Employee Taxation in the Netherlands

General

The taxation of employees in the Netherlands consists of the levy of personal income tax and social insurance contributions.

The Dutch social security contributions consist of the national social insurance contributions and the employee social insurance contributions.

The (designated) employer has a withholding obligation for taxes due over the employee’s salary (wage tax) and the social security contributions which become due over the employee's salary.

The national social insurance contributions are basically due by every Dutch individual tax payer, regardless the nature of the income. The levy of the national social insurance contributions is integrated in the income tax and wage tax levy.

The employee social insurance contributions are only due by employer (and for a small part by the employee) on account of qualifying employment income. The levy of the employee insurance contributions is separated from the levy of income tax, with its own taxable basis and rates.

For employees who are temporarily assigned to the Netherlands an exemption from the Dutch social insurance system may apply by virtue of applicable treaties and/or EU regulations.

Personal income tax

Resident individuals are subject to individual income tax over their worldwide income.

Income earned outside the Netherlands may qualify for an exemption by virtue of applicable tax treaties or the Dutch unilateral rules for the avoidance of double taxation.

Non-residents are only subject to individual income tax on certain types of Dutch source income, including

• income from employment 
• real estate situated in the Netherlands 
• income derived from shareholdings in a Dutch corporation, provided that the interest exceeds 5% of the shares

Special rules apply to certain categories of tax payers like for instance sportsmen or artists.

The centre of the vital life interests will be decisive for qualifying as a Dutch resident e.g. physical presence of the taxpayer and his/her family in the Netherlands.

A non-resident taxpayer earning certain Dutch source income can under certain stringent conditions opt for the status of resident tax payer.  Usually this is done to qualify for personal allowances and deduction of certain expenses which are generally not availble for non-resident tax payers.

Under most tax treaties a foreign employee who is assigned to the Netherlands by a foreign employer is exempt from Dutch income tax/wage tax if the employee's working days in the Netherlands do not exceed 183 days in a tax year. This rule generally does not apply if the foreign employee has a Dutch employer. Special rules apply for foreign based employment agencies.

The Dutch individual income taxation is based on three types of income (boxes of income). Each box has its own rules for computing the taxable base and its own tax rate:

Box 1: taxable income from work and home; progressive rate, 

Box 2: taxable income from substantial shareholdings; fixed rate over actual income from the shares, see under Dutch tax rates for individuals. 

Box 3: taxable income from savings and portfolio investments; fixed rate, over fictitious income calculated as percentage of the total value less allocable debt 

Each form of income is taxed in one box only. For example,  all "emoluments" of employment - for example, salary, bonus, company car and benefits in kind - are subject to income tax in Box 1. There can never be double taxation. If the income in one box is negative, this can in most cases not be offset against positive income in another box. However, it is in principle possible to offset the negative amount against a positive income in the same box in past or future years.

For information about the applicable rates , please consult our publication Dutch tax rates for individuals. 

The personal income tax year is the calendar year.

Wage tax and national social insurance contributions

Wage tax or wages withholding tax ('Loonbelasting') is an advance payment for the individual income tax. Wage tax and national social insurance contributions ('volksverzekeringen') are levied jointly on income from employment.

All Dutch employers, including non-resident employers with a permanent establishment in the Netherlands, are obliged to withhold wage tax and national social insurance contributions from salary payments and, in this respect, act as a withholding agent for the Dutch tax authorities.

The rates are progressive and depending on the bracket of income. For the rates we kindly refer to the page Tax rates for individuals. Wage tax rates are basically equal to individual income tax rates, although through the much broader taxable basis of the income tax the ultimate effective rates may deviate. For many individuals the wage tax is however a final tax.

Depending on the level of income from employment and other criteria, individuals may have the legal obligation to file an income tax return. The filing of a tax return is followed by the issuance of a tax assessment in which the wage tax already paid is offset against the final income tax liability.

Employee social insurance contributions

In addition to the national social insurance contributions that form part of the lowest two income tax rates, social security contributions ('werknemersverzekeringen') on employment income are payable by employees. The contributions are calculated on gross salaries (with a maximum amount), less pensions premiums withheld and adjusted for some technical differences with the income for tax purposes.

Employees furthermore pay a social insurance contribution (including medical insurance) and an unemployment insurance contribution.

The rates are dependent on your lines of business. For more information please contact us.

Income tax rates

For an overview of the 2019 rates for the Dutch personal income tax and the national social insurance contributions we refer to the page Dutch tax rates for individuals - 2017.

Expatriate incentive - the 30%-regulation

The Dutch tax system provides for a special incentive for foreign employees who are assigned to the Netherlands. In essence, the incentive allows the employer to pay the employee a tax free allowance up to 30% of gross salary. For more information about this incentive we refer to the page Expatriate incentive: the 30% regulation.  

Employee stock option plans

The Dutch tax system provides special rules for the treatment of (foreign) employee stock option plans.

Where it comes down to, is that options are considered to be part of the employee’s taxable wages. In most cases the employer has a withholding obligation, even if the options are granted by another (group) company. Special rules apply for determining against which value and exactly at what moment the options are taxed.

For more information about this subject, we refer to the page Investing in the Netherlands - Employee stock option plans.

What can we do for you?

Advice on employee tax and social insurance issues

Dealing with registration formalities

Dealing with tax compliance matters

Negotiation tax rulings

Representation in tax audits

If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us via e-mail or to call us at our office in Rotterdam at the number +31 (10) 2010466 or at our office in Amsterdam at the number + 31 (10) 5709440.

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