Box 3: Wealth tax in the Netherlands

Last modified date2026-01-09

If you live in the Netherlands and hold savings, investments, or a second home, these assets fall under box 3 of the Dutch income tax system. The wealth tax (other name of box 3 taxation) works differently than the taxation on your primary income (box 1). As soon as your assets exceed the tax-free capital threshold, you have to pay wealth tax in box 3.

Over the past few years, box 3 has been the subject of legal challenges and major reforms. On this page we explain what box 3 tax is, how it works in 2025, what has changed, what the tax plan is for 2026, and what you need to do based on these developments.

Box 3. How does wealth tax work in the Netherlands?

The Dutch tax system has three boxes for the income tax return. It is important to know that your capital is taxed in box 3. For now, the Dutch government uses a temporary method called the savings variant. Instead of taxing your actual profits, the Dutch tax office (Belastingdienst) assumes a fictitious return, a fixed percentage based on the type of asset. And for many people, this return is higher than they achieved on their assets.

Box 3 is used to calculate tax on income from assets. The amount is based on a fictitious return broken down into three categories:

Savings (also cash above €672 in 2026 which was €661 in 2025)
Stocks, crypto, second property (your main home is taxed in box 1), and other investments
Debts

The Dutch tax authorities use a different fictitious/assumed return for each asset component. You pay 36% wealth tax on the total notional return in 2024 and 2025. In the table below you can see the fictitious returns that the tax office calculates. The percentages for investments and other assets are already fixed. The percentages for bank balances and debts are still provisional for 2025.

These are percentages that the tax office assumes is your return (aka profit) on the savings mentioned below.
Asset component	2022	2023	2024	2025
Savings	0.00%	0.92%	1,44%	1,44%
Investments & other assets	5.53%	6,17 %	6,04%	5,88%
Debts	2.28%	2.46%	2,61%	2,62%

These are percentages that the tax office assumes is your return (aka profit) on the savings mentioned below.
Asset component	2022	2023	2024	2025
Savings	0.00%	0.92%	1,44%	1,44%
Investments & other assets	5.53%	6,17 %	6,04%	5,88%
Debts	2.28%	2.46%	2,61%	2,62%

These are percentages that the tax office assumes is your return (aka profit) on the savings mentioned below.
Asset component	2025	2026 according to the tax plan 2026
Savings	1,44%	To be announced
Investments & other assets	5,88%	6%
Debts	2,62%	To be announced

These are percentages that the tax office assumes is your return (aka profit) on the savings mentioned below.
Asset component	2025	2026 according to the tax plan 2026
Savings	1,44%	To be announced
Investments & other assets	5,88%	6%
Debts	2,62%	To be announced

Tax-free allowance

Fortunately, you do not have to pay tax on all your assets, as there is an exemption. For 2024, the tax-free allowance is €57,000 for one person and €114,000 applies to tax partners. In 2025, the tax-free threshold is €57,684 and €115,368 respectively.

Earlier this year, the 2026 Tax Plan presented a reduction in the tax-free allowance for box 3 to €51,396 and for fiscal partners to €102,792. However, the House of Representatives has decided to reverse this measure, and the tax-free allowance for 2026 will be increased to €59,357 instead of €51,396.

Box 3 Actual Return Act

In June 2024, the Dutch Supreme Court stated that the current way of taxing assets may violate European law. They ruled that taxing a fictitious return is not allowed if your actual return is lower than what the tax office assumes it is. As a result, the Dutch tax office must allow you to report your real return and calculate your tax based on that instead.

To report your actual return, you can fill out the “Opgaaf Werkelijk Rendement”(OWR) form. This is done through online tax portal (Mijn Belastingdienst) or by asking your tax advisor to submit it on your behalf.

