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Waterschap Amstel, Gooi en Vecht: paying water authority tax

Which charges do you have to pay?

Water authority Amstel, Gooi en Vecht charges the following types of charges:

  • water treatment charge;
  • pollution charge;
  • water system charge.

Water treatment charge

You pay the water treatment charge if you are the owner or tenant of a residential property which is connected to the sewage system.

We impose the charge on each independent dwelling. This is a dwelling with its own kitchen, shower and toilet.

The water treatment charge is based on the number of people in your household. ‘Pollution units’ are used for this purpose. On average, three people live in a house in the Netherlands. Therefore, all households pay for three pollution units. Are you registered as a single occupant with your municipality? If so, you will pay for one pollution unit. We receive this data from your municipality.

Pollution charge

You pay the pollution charge if you are the owner or user of a dwelling which discharges wastewater into a brook or stream (surface water).

We calculate the pollution charge assessment in the same way as the water treatment charge.

Water system charge

You must pay the water system charge if you are the owner or tenant of a building (for example a residential property) or of land, such as agricultural land or a nature area.

There are different types of water system charge:

  1. water system charge – residents (applicable only to private individuals);
  2. water system charge – built-on land;
  3. water system charge – land not built on;
  4. water system charge – nature.

Depending on your situation, you must pay the following tax(es):

  • Are you registered with your municipality on 1 January of the tax year as the main resident of a dwelling? If so, you must pay the water system charge – residents.
    The main resident of a rented or owner-occupied dwelling must pay that charge to the water authority for all the residents of that dwelling each year. ‘Main resident’ is to be understood as meaning the resident whose name appears on the purchase/rental agreement.
  • Do you own a building, such as a house, barn, shed or commercial building? If so, you must pay the water system charge – built-on land.
    The water system charge – built-on land is calculated on the basis of the building’s WOZ value. That value is determined by the municipality on the basis of the Wet waardering onroerende zaken – WOZ (Valuation of Immovable Property Act).
  • Do you own land which has not been built on? If so, you must pay the water system charge – land not built on. ‘Land not built on’ is to be understood as meaning for example fields, arable land and pasturage.
    The amount of tax that you must pay is determined by the value of the number of hectares of land that you own. You pay this charge if, on 1 January of a tax year, you are registered with the Land Registry Office as the owner, leaseholder, usufructuary or superficiary of land not built on, or the holder of a real ‘right of use and occupation’ over that land.
  • Are you the owner of a nature area? If so, you must pay the water system charge – nature. The Waterschapswet (Water Authorities Act) defines the term ‘nature’ as follows: ‘Immovable property which has not been built on and whose set-up and management are entirely – or almost entirely – and permanently geared to the preservation or development of nature’. Forests which are larger than 1 hectare also fall under the definition of nature. As does open water (lakes) with a surface area larger than 1 hectare and an ‘open and expansive character’.

The surface area of the land determines the amount of the water system charge – nature which you must you pay. Owners of buildings located in a nature area simply receive the water system charge – built-on land assessment.

You will receive a tax bill without applying for it.

How do you receive your tax assessment?

Do you use MijnOverheid? Then you will receive the tax assessment digitally via the Berichtenbox (Message Box). To log in to the Message Box, you need a DigiD. Do you not have a DigiD yet? Information about this can be found at DigiD abroad | Netherlands Worldwide.

Are you not yet registered for the Message Box? Then you will receive your tax assessment by post.

When will you receive your tax assessment?

You usually receive the water authority tax assessment in March or April. The assessment covers the whole year.

Water authority tax when moving house

If you move to the area of another water authority during the year and have already paid the water treatment charge and pollution charge, you can request a refund. This is because you will pay tax to the water authority in your new area as soon as you move.

The water system charge is not refunded when you move house.

Paying water authority tax and managing your tax affairs

Do you have a question about water authority tax? Would you like to view your assessment or pay by direct debit, for example? Would you like to notify a change of address, apply for relief or lodge an objection?

You can manage all your tax affairs via Mijn Waternet. You can also call us. We can be reached on +31 889 39 4000 every working day between 8.00 and 17.00.

How much water authority tax do you have to pay?

Exactly how much water authority tax you have to pay each year depends on your personal situation. This includes, for example, whether you live in an owner-occupied or rented house, how many people live there, how the house is connected to the sewerage system and whether you own land which has not been built on or a nature area.

Water authority tax rates

The tax rates of water authority Amstel, Gooi en Vecht can be found at Kosten waterschapsbelasting (Water authority tax rates) | Waternet.

Are you unable to pay the water authority tax?

If you are struggling to pay your water authority tax assessment on time or in one go, then you have a number of options:

Pay the tax in instalments

You can choose to pay your water authority tax in instalments. You can set this up in My Waternet. You then pay your assessment in 2 to a maximum of 8 instalments by direct debit.

Applying for remission

Is your income low? You may be eligible for remission of your water authority tax assessment. Look for more information at Kwijtschelding (Remission) | Waternet. A number of conditions apply to remission. The main ones are:

  • your income level is at or below social assistance level;
  • you do not own a home of which the value is more than your mortage;
  • the money on your bank account(s) does nog exceed the appicable standard amount.

A payment arrangement

Have you applied for remission, but have not received it? Or do you not want to pay by direct debit? Request a payment arrangement in My Waternet. You then transfer the amount yourself in a maximum of 6 parts.

Do you have questions?

For questions about paying in instalments, a payment arrangement or remission, please contact Waternet via Contact | Waternet. You can also call us. We can be reached on +31 889 39 4000 every working day between 8.00 and 17.00.

Objecting to a tax assessment

Do you disagree with your tax assessment? If so, you can lodge an objection within 6 weeks with Waternet via Bezwaar tegen aanslag waterschapsbelasting (Objecting to a tax assessment) | Waternet.

Questions about this topic?

Contact Waterschap Amstel, Gooi en Vecht

Visiting address

Korte Ouderkerkerdijk 7

1096AC Amsterdam

Opening hours
Monday
08.00 - 17.00
Tuesday
08.00 - 17.00
Wednesday
08.00 - 17.00
Thursday
08.00 - 17.00
Friday
08.00 - 17.00
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed
Last updated on 15 February 2023