Tax and government mail
Berichtenbox
Government digital mailbox
What does Berichtenbox mean?
The Berichtenbox is the digital mailbox inside MijnOverheid, which you open with DigiD. Government bodies such as the Belastingdienst, the gemeente, RDW and SVB can send official letters there instead of by post. A letter in the Berichtenbox has the same legal weight as a paper one, and any deadline in it runs from the date of the letter, whether or not you log in.
Key facts
| Where | mijn.overheid.nl, login with DigiD |
| Legal status | Same as a paper letter |
| Deadlines run from | The date of the letter |
| Belastingdienst digital post | Opt-in since 8 December 2025, starting with income tax |
What to do
- Log in at mijn.overheid.nl with DigiD and activate the Berichtenbox.
- Add an email address and turn on notifications, so you know when a letter arrives.
- Check which organisations are allowed to send you digital post, and change the list if you prefer paper for some.
- Download important letters as PDF. Do not rely on the Berichtenbox as your long-term archive.
- Before leaving the Netherlands, decide whether to keep DigiD. Without it you cannot read the Berichtenbox.
Worth knowing
The email notification only says a message has arrived; it never contains the letter itself. Any email that includes a link asking you to log in or pay is a phishing attempt.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to use the Berichtenbox?
No. Digital post is a right, not an obligation. If you do not opt in for a given organisation, it keeps sending paper letters.
Does a letter count as received if I never log in?
Yes. Once you have opted in, a letter in the Berichtenbox counts as sent to you, and deadlines run from its date. That is why email notifications matter.
Can I read the Berichtenbox from abroad?
Yes, as long as your DigiD still works. The DigiD app works abroad; set it up and check your phone number before you move.
Read next
- BSN, DigiD and Dutch tax forms
- BRP registration and address history
- Blauwe envelop: letters from the tax office
Official sources
More Dutch terms: tax and government mail
Plain-English explanations of the words on your letters and contracts.