If the Tax Office issues you with a tax form or letter to request you to do so, this will have to be filed in any case.
If you do not receive a letter, but you have to pay additional tax on your income or assets, you are also obliged to file a tax return. Obviously if you are entitled to a refund, it is in your own interest to file one. For a regular domestic tax return the deadline is May 1st.
This year again we have heard of tax payers who received a letter from the Dutch tax authorities mentioning that they did not need to submit a tax return, although in their particular situation it would have been either mandatory to file a tax return, or they were entitled to a refund. Particularly in the situation of someone living abroad owning Dutch real estate, we regularly see that no tax returns were issued or filed. As property is always taxable in the country where it is located, it is important that a tax return is filed, also in view of avoiding later corrections with penalties and interest. Furthermore the Tax Office in the main is not aware of your possible tax deductions. We therefore advise to have your refund possibilities checked.
The Tax Office has also mentioned that some details in the prefilled tax return may be incorrect, such as the life annuity premiums. It is always important to check the figures with the underlying documents. By the way, any electronic messages you receive from the Tax Office (Berichtenbox) are still also sent by regular mail.
For our clients, we request a continuous authorisation from the Tax Office instead of the annual authorizations.
This may of course be canceled at any time again. If you receive a letter with a code for this authorisation, please forward it to us so that we can activate this in the system if you are happy with this. This authorisation is required, among other things, to receive copies of tax assessments from the Tax Office in our software program. However, we would still like to receive copies of the paper assessments you receive so that these are checked timely and appeal can be made, if necessary.
If you have not received an invitation to file a tax return but receive one later in the year, please inform us. For these tax returns, we will need to request a separate extension for submission.
If applicable, please also provide us with information about your crypto currencies for the tax return 2025
Crypto currencies are part of the assets and it is mandatory to declare this in Box 3. We need the value per 1-1-2025 and 31-12-2025. Even if you have not specified your crypto currency in previous years, it is wise to correct this on your own initiative. The same counts for any other undeclared foreign items. We can assist you in this too. The tax authorities have been authorized themselves to check what cryptocurrencies a taxpayer has. This is stated in a new EU directive on data exchange. If it is not possible to view the historic value of your crypto currencies, please ensure you take a screenshot of your portfolio on the 1st of January each year.
If you own any cash money as per 1st of January 2025 that exceeds the threshold of € 661,– (€1.322,– for fiscal partners), it must be declared in box 3. For 2025, this is mentioned in asset category 1, which means it is taxed at the same rate as bank accounts.
In the 2025 tax return your assets are in principle subject to the fictitious box 3 levy. Bank accounts are taxed at a low rate, while other assets are taxed at a higher rate. The assumed income is 1,37% on bank accounts and 5,88% on other assets. Additionally, debts are only taken into account with a negative return of 2,70%. The tax-free allowance of €57.684 per person is calculated at a weighted average rate. This fictitious return on your assets is then taxed at 36% in box 3.
Actual income
In 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that the above-mentioned fictitious return system does not sufficiently take into account the 2021 Supreme Court ruling and that the calculation should instead be based on the actual return earned on the assets. On this basis, a new taxation system has been developed that places greater emphasis on actual returns. This system can be opted for if it is more favourable than the fictitious system. However, since it also takes into account (unrealized) increases in assets, for example in stocks or the property value of homes as assessed for tax purposes (WOZ), this system is certainly not always more advantageous.
2025 Income Tax Return
As mentioned in the introduction, the 2025 tax return allows you to opt for box 3 taxation based on actual returns directly instead of the current fictitious system based. If you suspect that actual returns could be more advantageous for 2025, please provide us with the relevant data for the actual returns. Of particular importance for this are the overviews of investments, showing contributions and/or withdrawals, as well as dividends, and the rental income from real estate.
Below is a more detailed overview of the information required for the actual returns for each asset category:
Bank and savings deposits: Here, the actual interest income you have received is considered. This requires an overview of all accounts and corresponding statements. If the account is in foreign currency, transactions during the year must be converted into euros in order to determine the foreign exchange result.
Investments (shares, bonds, investment funds, etc.): Here, both dividend and other income and realized and unrealized capital gains (or losses) must be determined. This means that all purchases and sales of securities must be recorded, including transaction dates and values. If the account is in foreign currency, transactions during the year must be converted into euros in order to determine the foreign exchange result.
Real estate (excluding your own home): For rented property we must calculate rental income as well as any (realized and unrealized) value changes. Specific valuation rules also apply here, such as the vacancy value ratio (leegwaarderatio) and WOZ-value (official property valuation). In case of changes during the year, such as purchase or sale, changes in value are calculated on a proportionate basis.
Receivables and debts: Interest income or expenses must be recorded here, as well as any repayments or value changes. If foreign currency is involved, the foreign exchange result must also be determined.
