Vulnerable citizens face financial strain as government delays fix for tax exemption issue
Citizens receiving Wajong or UWV benefits are losing their tax exemptions due to a legal loophole, risking financial hardship. Despite promises, the government has yet to resolve the issue, leaving thousands uncertain as new tax assessments arrive.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Affected Group | Citizens with Wajong or UWV benefits |
| Issue | Loss of exemption from municipal and water board taxes/levies |
| Known Since | 2023 |
| Temporary Solution (2026) | Municipalities and water boards apply lenient rules (no legal protection) |
| Permanent Solution Deadline | 2027 |
| Responsible Ministers | Work and Participation, Interior, Infrastructure, State Secretary of Finance |
| Ombudsman’s Deadline for Response | Four weeks |
The National Ombudsman acts as an independent watchdog, ensuring government actions are fair and lawful. In this case, the Ombudsman is pressuring multiple ministries to address a systemic issue affecting vulnerable citizens, highlighting gaps in policy implementation.
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Read the full translated article below
Citizens in trouble due to unresolved known issue
Due to an unintended combination of laws and regulations, some citizens receiving a Wajong benefit or a benefit from the UWV lose their right to exemption from municipal and water board taxes and levies. This can lead to financial difficulties for them. This issue has long been known to the government. The Ombudsman is now urgently calling for a resolution and to provide certainty.
The National Ombudsman already appealed in 2023 to resolve this problem. The government has indicated that this was indeed not the intention and has promised a solution. This has still not happened. The National Ombudsman considers the course of events improper. The government is not keeping its promise, and vulnerable citizens remain in uncertainty. Meanwhile, tax assessments for local taxes and levies are arriving again. Therefore, the National Ombudsman is urging the government to resolve this bottleneck as soon as possible.
What exactly is the National Ombudsman requesting?
The Ombudsman is asking for the temporary solution from before to be reinstated for 2026. This temporary solution meant that municipalities and water boards applied the rules leniently for this group, allowing these citizens not to pay local taxes. The National Ombudsman sees that this temporary measure does not always work well. After all, municipalities and water boards are asked to deviate from the rules. Citizens thus have no legal protection and are dependent on the goodwill of the municipality or water board. That is why he is calling for a permanent solution by 2027.
Several cabinet ministers are responsible. The National Ombudsman therefore sent the same letter to the Minister of Work and Participation, the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, and the State Secretary of Finance. He also informed the House of Representatives committees. The letters can be downloaded below.
What happens next?
The National Ombudsman has asked the responsible ministers and state secretary to respond within four weeks and provide clarity for citizens who have received an assessment, both for 2026 and beyond.
brief-minister-van-binnenlandse-zaken-en-koninkrijksrelaties-over-knelpunt-kwijtschelding-lokale-belastingen.pdf (pdf, 167.24 kB)
brief-minister-van-infrastructuur-en-waterstaat-over-knelpunt-kwijtschelding-lokale-belastingen.pdf (pdf, 168.98 kB)
brief-minister-van-werk-en-participatie-over-knelpunt-kwijtschelding-lokale-belastingen.pdf (pdf, 169.03 kB)
brief-staatssecretaris-financien-over-knelpunt-kwijtschelding-lokale-belastingen.pdf (pdf, 167.31 kB)