borns american money |American-Dutch costs a lot of money

American-Dutch costs a lot of money





He lived the first two weeks of his life in America, but that was never planned. Because the mother of Jan Willem Vaartjes got complications during pregnancy, he was born in the United States. As a result, Vaartjes received an American passport. He was proud of it for a long time. "But it is becoming a nightmare more and more," says Vaartjes.

The Toll Tax from Donald Trump
US President Donald Trump comes with a one-off tax bill for companies that have branches abroad. Together with Eritrea, America is already the only country that levies tax among non-residents. And there is hunt for black savers and tax evaders. In 2010, the Netherlands signed the Fatca convention.

Banks have since been obliged to pass on the data of American Dutch to the United States. As a result, many Dutch people with a US passport discovered that this tax liability exists. The Toll Tax from President Trump is now over it.

Attack from the United States
Trump wants to recall large American companies to the United States. They get the chance to enter their tax-free allowance. However, they only have to pay a one-off assessment: 15% of the profits they made since 1987. Apple will make use of it, even if it costs the tech company billions. Trump hopes to get capital back into the country and create employment for Americans.

But the Toll Tax also affects owners of small Dutch companies with an American passport. More than a thousand Dutch-American entrepreneurs still get an attack from the US. Michael Littaur is from Americans Overseas, a company that helps Americans who have to report from the Netherlands. He himself, as 'Nederyank', also filed a declaration for years.

He comes across many people who are 'accidental American'. One of the parents is American or they were born there but often they have hardly lived there and they have nothing with America. Green card holders who have passed through the card are also liable for tax. Many people do not even notice, he says. They receive a letter from the bank and then have to file a report. "That costs a lot of money, because you need US accountants and they charge high rates."


'Politics leaves US-Dutch people in the lurch'
Americans Overseas receives a lot of concerned phone calls about the Toll Tax. A tax of 15% on the profits of the past 30 years, some companies can not agree. "They have to take out an extra loan or dismiss someone to pay it," says Littaur, Dutch politics abandoning the American Dutch, Littaur. "It seems like there is fear of the big angry America." And the Netherlands would afraid to lose trade relations with the US.

D66 MEP Sophie in 't Veld has been putting her teeth into the business for years. Europe can finally see herself as a full partner of America and should stand up for these citizens with dual nationality. "It touches me that these people are being abandoned." The double taxpayer must be abolished, and that's what the committee has to take care of, she says. "It must be made clear to America that we do not bother their citizens with taxes, they should not do that to us either."

Hand in American passport
He comes down the stairs with an iron toy car. 'US Mail' is on it. "Here I played in New York, when I was little. That was just before we went back to the Netherlands. "Francois Gomez is now 62. He was born in America and lived there for six years. For years he had his own company but because of the double tax liability it became all too complicated and too expensive. Now he would like to set up something again, to spend the last years of his working life, but he does not. "I do not dare. Not anymore. You will see that they then come up with new rules and laws and then I am the cigar. "

He gets some papers from a folder. He is now trying to get rid of his American nationality. Then he is off the expensive accountant costs. Handing in passports will also cost him thousands of euros, but he is left with it. "I hope that something happens that makes it unnecessary. But when I look at The Hague I have a hard head. "He puts the blue passport back in the envelope. It will be crazy to give it up. His parents told him that in times of war it can always be useful, such a second passport.


Improving Dutch care
Dentist Jan Willem Vaartjes would have liked to put his money in a new roof, or in an x-ray machine. "It is actually meant to improve Dutch healthcare. And not to give to Trump. "