Paying tax? Here are the changes you can expect in 2021 in the Netherlands

Yesterday’s Prinsjesdag revealed the budget for 2020, complete with some significant tax changes, reports RTL Nieuws

There’s a reduction on income tax, a new CO2 tax, and huge savings for young people buying a house — but what will affect you? We’ve got a roundup below.

Income tax is reduced

The tax rate in the first bracket of income tax is going to drop slightly, a measure that will affect everyone. Paying tax on a smaller part of our income? Yes, please.

Starters won’t pay income tax when buying a house

If you’re aged between 18 and 35 and considering buying a home in the Netherlands for the first time, congratulations — you can save a pretty pack of cash. While everyone else is subject to a 2% transfer tax, you can throw that money in a bathtub and laugh gleefully. Or, you know, update your bathroom. This is a pretty sweet deal — on a €300,000 property, you’ll save €6000!

However, if you’re an investor, bad news. From 2021 you’ll pay more transfer tax — a whopping 8%.

Your hard-earned savings will cost you less money (to an extent)

When I arrived here from Australia I was shocked to find out that

  1. interest rates on savings are ridiculously low (and in some cases, you’ll pay the bank to store your money)
  2. The government will also charge you a “wealth tax” on the savings sitting in your bank account (above a certain amount) — even if you don’t earn money on it.

Thankfully, the burden of #2 is going to be reduced slightly in the new year. While you were previously taxed on any amount you had saved higher than €30,846, now that number has been raised to €50,000.

There is a slight caveat to this saving — the tax rate for amounts above €50,000 has now been changed from 30% up to 31% on the assumed return.

Self-employed people will lose their tax breaks faster

Self-employed people currently enjoy a break on income tax if they meet certain conditions (zelfstandigenaftrek). However, a plan to lower that tax break has been accelerated. Currently, the tax break is €7030, but it will be lowered by €360 per year until 2032.

However, the cabinet defends its decision, arguing that the cost should be offset by the changes in income tax credits.

Small business get a tax reduction

Got a small business? You’re a winner in this year’s budget, with corporate tax for small businesses dropping from 16.5% to 15%.

Meanwhile, large companies will be disappointed after a planned tax reduction was thrown out the door — they’re stuck paying 25% for the next year.

CO2 tax introduced

Starters, individuals, and small businesses aren’t the only winners in this year’s budget: the environment is also feeling a little bit happier. Dutch companies will start to pay a CO2 tax — but because of the coronavirus, they’ll pay a little less to begin with.

When the rate does rise, they’ll start paying €30 per ton of CO2 that they create, with that number increasing to €125 in 2030.

Are you in favour of the changes introduced at Prinsjesdag? What do you think is missing? Tell us your opinion in the comments below. 

READ NEXT: 10 Things to know about taxes in the Netherlands as an expat

Feature Image: Wilfried Pohnke/Pixabay

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺https://gallivantations.com
Sam has over six years experience writing about life in the Netherlands and leads the content team at DutchReview. She originally came to the Netherlands to study in 2016 and now holds a BA (Hons.) in Arts, a BA (Hons) in Journalism, and (almost) a Masters in Teaching. She loves to write about settling into life in the Netherlands, her city of Utrecht, learning Dutch, and jobs in the Netherlands — and she still can’t jump on the back of a moving bike (she's learning!).

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