taxx.lu makes it possible to file a simplified tax return adapted to the individual profile of the website's user. The advantages? It saves a considerable amount of time and money and, above all, the form is entirely available in English.
Filling out the tax return is probably at the top of many employees' to-do list at the moment, as it has to be filed in the coming weeks in Luxembourg. It's an unavoidable task, but definitely not the easiest one. “I studied economics for five years and yet I was completely lost when it came to filing my tax return. I told myself that I was certainly not the only one in this situation and that something could be done to change that”, says Patrick Malget. In 2018, he founded taxx.lu with two associates, creating a secure website that allows absolutely anyone to file their tax return entirely online and in just a few clicks.
The website is designed for residents as well as expatriates and cross-border commuters, offering forms adapted to each individual situation and available in several languages, including English. “Currently, the tax authorities only provide the documents in French or German. Considering our population, we thought it would be useful to translate all the steps and questions into English, so that English speakers could also fill in their returns without outside help. We are the only ones to offer this today.”
This alternative to the usual twenty-page form, which, let’s admit it, can be a real headache, has the advantage of making taxation accessible to everyone and saving the user a considerable amount of time. By uploading a previous declaration to the platform, certain information can be automatically filled in. Any missing data can then be entered into clearly defined fields or submitted by answering easily understandable multiple choice questions. Some sections even suggest declaring expenses that many people do not necessarily think of, but which nevertheless fall into the category of deductible expenses.
Since efficiency is a prime concern, taxx.lu has gone so far as to develop a mobile application that allows taxpayers to complete their declarations by simply taking photos of the necessary annexes with their mobile phone. “Tax certificates can be uploaded in PDF format on a computer or sent directly from a mobile phone. All you have to do is download our app “taxx.lu Scanner” featuring the Auto Scan function and take a photo of the paper document. It will then be transferred to taxx.lu and the information will be automatically imported into the tax return,” adds Patrick Malget.
Throughout the process, taxx.lu makes sure to anticipate and answer any questions that may arise, thanks to explanatory videos and a well-documented FAQ section, but above all through a responsive chatroom, run “not by robots, but by real tax experts”.
Once all the information has been filled in, the website immediately calculates the amount of tax to be claimed or paid, which is free of charge. “Thanks to this information, it will be easier to check the Tax Administration's statement. In its four years of existence, the platform has already allowed a total of 52 million euros to be refunded to over 40,000 users. And 80% of them are using taxx.lu again the following year.” For a fee of €50, which is considerably less than what a fiduciary would charge, you can simply download your tax return, print it out and send it as it is or upload it on Myguichet.lu!
The website also offers the advantage of automatically calculating the user’s tax optimisation potential by generating an Opti-Score ranging from 0 to 100. “Based on the user’s profile, we simulate the savings made by investing in tax optimisation products, such as life insurance, pension plans or a home savings plan. Users may then subscribe to these products directly online,” continues the man who tends to position taxx.lu as a true reference in the field of taxation.
Moreover, the company has recently acquired the rights to the book “La déclaration d'impôt facile”, a real user’s guide for taxpayers in Luxembourg. The book, published by Editions Ernster, has been updated and simplified and is now available in bookshops.
