- Box 1: income from work and your primary residence (primarily your salary).
- Box 2: income from substantial shareholdings in a company (if you own 5% or more).
- Box 3: your assets: savings, investments, a second home, cryptocurrencies, etc.
Box 3 is the box for savings and investments (sparen en beleggen). This includes practically all your assets as of 1 January of the year: money in bank accounts, deposits, shares, ETFs, funds, crypto, and properties that are not your main residence. This reference date is called the peildatum, and it’s the snapshot that counts: what you have on 1 January 2026 is what is taxed that year.
The key detail: you don’t pay tax on your real gain
This is what most confuses those coming from Latin America. In Box 3, the Netherlands, at least in 2026 and 2027, does not tax what you actually earned with your savings or investments. Instead, the Tax Administration (Belastingdienst) assumes a fictional return (forfaitair rendement) based on the type of assets you hold, and calculates the tax on that assumed return.
In other words: even if your savings account yields a real 1.5%, the tax authorities apply their own percentage. And vice versa: even if your investments had a bad year, it is assumed that you earned a fixed percentage. This system has been controversial and a source of legal disputes for years, but it remains in force in 2026 while a reform to tax actual returns is being prepared (planned for a later date).
Box 3 figures for 2026
These are the official figures for the 2026 tax year:
| Concept | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Exempt assets (heffingvrij vermogen) | €59,357 per person (€118,714 for tax partners) |
| Fictional return on savings (accounts and deposits) | 1.28%* |
| Fictional return on investments and other assets | 6.00% |
| Fictional return on debts | 2.70%* |
| Tax rate | 36% |
*The percentages for savings and debts are provisional and are definitively set at the beginning of the following year, because they depend on the actual interest rates of the year. The investment percentage (6.00%) is already final.
The big difference is clear: having money sitting in the bank is taxed much less (1.28%) than having it invested (6.00%). This doesn’t mean that saving is better—the actual long-term return on investing usually far exceeds this tax—but it’s good to know to understand your tax bill.
What changed compared to 2025 (and what good news there was)
Here are two new developments that benefit you:
- The exempt assets increased: it went from €57,684 in 2025 to €59,357 in 2026. This means you can now have more assets without paying anything in Box 3.
- A significant increase was cancelled: the government had planned to raise the fictional return on investments to 7.78%. The House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer) rejected this increase, so it remains at 6.00%. For investors, this is a notable difference in their favour.
A real-world example
Imagine that on 1 January 2026, you have €80,000 and no debts. Let’s see how much you would pay depending on where you hold that money.
Case A — all in savings:
- Taxable base: €80,000 − €59,357 (exempt) = €20,643
- Fictional return (1.28%): €20,643 × 1.28% = €264.23
- Tax (36%): €264.23 × 36% = ≈ €95 per year
Case B — all invested (shares, ETFs):
- Taxable base: €80,000 − €59,357 = €20,643
- Fictional return (6.00%): €20,643 × 6.00% = €1,238.58
- Tax (36%): €1,238.58 × 36% = ≈ €446 per year
Same amount of money, but the tax changes quite a bit depending on how you hold it. Even so, remember: if those €80,000 invested yield a real 7% or 8%, the tax of approximately €446 is a small fraction of what you earned.
Note: if your money is split between savings and investments, the Tax Administration does not apply a single percentage, but an effective return that combines both categories on the part exceeding the exempt threshold. These examples use a single asset type to make the calculation clear.
What if I recently arrived in the Netherlands?
If you are a tax resident in the Netherlands, Box 3 applies to your worldwide assets, not just those you hold here. This includes accounts and properties you have in your country of origin (with nuances depending on double taxation treaties). If you have significant assets abroad, it’s worth consulting an advisor (belastingadviseur), because each person’s situation varies greatly.
A common exception: if you have the 30% ruling (30%-ruling), for a period you could opt to be taxed as a “partial non-resident” and exclude your Box 3 assets. This benefit is in its final phase—2026 is the last year of the transitional arrangement for those who already had it—so if it applies to you, now is the time to review it.
What you can do with this information
This is not about “evading” the tax, but about understanding it to make better decisions:
- If your assets are below €59,357 (or €118,714 for partners), you pay nothing in Box 3. Many people who have just arrived fall into this category without knowing it.
- Having part of your money genuinely earning a return makes sense: the investment tax exists, but the actual long-term return often more than compensates for it. If you want to start small, check out how to invest from 10 euros in the stock market.
- For your reserve money, look for accounts that at least give you some real interest. In our guide on how to get more interest on your savings, we tell you about options available in the Netherlands.
- If you want to understand the full picture of the system, read our explanation of the income tax system in the Netherlands.
Conclusion
Box 3 is the tax on your assets, calculated on a fictional return (not on what you actually earned), and in 2026 it brings good news: more exempt assets (€59,357) and the cancellation of the increase that would have raised the tax burden on investments.
The important thing: if your assets exceed the exempt threshold, you’ll know that bank savings are taxed little and investments more, but that investing is still worthwhile due to the actual return. And if you’ve just arrived, check your situation regarding the 30% ruling and your assets outside the Netherlands.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax advice. For your specific case, consult a tax advisor or the Belastingdienst itself.
Do you have any questions about Box 3? Leave them in the comments and I’ll reply.
If you have savings or investments in the Netherlands, there’s a tax you might have to pay that almost no one properly explains when you arrive: the wealth tax, known here as Box 3. In 2026, there have been important changes—some in your favour—and it’s worth understanding them to know how much you’ll pay and, above all, to avoid any nasty surprises when filing your tax return.
