In short
- Filing for the 2026 tax year opens on 1 March 2027.
- The deadline is the date in your letter from the tax office, usually 1 May 2027.
- Need more time? Ask for an extension before the deadline. You then usually have until 1 September 2027.
- Moved to or from the Netherlands in 2026? Your return has its own dates. For 2025 it could be filed from 1 May until 1 July.
- Filing late can lead to a fine, so ask for an extension in time.
The dates for the 2026 tax year
| Your situation | When to file | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| The tax office sent you a letter asking you to file | Before the date in your letter, usually 1 May 2027 | You can file from 1 March 2027. |
| You asked for an extension in time | Usually 1 September 2027 | The confirmation from the tax office shows your new date. |
| You moved to or from the Netherlands in 2026 | The date in your letter | For 2025, this return could be filed from 1 May until 1 July 2026. |
| No letter, but you have to pay tax | You must file yourself | For 2025 this applied from €58 and had to be done before 14 July 2026. |
| No letter, and you may get money back | You can choose to file | For 2025, refunds started from €19. |
The amounts in the last two rows are the tax office’s figures for the 2025 return. We’ll update them when it publishes the figures for 2026.
How to find your own deadline
Most people get a letter from the tax office (an aangiftebrief) asking them to file. Your deadline is the date in that letter. You can also find it in Mijn Belastingdienst, where you log in with DigiD.
If you didn’t get a letter, check whether you have to file anyway. You do if you have to pay tax, for example because too little tax was taken from your income during the year.
How to get more time
- Ask before your deadline.
Your request must reach the tax office before the date in your letter. A request that arrives late isn’t accepted.
- Do it online or on paper.
If you received a letter, you can ask online in Mijn Belastingdienst. There is also a paper form.
- Partners ask separately.
If you have a fiscal partner, they need to make their own request.
An extension can cost interest. If you end up owing tax, you usually pay tax interest (belastingrente) over the extra time.
What happens if you’re late
- A reminder.
After your deadline, the tax office sends a reminder (herinnering).
- A formal demand.
If you still don’t file, you get a demand (aanmaning). Your return must then arrive within 10 working days.
- A fine.
After that, the tax office can give you a fine. It currently states €469, rising to as much as €6,709 if it happens again. It can also stop a provisional assessment or allowances.
- An estimate.
If you never file, the tax office estimates your income and sends you a tax bill based on that estimate.
Get ready before March
Your yearly statements usually arrive in January and February. Collect them as they come in, so you can file soon after 1 March. Our document checklist shows what to look for.
Preparing your return with Taxpress doesn’t send it and doesn’t extend your deadline. You still need to make sure it reaches the tax office in time, or ask for an extension.
Written by the Taxpress team and checked against official Belastingdienst guidance on 10 November 2026. This is general information, not personal tax advice. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.