Municipal taxes can now be paid monthly

Residents of The Hague will now be able to pay their annual municipal tax bill in monthly instalments. In lieu of the current measure where the entire amount needs to be paid within six months, residents may now spread their payments out in 12 monthly instalments.

’If the same amount is deducted each month, it won't become any more fun to pay municipal taxes but it will become clearer and easier,’ said Deputy Mayor Sander Dekker (Finance). ‘The payments will then be due at the same time as the electricity, internet and telephone bill.’

The new measure applies to residents of The Hague who are liable for less than € 2,500 in municipal taxes. They can choose to pay everything at once, within six weeks, or in 12 automatic monthly transfers through their bank.

The municipal tax assessment for residents covers the property tax (onroerendezaakbelasting, or OZB), waste tax (afvalstoffenheffing) and sewage charge (rioolheffing).

Over the coming year The Hague will lower the municipal taxes and all residents will be paying less for the waste tax. Single person households will profit the most, with a 5.5% reduction. Two-person households will be paying 2.25 less and households of three people or more will pay 1% less.

Under the coalition agreement property taxes for homeowners will be lowered by 4% in 2012, making the rate 10% lower than in 2009.