Pieter Omtzigt demands criminal probe into hidden tax files

Former lawmaker Pieter Omtzigt is calling for a criminal investigation by the National Police Services Agency (Rijksrecherche) following the discovery of a 'data vault' containing at least 64 million files within the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration. These files, which were set aside in 2019 to comply with privacy laws, effectively disappeared from view for years.

Initial sampling suggests the vault may contain documents relevant to previous parliamentary inquiries into the childcare benefits scandal (toeslagenaffaire). Omtzigt argues that an internal investigation is insufficient, noting that the failure to provide this information to the House of Representatives, journalists, and affected parents undermines the core of parliamentary oversight. He points out that the government has already acknowledged potential violations of legal obligations.

The Dutch Cabinet has expressed regret, stating that the parliamentary inquiry committee was not fully informed. The government noted that the oversight occurred because the digital storage environment fell out of sight after its creation. While the Cabinet maintains that these documents will not change decisions regarding compensation for victims of the scandal, they acknowledged the negative perception following the original benefits affair.