Avdragen

Avdragen is a Dutch verb meaning to remit or hand over money that is owed to a public authority, most often taxes, social security contributions, or duties. In modern standard Dutch the preferred spelling is afdragen; avdragen is considered a variant spelling that appears in older legal texts, regional usage, or certain clerical contexts.

In usage, afdragen describes the act of transferring funds to the authorities as part of compliance with fiscal or social security obligations. Common collocations include loonbelasting afdragen (remitting payroll tax), premies afdragen aan de Belastingdienst (remitting social security or pension premiums to the Tax Administration), and btw afdragen (remitting value-added tax). The related noun is afdracht, and the verb can occur in passive constructions such as geld moet worden afgedragen (money must be remitted).

Regulatory context and timing are important: the payer—often an employer or business—has a legal obligation to afdragen amounts within specified periods (monthly or quarterly, depending on the regime and country rules). Failure to afdragen on time can lead to penalties, interest, or additional administration. The concept is central to fiscal accountability and to the functioning of national revenue systems.

See also: afdracht, Belastingdienst, loonbelasting, premies, btw.