I’ll explain it simply, with the official figures for 2026 and a real-world example.
What is Box 3 and why does it affect you?
The Dutch income tax system (which I discuss in more detail in the post The income tax system in the Netherlands) divides your income into three “boxes” (boxen):
- Box 1: income from work and your primary residence (primarily your salary).
- Box 2: income from substantial shareholdings in a company (if you own 5% or more).
- Box 3: your assets: savings, investments, a second home, cryptocurrencies, etc.
Box 3 is the box for savings and investments (sparen en beleggen). This includes practically all your assets as of 1 January of the year: money in bank accounts, deposits, shares, ETFs, funds, crypto, and properties that are not your main residence. This reference date is called the peildatum, and it’s the snapshot that counts: what you have on 1 January 2026 is what is taxed that year.
The key detail: you don’t pay tax on your real gain
This is what most confuses those coming from Latin America. In Box 3, the Netherlands, at least in 2026 and 2027, does not tax what you actually earned with your savings or investments. Instead, the Tax Administration (Belastingdienst) assumes a fictional return (forfaitair rendement) based on the type of assets you hold, and calculates the tax on that assumed return.
In other words: even if your savings account yields a real 1.5%, the tax authorities apply their own percentage. And vice versa: even if your investments had a bad year, it is assumed that you earned a fixed percentage. This system has been controversial and a source of legal disputes for years, but it remains in force in 2026 while a reform to tax actual returns is being prepared (planned for a later date).
Box 3 figures for 2026
These are the official figures for the 2026 tax year:
| Concept | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Exempt assets (heffingvrij vermogen) | €59,357 per person (€118,714 for tax partners) |
| Fictional return on savings (accounts and deposits) | 1.28%* |
| Fictional return on investments and other assets | 6.00% |
| Fictional return on debts | 2.70%* |
| Tax rate | 36% |
*The percentages for savings and debts are provisional and are definitively set at the beginning of the following year, because they depend on the actual interest rates of the year. The investment percentage (6.00%) is already final.
The big difference is clear: having money sitting in the bank is taxed much less (1.28%) than having it invested (6.00%). This doesn’t mean that saving is better—the actual long-term return on investing usually far exceeds this tax—but it’s good to know to understand your tax bill.
What changed compared to 2025 (and what good news there was)
Here are two new developments that benefit you:
- The exempt assets increased: it went from €57,684 in 2025 to €59,357 in 2026. This means you can now have more assets without paying anything in Box 3.
- A significant increase was cancelled: the government had planned to raise the fictional return on investments to 7.78%. The House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer) rejected this increase, so it remains at 6.00%. For investors, this is a notable difference in their favour.
A real-world example
Imagine that on 1 January 2026, you have €80,000 and no debts. Let’s see how much you would pay depending on where you hold that money.
Case A — all in savings:
- Taxable base: €80,000 − €59,357 (exempt) = €20,643
- Fictional return (1.28%): €20,643 × 1.28% = €264.23
- Tax (36%): €264.23 × 36% = ≈ €95 per year
Case B — all invested (shares, ETFs):
- Taxable base: €80,000 − €59,357 = €20,643
- Fictional return (6.00%): €20,643 × 6.00% = €1,238.58
- Tax (36%): €1,238.58 × 36% = ≈ €446 per year
Same amount of money, but the tax changes quite a bit depending on how you hold it. Even so, remember: if those €80,000 invested yield a real 7% or 8%, the tax of approximately €446 is a small fraction of what you earned.
Note: if your money is split between savings and investments, the Tax Administration does not apply a single percentage, but an effective return that combines both categories on the part exceeding the exempt threshold. These examples use a single asset type to make the calculation clear.
What if I recently arrived in the Netherlands?
If you are a tax resident in the Netherlands, Box 3 applies to your worldwide assets, not just those you hold here. This includes accounts and properties you have in your country of origin (with nuances depending on double taxation treaties). If you have significant assets abroad, it’s worth consulting an advisor (belastingadviseur), because each person’s situation varies greatly.
A common exception: if you have the 30% ruling (30%-ruling), for a period you could opt to be taxed as a “partial non-resident” and exclude your Box 3 assets. This benefit is in its final phase—2026 is the last year of the transitional arrangement for those who already had it—so if it applies to you, now is the time to review it.
What you can do with this information
This is not about “evading” the tax, but about understanding it to make better decisions:
- If your assets are below €59,357 (or €118,714 for partners), you pay nothing in Box 3. Many people who have just arrived fall into this category without knowing it.
- Having part of your money genuinely earning a return makes sense: the investment tax exists, but the actual long-term return often more than compensates for it. If you want to start small, check out how to invest from 10 euros in the stock market.
- For your reserve money, look for accounts that at least give you some real interest. In our guide on how to get more interest on your savings, we tell you about options available in the Netherlands.
- If you want to understand the full picture of the system, read our explanation of the income tax system in the Netherlands.
Conclusion
Box 3 is the tax on your assets, calculated on a fictional return (not on what you actually earned), and in 2026 it brings good news: more exempt assets (€59,357) and the cancellation of the increase that would have raised the tax burden on investments.
The important thing: if your assets exceed the exempt threshold, you’ll know that bank savings are taxed little and investments more, but that investing is still worthwhile due to the actual return. And if you’ve just arrived, check your situation regarding the 30% ruling and your assets outside the Netherlands.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax advice. For your specific case, consult a tax advisor or the Belastingdienst itself.
Do you have any questions about Box 3? Leave them in the comments and I’ll reply.
