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The Dutch government now wants to start taxing actual gains on savings and investments in box 3 from 1 January 2029 at the latest, one year later than planned. It also drops its plan to lower the tax-free allowance. The Ministry of Finance wrote this to the Tweede Kamer on 3 November 2026. If talks with the banks show it can be done, the start may still move forward to 2028.
The reason for the delay is practical. According to the ministry’s letter, the Belastingdienst (tax authority) gave a negative opinion on introducing the new system in 2028, the Raad van State (Council of State) said a 2028 start would not be responsible, and financial institutions say they cannot deliver the 2028 data in time. The change is in an amending bill (novelle) that the cabinet submitted the same day. Parliament still has to vote on it.
The second change matters for anyone with savings. To pay for the reform, the cabinet had proposed lowering the tax-free allowance. The letter says that proposal “zal worden geschrapt” (will be dropped). Instead, the cabinet proposes cutting the lower rate in box 2, the box for people with a substantial shareholding in a company, from 24.5% to 23.5% for 2027 to 2030.
What does this mean for you?
For 2027 nothing new happens. Box 3 keeps the current system: the Belastingdienst taxes an assumed return on what you own on 1 January, and you can still show that your actual return was lower. Under the Belastingplan 2027, which Parliament has not yet adopted, the tax-free allowance for 2027 is €60,098 per person and the rate is 36%.
An example: you are single and have €50,000 in savings and investments combined on 1 January 2027. That is below the proposed allowance, so you pay no box 3 tax for 2027. Had the allowance been lowered, part of that amount could have become taxable.
The move to 2029 also means you have more time before you need to track actual gains, dividends and costs per year for your tax return.
What can you do now?
- Check what you own on 1 January 2027, including bank accounts and investments abroad: they count too.
- Read how box 3 works in 2027 and our box 3 guide for expats.
- Compare interest rates in the best savings accounts for expats.