Whistleblower Pierre Niessen
For years, the tax authorities have ignored internal reports of abuses when treating citizens. An employee who complained that people were acting in violation of the law and violating citizens' rights was not heard up to the highest official level.
EditorsNovember 13, 2019, 7:05 AM
Image: anp
The now retired employee is now presenting his story to the House of Representatives, report allegiance and RTL News. Pierre Niessen (68) handed over a letter of fire and handed over a file containing mainly e-mail traffic between him, colleagues and the top bosses at the tax authorities.
The documents would show that the tax authorities wrongly asked for money back from at least 40,000 people, although by law they were entitled to a deferral of payment because, for example, their objection was never dealt with. From 2014 to 2016, Niessen worked as a lawyer for citizens' objections at the Tax Administration/Surcharges Department. After the tax authorities suddenly withdrew a delay granted to 40,000 people, he received letters of objection en masse. He was then instructed not to recognize them. Citizens thus did not have the chance to be heard. Although Niessen raised the alarm several times and at various levels, he was not heard.
Surcharges
The tax authorities pay out money to 80 percent of households annually, including rent and care allowance and child arrangements. In more than half of the cases, the tax authorities must pay extra afterwards or claim money back. This is evident from research by the Central Planning Bureau (CBP).
Niessen is coming out, says Trouw, because of recent reports about the conduct of the tax authorities in connection with the childcare allowance. In addition, the law was broken by stopping surcharges without refusing evidence and objections.
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