When I received the letter, well, how would you feel?
It all came about because I was advised, very late - about the time my taxes were due, that I could have declared more, costs - acceptable, professional costs.
The funny thing about this country is the audit and my late-declaration of extra costs was regarding FY 2004. Yessirreee, in this groovy little, albeit taxed to the bejeezus country, you pay your taxes nearly two years after the fact.
As an ex pat, I figured it was going to be "pay back for the hassles" time. Many Europeans have been incensed by the fingerprint scanner at US airports.
I didn't have anything to hide, particularly piles of cash in a closet. Heck, it's Europe, apartments don't even HAVE closets. That's why there aren't any homosexuals - hahahaha. But seriously folks...
It wasn't planned but my closest friend in Belgium is a woman named Caroline who just happens to be a lawyer. I'll reiterate, this wasn't planned. (There have been snide remarks, like "How typical, the American's best friend is an attorney.") Anyway, when I told her I would be audited to offered to sit in.
The meeting was decisively decided (by the tax authorities) to be held in my humble (very humble but cute) apartment. It wasn't surprising to me. My late-claims were about my home-working costs.
Ironically, the weekend before the fated meeting was scheduled for, I met an American woman, coupled up with a Belgian guy. He now works for the Belgian Ministry of Finance, Tax Division. He took this stable job after he and his partner welcomed twin babies into their lives. Over rare beers in the Gran'Place during the annual Beer Fest, I told them about my looming worry.
They both asked if he was Francophone or Flemish. When I replied Flemish they reassured me that it would be a breeze. The Flemish, while whiz "kids" with numbers, tend to be more kind and open to discussion.
I wasn't convinced.
The day arrived. Caroline arrived a moment before and then "the scary auditor." Well, not really. He was boy-faced and very shy. He spoke French with me until I introduced him to Caroline. I reminded him that he and I had corresponded via email in English. When he replied in my native tongue, when she heard his accent she spoke to him in Flemish. (NB: I don't speak a word of it. How marvelous to have a trustworthy friend!)
It wasn't exactly an ambush. But Caroline, tall, slender, beautiful and brilliant already started negotiating every time he questioned the costs I wanted (and frankly needed) to claim.
Coming from a theater background I saw the "triangular dynamic." Certainly he would make the decisions - or he would think he did. She was demurely insistent, speaking his native tongue. And so I took my supporting role (as in the past) the wavy line, the jester, the comic relief.
He gingerly rifled through my receipts and documents. He tried to give me a low percentage off my annual taxes claim based on my home-working costs. Caroline argued in her polite yet forceful manner. I played the doe-eyed, stupid blonde abroad - with aplomb (IMHO). I quipped phrases like, "I just want to obey the rules." While Caroline would say, "but if you work from home you have to have heat; if you have clients in your home you have to have furniture; you need a kitchen to make tea/coffee; you can't say that 4 meters x 4 meters is a
real workspace."
He argued back; held his ground. He wasn't a pushover. (Even if it meant less of a return for me, I secretly rooted for him. NB: soft-heartedness, does not (ever) equal financial advantages.)
Inthe end, I will get money back - from the Belgian government. Not only for 2004 but also for 2005, 2006 and the years ahead. Not a "lot" but more than I would have expected.
I emailed my accountant, whose firm is also one of the top auditing firms in the country. I don't know if he caught that I was saying, "for what I pay you, you could have advised me better." His reply was, "that's what we call a nice audit."
(Did I mention that my account is super adorable. See the aforementioned about 'soft-heartedness'.)
Endnote:
I got a letter from the org that manages payments of the social system's benefits. One I am obliged to contribute to; an system from which I am not eligible to receive benefits from as an independant - and - an ex pat. The amount, also calculated for 2004 but due in September 2006 that is staggering. I suggested to Caroline a class in tantric body massage to prepare for the meeting...
