May 25, 2020

How to file a profit tax return or who is in the driver's seat?

More than once I have been told that our offices form an atypical law firm.

Insofar as that refers to us being out of the box thinkers I consider that a compliment.

Of course I know from a certain perspective that is true.

This tax law firm came into life in 2001 and since that moment we have sailed our own course.

We take the tax authorities to the court more often than many colleagues seem to do and also we pride ourselves in weighing the costs of implementing our tax advice against the probable fiscal benefit.
Tax advice should be simply about saving you money and should not be principle driven.

In court principles of legislation can support your case but that is something else.

Apart from these high-brow court proceedings and interesting tax advice we also take care of your tax filing needs. We file your income tax, your profit tax and (hopefully not your) estate tax.

Here we also seem to be somewhat different compared to our colleagues. In most cases we do not just receive your company's financials and turn that into a profit tax return. If we would merely do that we would have no added value. The basis of a good profit tax return is a good financial statement meaning a balance sheet, a profit and loss sheet and explanatory notes and hopefully a statement from an accountant that says something about the level of trust that can be obtained from these financials.

So, to make a short story somewhat longer we would like to put our 5 cents worth in before your financial statements a being finalized as these statements form the foundation of the profit tax return.

We want to be in the driver's seat as the quality of the financials directly influence the quality of your profit tax return.



So, please allow us to help you compose better financial statements. This of course in a good in con fraternal discourse with the person who prepares your financials.

Having an academically trained tax lawyer fill out just tax form makes no sense. Make use of our expertise on tax law and years of experience.

Want to know more? Call Peter on (**)5 99 9 7374916 or mail to peter.muller@mullertax.com


May 04, 2020

Tax consequences of leaving Curacao

Due to Covid-19 a lot of people are contemplating whether to stay on Curacao or not once the travel ban has been lifted.

This is a word of warning for those who would want to leave and has to do with the difference between wage tax and income tax.

Wage is tax in being withheld from your wages and this wage tax can be compensated against your income tax. The taxes are however calculated differently and this can play an important role when you are leaving the island especially if you do not against the end of the year.



Allow me to elaborate.
Wage tax is simply calculated on your (monthly of bi-weekly) wage. Income on your year income. The Curacao income tax however has one little very nasty rule about its calculation once leave the island. Say you intend to leave the island on July 1 and were living in Curacao from January 1 on. You have then lived exactly half a year in Curacao.

For the calculation of your income tax the tax inspector will then first calculate your income tax on the basis of a full year income and then divide that by 2. That calculation will increase the income tax due.

Why is that? Very simple because the income tax has a progressive rate. The more you make the higher the percentage. Remember the wage tax was only withheld on your monthly income. So now you may fall into a higher tax bracket which makes that your income tax may be higher than the wage tax withheld.

Something to take into consideration while pondering on staying or leaving. The AOV has a fixed monthly maximum so you do not have to worry about that one.