Other assets: This includes, for example, cash, crypto assets, or valuable possessions. Correct valuations and income must also be determined for these in accordance with the applicable regulations.
If you have any questions regarding the box 3-taxation based on actual return or the needed information in this regard, please do not hesitate to contact our office.
Declaration of actual return (Opgaaf werkelijk rendement) 2021 – 2024
For the years 2021 to 2024, it is also possible to opt for box 3 taxation based on actual returns. If as of yet it has not been checked for these years, please let us know so that we can assess the possibilities. Further information may be required for this.
We use Secudoc to guarantee the safe transfer of larger files and documents.
We use Secudoc to guarantee the safe transfer of larger files and documents. If you want to send your files via Secudoc, please send us a request by email. You will then receive an email with a link that leads to the Secudoc upload page. After you upload your files, we can download your uploaded files only by using two-step verification. This provision is especially practical with a larger number of attachments or large files that cannot be sent in one e-mail.
Entrepreneurs can apply for the small business and/or starters deductions and research and development deduction.
In recent years the self-employed deduction has been decreased and in 2025 amounts to € 2.470,–; the starters deduction remains at € 2.123,–. To be considered for these deductions, you will have to work as an entrepreneur for at least 1.225 hours a year. In case you have a part time employment besides your own business, more hours need to be spent on your enterprise than the part time job. If it is not altogether clear that you make the required number of hours, then make sure you register the hours related to your business. The Tax Office may request an overview of the hours worked; a summary prepared after the end of the year is not accepted, as it is usually not sufficiently accurate.
The investment deductions, SME profit exemption (12,7% in 2025) as well as the depreciation facilities are also possible without the hours criterion. For the energy and environmental facilities, as well as the RDA (research and development) you have to make an application before the expense is made. For more information about thresholds, ceilings and criteria, please contact us.
The following deductions are available in the 2025 Income Tax return to reduce your taxable income
mortgage interest of your first residence (owner-occupied home)
life annuity premiums (if deposited before 1st July 2026)
non-reimbursed health care expenses (including medical assistance, prescribed medication and travel expenses for hospital visits)
financial obligations to ex-spouse i.e. in the form of alimony
gifts or donations to recognized charities (refer to the ANBI list)
travel expenses for regular commuting by public transport
weekend expenses for taking care of disabled relatives
Please note that for some of the tax deductions a threshold or other conditions may apply. The expenses may therefore not be fully deductible. If you incurred expenses that may qualify, please do not hesitate to contact us.
In 2024, the 2025 Tax Plan confirmed further adjustments to the 30%-ruling. From 2027, the maximum tax-free allowance under the 30%-ruling will be 27% instead of 30%.
Additionally, the option for partial non-domestic tax status is no longer from 1 January 2025. However, for employees who were already eligible for the 30%-ruling at the end of 2023, a transitional arrangement applies: they may still opt for partial non-domestic taxation until the end of 2026.
As in previous years, the 30%-ruling remains capped at a certain income level, known as the WNT norm (also referred to as the Balkenende norm). For 2025, this cap is set at €246,000 on an annual basis, and it will increase to €262,000 in 2026. A transitional arrangement applies for incoming employees for whom the 30%-ruling was applied in the last pay period (December) of 2022; for these employees, the income cap will only take effect from 1 January 2026.
Other tax tips and changes:
Do you expect to pay tax for the tax year 2025? If you request a provisional assessment in good time, this will save you interest. The tax rate for income tax entrepreneurs is currently 6.5% and for Corporate Tax the rate is 9%.
Did you find out that you forgot to include some items in your VAT return? Then consider to submit a supplement declaration. You can do this for this year or for the past 5 years. If it concerns VAT to be received or remitted of € 1,000 or less, this may be included in the next VAT return without a correction for the previous period.
Do you drive a company car and do you use this car privately? In that case, a correction on reclaimed VAT must be made for private use in the last VAT return (to be submitted in January 2026). This may be based on actual use or on the basis of a fixed rate. Do you have questions about this? We are happy to help you.
If, as a business owner, you have made sufficient investments to qualify for the small-scale investment deduction, but have not yet paid all investments, we advise you to make these payments before the end of the year so that you are eligible for the small-scale investment deduction. You are eligible for the small-scale investment deduction when the total investment is higher than € 2,900.–.
Has your partner worked in your business this year but has not received compensation yet? Then consider paying compensation before the end of the year. This is deductible in your business. For your partner, this reimbursement is taxable in box 1. The rate depends on your partner’s total Box 1 income and is especially advantageous if your partner has a low income.
If you own a private company (BV) and make donations to charitable causes, consider making these donations from the BV. Since the personal deduction for gifts is limited to the lowest tax bracket, making the donation through the BV may be more advantageous. There is a maximum of €100,000 and a limit of 50% of the profit; no threshold applies.
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