First Phrases

Tax office · Nederlands

Tax office in Dutch: 12 survival phrases

Book an appointment, say you have just moved, ask about your tax number, and get what you are told in writing. Each card uses the local official names for the office and the number.

Phrases, not advice. These cards only help you say what you need. They give no medical, legal, tax or financial advice. For any decision, ask the pharmacist, doctor, bank or the official office.

Review pending: native-speaker review of this card has not happened yet, and the phrases marked "check" are the ones we are least sure of. Use them as a starting point and let the person you speak to correct you.

Register: Polite (formal is safer). "U" is the safe choice. The tax authority is the "Belastingdienst". Your tax number is the "BSN" (burgerservicenummer), which you get when you register with the municipality; you log in to the Belastingdienst with DigiD. Most contact is online or by phone, and visits are by appointment.

How to read the sounds: g and ch are a rough throat sound, written kh (like Scottish 'loch'), stronger than English h. ou/ui = 'ow'; ij/ei = 'ay' (as in 'say'); eu = a rounded 'uh' (like French 'peu'); uu = 'ew' (say 'ee' with rounded lips); oe = 'oo'. Stress is in CAPITALS.

Your recording stays on your device.

Official names used

On this card: Belastingdienst, BSN, burgerservicenummer, DigiD. Spelling checked against official sites on 2026-10-20:

12 phrases you will need

  1. 01Polite
    Goedemorgen. Ik heb een vraag over mijn belasting.
    Say it like: KHOO-duh-mor-khuh. ik hep ayn vrahkh OH-ver mine buh-LAS-ting
    Good morning. I have a question about my taxes.
    Register: Polite.
  2. 02Neutral
    Moet ik een afspraak maken?
    Say it like: moot ik ayn AF-sprahk MAH-kuh
    Do I need to make an appointment?
    Register: Often yes.
  3. 03Neutralcheck
    Ik wil graag een afspraak maken bij de Belastingdienst.
    Say it like: ik vil khrahkh ayn AF-sprahk MAH-kuh bay duh buh-LAS-ting-deenst
    I'd like to make an appointment at the Belastingdienst (tax office).
    Register: Polite enough.
  4. 04Neutral
    Ik ben net naar Nederland verhuisd.
    Say it like: ik ben net nahr NAY-der-lant fer-HOWST
    I've just moved to the Netherlands.
    Register: Neutral.
  5. 05Neutral
    Ik heb nog geen BSN. Hoe krijg ik dat?
    Say it like: ik hep nokh khayn bay-es-EN. hoo krayg ik dat
    I don't have a BSN yet. How do I get one?
    Register: You get it by registering at your gemeente.
  6. 06Neutral
    Ik ben mijn BSN kwijt. Waar kan ik het vinden?
    Say it like: ik ben mine bay-es-EN kvayt. wahr kan ik uht VIN-duh
    I've lost my BSN. Where can I find it?
    Register: Dutch tax letters, payslips and MijnOverheid show it.
  7. 07Neutral
    Ik werk als zzp'er.
    Say it like: ik verk als zed-zed-PAY-er
    I work as a freelancer.
    Register: "Zzp'er" = zelfstandige zonder personeel.
  8. 08Neutral
    Waar doe ik mijn belastingaangifte?
    Say it like: wahr doo ik mine buh-LAS-ting-AHN-gif-tuh
    Where do I file my tax return?
    Register: Usually online with DigiD.
  9. 09Neutral
    Welke documenten moet ik meenemen?
    Say it like: VEL-kuh doh-kew-MEN-tuh moot ik MAY-nay-muh
    Which documents do I need to bring?
    Register: Neutral.
  10. 10Neutral
    Wat is de uiterste datum?
    Say it like: wat is duh OW-ter-stuh DAH-tum
    What is the deadline?
    Register: Neutral.
  11. 11Polite
    Kunt u dat schriftelijk bevestigen?
    Say it like: kunt ew dat SKHRIF-tuh-luk buh-VES-tuh-khuh
    Could you confirm that in writing?
    Register: Polite; keep every confirmation.
  12. 12Neutral
    Is er informatie in het Engels?
    Say it like: is er in-for-MAH-see in uht ENG-uls
    Is there information in English?
    Register: Neutral.

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Quick answers

What do I say to start at the tax office in Dutch?

Start with: "Goedemorgen. Ik heb een vraag over mijn belasting." (Good morning. I have a question about my taxes.)

Should I use informal or formal Dutch at the tax office?

"U" is the safe choice. The tax authority is the "Belastingdienst". Your tax number is the "BSN" (burgerservicenummer), which you get when you register with the municipality; you log in to the Belastingdienst with DigiD. Most contact is online or by phone, and visits are by appointment.

How do I ask about my tax number in Dutch?

Try: "Ik heb nog geen BSN. Hoe krijg ik dat?" (I don't have a BSN yet. How do I get one?)

Same errand, another language

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Dutch, another errand

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All 5 × 6 survival decks · Phrases for an evening out

How it works

  1. Pick the errand and the language of the country you are in.
  2. Read the twelve phrases: each has the English meaning, an easy pronunciation guide and a register note. Tap the speaker to hear it in your device's voice, or tap Practise to record yourself and compare with the model (your recording never leaves your device).
  3. Print the card or keep it open on your phone. The official names of offices and numbers are checked against the official sites; native-speaker review is still pending.
  4. Once you are settled, open Meet & Mint to find events near you, see who else is going, join alone and chat with the group.

firstphrases.app/survival/tax/nl/ · Phrases, not advice · Meet & Mint