses and industries are not subjected to the same level of scrutiny.

“A lot of our entrepreneurs and small-business owners have government breathing down their necks, while some big businesses are getting away,” he said.

The MP called for a fair and balanced tax system that collects legitimate revenue without leaving residents trapped by assessments they do not understand and cannot get adequately explained. He said improved communication, taxpayer education and greater transparency would help strengthen public confidence in the tax system while also supporting lawful collection efforts.

Doran urged the Ministry of Finance to establish a more accessible public-information process and create opportunities for taxpayers to discuss recurring problems directly with the authorities. “People should not be left in a situation where they are told to pay a large amount but cannot obtain a proper explanation. The system must collect what is lawfully due, but it must also treat taxpayers fairly,” Doran concluded.

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