From 1 January 2026, new fiscal measures in the Netherlands will significantly affect how wealth is taxed. If you hold assets beyond bank or savings accounts \u2013 for example, investments, second homes, or certain other financial products \u2013 you may face a much higher tax burden.<\/p>\n
The Dutch government has announced that the assumed (fictitious) return on these \u201cother assets\u201d will increase sharply. Compared with today, the effective taxation could be around 34% higher. This makes it essential for internationals with wealth in the Netherlands to understand how their portfolios will be impacted.<\/p>\n
At the same time, there will be two important ways to limit the tax impact:<\/p>\n
1. Actual return lower than fictitious return<\/p>\n
If you can demonstrate that your realized return on these assets is lower than the government\u2019s assumed return, you will only be taxed on the lower outcome. This provides some protection for investors in years with modest or negative performance. One of the conditions to file for an adjustment is that you have filed a tax return first.<\/p>\n
2. Reallocation before 1 October<\/p>\n
A second option is to restructure part of your wealth. If \u201cother assets\u201d are converted into cash (bank balances or savings) before 1 October of the tax year, they will fall into a much more favorable category. Cash is taxed on a far lower assumed return, which can considerably reduce your final assessment.<\/p>\n
The key message is clear: a timely review of your financial situation is vital. The right strategy will depend on your personal mix of assets, expected returns, and liquidity needs. For some, providing evidence of lower actual returns may be sufficient. For others, shifting assets into cash before the October cut-off could bring meaningful savings.<\/p>\n
Doing nothing, however, can easily prove costly. With the upcoming increase, leaving assets unchanged may result in paying far more tax than necessary.<\/p>\n
Especially relevant we think for international professionals, who are already balancing life between countries, currencies, and systems. Dutch tax law adds another layer of complexity \u2013 but with preparation, it is possible to optimize your outcome. Now is a good time to map your assets, explore scenarios, and decide which approach fits best for 2026.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
From 1 January 2026, new fiscal measures in the Netherlands will significantly affect how wealth is taxed. If you hold assets beyond bank or savings accounts \u2013 for example, investments, second homes, or certain other financial products \u2013 you may face a much higher tax burden. The Dutch government has announced that the assumed (fictitious) […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3790","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles"],"yoast_head":"\n