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How-to · claim the daily penalty

The daily penalty accrues automatically. But it does not pay itself.

Article 4:17 of the Algemene wet bestuursrecht makes the daily penalty automatic the day after the 14-day Notice window expires. Article 4:18 obliges the authority to pay within six weeks of that expiry. In practice the payment requires a written claim letter naming the period, the amount, and the IBAN. If the authority refuses or stalls, the same route opens to the district court (rechtbank) that pursues the missing decision under Awb 6:12.

Awb 4:17 · 4:18 · claim and enforce the daily penalty

The claim letter, on one page

  1. 1
    Name the application and the Notice
    Application reference, date of receipt, date of the Notice of Default, date the 14-day window expired. The authority must be able to identify the file in one sentence.
  2. 2
    Calculate the period and the amount
    Days 1 to 14 at €23, days 15 to 28 at €35, days 29 to 42 at €45. Stop counting on the day a decision was finally given (or today, if still pending). The result is the cumulative amount up to the €1,442 cap.
  3. 3
    State the IBAN and beneficiary
    Your IBAN and the name on the account. The authority pays in your name, not your representative's, unless a power of attorney explicitly delegates payment.
  4. 4
    Set a two-week payment term
    "Ik verzoek u het verschuldigde bedrag van €[X] binnen 14 dagen na ontvangst van deze brief over te maken op IBAN [...]."
  5. 5
    Cite Awb 4:17 and 4:18
    Quote the relevant clauses verbatim. This removes any argument that the authority did not know its obligation.
  6. 6
    Sign, date, send registered
    Wet signature, today's date, PostNL Aangetekend or via Mijn IND. Keep the proof of delivery.
The claim letter does the procedural work of converting an accrued daily penalty into a paid one. Without it most IND units do nothing.

When the authority must pay

Awb 4:18: "Het bestuursorgaan stelt de verschuldigdheid en de hoogte van de daily penalty bij beschikking vast." The authority issues a separate decision (the vaststellingsbeschikking daily penalty) confirming the amount, and pays within six weeks of the original Notice's 14-day window. In practice most payments arrive within four to eight weeks of a written claim, often combined with the substantive decision.

What if the authority refuses or stalls

Court enforcement

When the daily penalty is owed but unpaid, the district court route follows. The same court appeal-tegen-niet-tijdig-beslissen that pursues the missing decision under Awb 6:12 can also include the daily penalty claim. The court reviews both: did the term pass, was a Notice served, what is the amount owed, has it been paid. The judgment under Awb 8:55d can order payment and add a court-imposed daily penalty on top for each further day.

StepStatuteTiming
VaststellingsbeschikkingAwb 4:18(1)Within 6 weeks of Notice expiry
Objection against refusalAwb 7:1Within 6 weeks of decision
Court appeal under Awb 6:12Awb 6:12After Notice + reasonable further period
Court-imposed daily penaltyAwb 8:55dSet by the judge, typically €100/day

Is the daily penalty taxable?

Yes. The Dutch tax authority treats the daily penalty as resultaat uit overige werkzaamheden (income from other activities) under box 1 of the personal income-tax return. The amount is usually small enough that it does not change the bracket. The vaststellingsbeschikking serves as the tax-acceptable proof of the income.

Where MigrationProvision sits

The daily penalty-claim letter is part of the €12.40 escalation step. It goes out on day 15 of the Notice timeline together with the Ombudsman complaint preparation and the court-appeal bundle. The daily penalty itself is paid by the authority directly to the applicant's IBAN. We never take a cut.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

How do I claim the daily penalty?
Send a one-page claim letter to the authority naming the application reference, the period, the amount, your IBAN, and a two-week payment term. Send by registered mail. The authority is obliged to pay within six weeks of the original Notice expiry.
When must the authority pay?
Within six weeks of the expiry of the 14-day Notice window, under Awb 4:18. In practice most payments arrive within four to eight weeks of a written claim letter.
What if the authority refuses to pay?
The refusal is a Awb-decision open to objection within six weeks under Awb 7:1, then court appeal. The court can enforce the daily penalty and add a court-imposed daily penalty on top.
What if the authority just stays silent?
After six weeks, the vaststellingsbeschikking is overdue. A second Notice of Default can be served on the daily penalty-decision itself. The same court route then opens.
Can the authority offer less than I calculated?
The vaststellingsbeschikking may dispute the start date or the days. The shortfall is open to objection within six weeks. Most disputes are about the date the Notice was received.
Is the daily penalty taxable?
Yes, as resultaat uit overige werkzaamheden in box 1 of the personal income-tax return. Usually too small to change the tax bracket.
Who receives the daily penalty payment?
The applicant, on the IBAN named in the claim letter. The daily penalty is paid in the applicant's name, not the representative's, unless a power of attorney explicitly delegates payment.
Can MP receive the daily penalty on my behalf?
No. We do not handle the money. The authority pays directly to your IBAN. MP's fee is the file-opening €8.75 plus the optional €12.40 escalation.
Does the daily penalty apply at embassies?
Embassies acting on Dutch authority decisions (MVV) are governed by the Awb. The daily penalty applies but the IND, not the embassy, is the formal addressee of the claim.
What happens if the decision arrives just before the daily penalty cap?
Counting stops on the day the decision is given. If that is day 40, you are owed 40 days × the tiered amounts, not the full €1,442 cap.
Related reading
awb 4 17 daily penalty explainedNotice of Default (ingebrekestelling) immigrationwhat happens if the authority ignores the noticeawb 6 12 court appeal

Notice expired and ready to claim?

We prepare the daily penalty-claim letter as part of the escalation step. €12.40. The daily penalty is paid by the authority to you.

Open a file · €8.75