Box 3 Assets 2025
What are the changes regarding box 3? Are you entitled to restitution? How do the new calculations work? And when do you qualify for exemptions or compensation? On this page, we keep you up-to-date.
Box 3 is the tax system in which calculates taxable income from assets, such as savings, investments, and second homes. In the coming years, significant changes will take place in the calculations and rates of box 3. Here, you can read all about these changes: whether you are entitled to restitution, how the new calculations work, and when can you qualify for exemption or compensation.
How does box 3 work now?
In box 3, the notional income from assets is taxed based on an assumed return on the value of your assets as of January 1. This assumed return is not based on your actual income but on fixed percentages.
In 2025, the assumed income percentages are:
Calculating taxes in 2025
- The taxable return is calculated by combining notional returns on bank deposits, investments, and debts.
- The taxable base is determined by subtracting your debts from the value of your assets, taking into account a deductible threshold of €3,800 per person.
- The tax-free allowance is then subtracted from the taxable base. A tax rate of 36% is applied to the remaining amount.
Restitution and Supreme Court Ruling
In 2021, the Supreme Court has ruled that the old taxation method for box 3 for past years violated the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Following this ruling, a new method was developed. However, on June 6, 2024, the Supreme Court also ruled that the current method is in violation of the ECHR. The government has introduced a transitional scheme to address these cases, ensuring compensation for affected taxpayers. This means that certain individuals may be entitled to restitution. From now on, the Tax Authorities are only allowed to tax your actual return if it is lower than the notional return.
Restitution and Supreme Court ruling
In 2021, the Supreme Court has ruled that the old taxation method for box 3 for past years violated the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Following this ruling, a new method was developed. However, on June 6, 2024, the Supreme Court also ruled that the current method is in violation of the ECHR. The government has introduced a transitional scheme to address these cases, ensuring compensation for affected taxpayers. This means that certain individuals may be entitled to restitution. From now on, the Tax Authorities are only allowed to tax your actual return if it is lower than the notional return.
Submitting your actual return
Starting summer 2025, you can report your actual return to the tax authorities. This process applies to tax years where the actual return you achieved is lower than the previously calculated notional return. Below, we explain step by step how this process works and what you can expect.
Letters from the tax office
In October 2024, tax office sent letters to taxpayers who may qualify to report their actual return. For each tax year in which you can report your actual return, you will receive a separate letter. These letters provide instructions on how to complete and submit the “actual return declaration” (opgaaf werkelijk rendement) form.
Filling in the form
When completing the “actual return declaration” form, you indicate the actual return you achieved in the relevant tax year. This includes, for example, interest on savings, dividends, and any increases in the value of investments.
- Lower actual return than notional return:
If your actual return is lower than the previously calculated notional return, you can submit the form. The Tax Authorities will calculate the difference, and if you owe less tax, you will receive a refund or compensation. - Higher actual Return than notional return:
In this case, you do not need to submit the form. You will never pay more tax than what was already calculated based on the notional return, even if you submit the form.
Belastingdienst expects to complete calculations based on actual returns by the end of 2025. Once this is done, you will receive a notification explaining what this means for you. This may result in a tax refund or a lower assessment than initially calculated.
Important points
In the additional restitution process, costs such as transaction- or advisory-fees for the purchase-and-sale of investments, bank account fees, or maintenance costs for real estate, as well as losses from previous years, cannot be deducted. Additionally, the tax-free allowance does not play a role in the calculation of the actual return.
Example calculation: taxation on actual return vs notional return
Sanne has in 2023:
- Savings: €200,000
- Shares: €200,000
- Notional return: €12,159
Actual return:
- Interest on savings: €2,000
- Dividend from shares: €2,000
- Increase in share value: €3,000
Total actual return: €7,000
Tax on actual return: €7,000 × 32% = €2,240
Result:
Eligibility for restitution
Restitution applies to a broad audience. Taxpayers with an assessment issued after the so-called “kerstarrest” of December 24, 2021, may qualify, provided a request for an ex officio reduction was submitted on time (within the five-year period). For tax years from 2021 onward, completing the ‘actual return declaration’ form serves as such a request.
Restitution for 2017 – 2022:
- 2017 – 2020: Applies to those who filed an objection or whose assessment was not yet final or irrevocable as of December 24, 2021.
- 2021 – 2022: Restitution is automatically applied.
Categories for restitution
The restitution scheme for box 3 is divided into three main groups, depending on your specific situation and whether you previously filed an objection to your tax assessment. Below is a detailed explanation for each category.
1. Non-objectors
This group includes taxpayers who did not object to their final assessments for the years 2017 through 2020 and did not participate in the mass objection procedure.
Status:
Currently, you do not need to take any action. You will automatically be included in the mass objection procedure if the Supreme Court decides that non-objectors are also entitled to restitution. The government has requested clarity from the Supreme Court on whether non-objectors are eligible for restitution. This ruling is pending.
What this means for you:
If the Supreme Court rules that you are entitled to restitution, you will be given the opportunity to file a request for an ex officio reduction, even if you are outside the standard five-year period.
2. Objectors
This category is divided into two subgroups. If you agree with the calculation of your assessment and believe it is correct, no further action is needed. However, if you think your actual return is lower than what the Belastingdienst has calculated, you can take action.
2017 & 2018
- If you submitted a timely request for an ex officio reduction, you will receive a form in the summer of 2025 to report your actual return.
- If you did not submit a request, you fall back into category 1 (non-objectors).
2019
- You can use the counter-evidence scheme if you meet certain conditions, such as if your final assessment was issued after December 24, 2021, or if you submitted a request for an ex officio reduction before December 31, 2024.
2020–2023
- Starting in summer 2025, you can complete and submit the ‘actual return declaration’ form. This serves as a request for an ex officio reduction. For the 2020 tax year, this must be done by December 31, 2025.
Important: if you do not submit the form for your actual return on time, you lose the right to additional restitution.
3. Others
This category concerns taxpayers with pending cases or recently issued assessments.
Who falls into this group?
- Individuals whose final assessment has not yet been issued.
- Individuals with an ongoing objection procedure.
- Individuals who recently received a letter from the Belastingdienst with instructions about the ‘actual return declaration’ form.
If you fall into this category, you will receive a letter explaining how to report your actual return. This form must be completed and submitted on time.