The form:

Is available for multiple tax years
Automatically calculates your actual return
Must be submitted once per tax year

What can be included in calculated actual return:

Interest on savings
Dividends
Market value gains (e.g. rising stock prices)

What cannot be deducted:

Transaction costs
Bank or account maintenance fees
Property maintenance costs
Losses from previous years

In July 2025, you can submit your actual return. This may lead to a tax refund.
The Actual Return (in Dutch Opgaaf Werkelijk Rendement) method plays a key role in how your assets are taxed.
In our blog, we explain what OWR means, how it’s applied in Box 3, and what it could mean for your tax situation.

Read our blog

How to calculate Box 3 tax?

Calculation examples box 3:

Calculation example box 3 with debt 2025

Step 1: Calculate the total notional return on all assets

First, we calculate the notional return on each type of asset separately:

Investments:

Value of investments: €100,000

Notional return on investments: €100,000 × 5.88% = €5,880

Savings:

Value of savings: €100,000

Notional return on savings: €100,000 × 1.44% = €1,440

Total notional return: €5,880 + €1,440 = €7,320

Step 2: Deduct the debt

Now we deduct the notional interest on the debt from the total return.

First, determine the deductible debt:

Total debt: €50,000

Minus debt threshold: €7,600

Deductible debt: €50,000 – €7,600 = €42,400

Calculate the notional interest on this deductible debt:

Notional interest on debt: €42,400 × 2.62% = €1,111

Calculate the net return:

Return after deduction of debt: €7,320 – €1,111 = €6,209

Step 3: Determine the total assets for Box 3

To calculate the rate of return, we first need to know the total assets after deduction of debts.

Calculate the total assets:

Total assets (investments + savings): €100,000 + €100,000 = €200,000

Minus deductible debts: €42,400

Assets: €200,000 – €42,400 = €157,200

Step 4: Calculate the rate of return on capital

We will use this percentage later to calculate the taxable income.

Return on capital:

Net return ÷ total capital = €6,209 ÷ €157,200 = 3.892%

Rate of return: 3.892%

Step 5: Determine the taxable base for savings and investments

Not all assets are taxable. We first deduct the tax-free allowance.

Calculate the base:

Total assets: €157,200

Minus tax-free allowance 2025: €115,368

Basis for savings and investments in 2025: €157,200 – €115,368 = €41,832

Step 6: Calculate the notional return on the taxable basis

Now we apply the rate of return to the taxable portion of the assets.

Notional return on assets in 2025:

Taxable basis × rate of return

€41,832 × 3.892% = €1,628

Taxable income from assets: €1,628

Step 7: Calculate the final tax due

Finally, we calculate the actual tax payable by applying the Box 3 tax rate.

Final tax in 2025:

Taxable income × Box 3 tax rate

€1,628 × 36% = €586

Box 3 tax payable in 2025: €586

Calculation example box 3 without debt 2025

Step 1: Calculate the total notional return on all assets.

First, we calculate the notional return on each type of asset separately:

Investments:

Value of investments: €100,000
Notional return on investments: €100,000 × 5.88% = €5,880

Savings:

Value of savings: €100,000
Notional return on savings: €100,000 × 1.44% = €1,440

Total notional return: €5,880 + €1,440 = €7,320

Step 2: Determine the total assets for Box 3

As there are no debts, the assets are equal to the total possessions.

Total assets:

Investments + savings = €100,000 + €100,000 = €200,000

Step 3: Calculate the average rate of return on the assets

We will use this percentage later to calculate the taxable income.

Return on assets:

Total return ÷ total assets = €7,320 ÷ €200,000 = 3.66%

Rate of return: 3.66%

Step 4: Determine the taxable base for savings and investments

Not all assets are taxable. We first deduct the tax-free allowance.

Calculate the base:

Total assets: €200,000
Minus tax-free allowance for 2025: €115,368
Taxable base for savings and investments in 2025: €200,000 – €115,368 = €84,632

Step 5: Calculate the notional return on the taxable base

Now we apply the rate of return to the taxable portion of the assets.

Notional return on assets in 2025:

Taxable base × rate of return
€84,632 × 3.66% = €3,098

Taxable income from assets: €3,098

Step 6: Calculate the final tax due

Finally, we calculate the actual tax payable by applying the Box 3 tax rate.

Final tax on assets in 2025:

Taxable income × Box 3 tax rate
€3,098 × 36% = €1,115

Box 3 tax payable in 2025: €1,115

Calculation example box 3 actual return (opgaaf werkelijk rendement):

In 2023 you had:
– €100,000 in savings (interest-bearing account)
On the savings you received €2,000 in interest in 2023
– €150,000 in investments (stocks, ETFs, etc.) On December 31, 2023, the investments have a value of €151,000. In 2023, you did not buy or sell any investments. You also did not receive any dividends
– €0 in debt

€0 in debt
Total: €250,000 in Box 3 assets.

You have a tax partner, the tax-free sum is €114,000.

So the taxable amount in your Box 3 is your total minus the tax-free allowance -€136,000.

How the Tax Office (Belastingdienst) taxes you based on your assumed income (fictitious return using currently known percentages):

Asset component	Amount	Assumed return (2024)	Value
Savings	€100.000	0,92%	€920
Investment & other assets	€150.000	6,17%	€9.255
Total return (assumed):			€10.175
Minus tax-free part			-€4640
Total return (calculated):			€5535
Tax to pay(36%):			€1771

Asset component	Amount	Assumed return (2024)	Value
Savings	€100.000	0,92%	€920
Investment & other assets	€150.000	6,17%	€9.255
Total return (assumed):			€10.175
Minus tax-free part			-€4640
Total return (calculated):			€5535
Tax to pay(36%):			€1771

How you will be taxed if you submit your actual return:

Asset component	Amount	Return value
Savings	€100.000	€2.000
Investments & other assets	€150.000	€1.000 (€151.000 – €150.000)
Total return:		€3.000
Tax to pay (36%):		€1.080

Asset component	Amount	Return value
Savings	€100.000	€2.000
Investments & other assets	€150.000	€1.000 (€151.000 – €150.000)
Total return:		€3.000
Tax to pay (36%):		€1.080

Comparison:

	Comparison
Assumed return	€5535
Actual return	€3000

	Comparison
Assumed return	€5535
Actual return	€3000

What this means:

The actual return is lower than the notional return, which is why it makes sense to fill in on the statement actual return form, you may get money back or pay less tax.

Traditionally, you would be taxed as if you earned much more than you actually did. Thanks to the new Box 3 tax rules, you can claim a refund based on the actual return if you provide supporting information.

Want help calculating your future Box 3 tax? We can check whether you’re overpaying based on your actual savings and investments.

Tips from TaxSavers

Repay small debts before 1 January
Only debts above €3,800 (2025) per person are deductible.
Pay big bills early
Prepaying expenses like health insurance before 31 December reduces your taxable assets.
Check tax partner allocation
Splitting assets strategically can reduce your total tax due.
File the OWR form in time
You can already do so from July 2025. This is key if your actual return is lower than the assumed one.

Frequently asked questions about Dutch wealth tax

Curious about how savings and investments are taxes in the Netherlands? Below you will find an overview of the most common questions about wealth tax, rates in 2026, exemptions and how your assets are affected. This section will help you as an expat or resident with capital in the Netherlands to better understand the tax rules.

What is Dutch wealth tax (box 3)?

Dutch wealth tax, also caled Box 3 taxm is the tax on your savings and investments if your total assets exceed the tax-free allowance.

How much savings is tax-free in the Netherlands?

In 2024 and 2025, you can have up to €57,000 tax-free, for fiscal partners the exemption is €114,000. Any savings above this amount will be taxed.

What is the wealth tax rate in the Netherlands?

The wealth tax rate is 36% applied to the notional (fictitious) return on your taxable assets.

We can help with your box 3 tax:

Optimize your asset distribution with your taxpartner.
Calculate your assumed and actual returns.
File the OWR form correctly.

Fill in our contact form, and we will get in touch

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