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Box 3 - current developments

On 24 December 2021, the Supreme Court ruled that the way in which the box 3 levy has been designed since the year 2017 violates both the prohibition of discrimination (art. 14 ECHR) and the right to peaceful enjoyment of possessions (art. 1 FP ECHR). Legal redress was provided through an alternative return calculation based on the so called fixed-rate savings option.
However, on 6 June 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that this legal redress also fails the test. In particular, the return calculation on possessions other than savings is still discriminatory. The difference in tax treatment between successful and less successful investors is still significant, without this being sufficiently justified. The Supreme Court even took this one step further and ruled that the above likewise applies to the Box 3 Bridging Act, as the latter is based on virtually the same principles.

On 20 December 2024, a number of other judgments addressing the box 3 legal redress was pronounced. The Supreme Court took this opportunity to clarify the return calculation on dwellings in box 3. Following these judgments, the government has decided to introduce a rebuttal scheme in box 3. To this end, a bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on 14 March 2025.

24 April 2025 - Tax measures announced in the 2025 Spring Memorandum

On 18 April 2025, the Dutch government presented their Spring Memorandum. Remarkably, the announced increase in VAT on culture, media and sports will be cancelled. The corresponding loss in revenue will be offset by a limitation of inflation adjustment in income tax.

25 March 2025 - Bill on the Box 3 Rebuttal Scheme introduced in House of Representatives

On 14 March 2025, the bill on the Box 3 Rebuttal Scheme was introduced in the House of Representatives in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling that the Box 3 Legal Redress Act and the Box 3 Bridging Act also violate the prohibition of discrimination.

13 January 2025 - Supreme Court clarifies calculation of return on immovable property in box 3

On 20 December 2024, the Supreme Court clarified how to assess the return on owner-occupied property in box 3.

7 June 2024 - Box 3 Legal Redress Act and Box 3 Bridging Act also violate ECHR

On 6 June 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that both the Box 3 Legal Redress Act and the Box 3 Bridging Act violate the prohibition of discrimination and the right to peaceful enjoyment of possessions. The Supreme Court also provides rules on how legal redress should be offered.

8 February 2024 - Internet consultation box 3 levy based on actual return has been amended

A draft of the Box 3 Actual Return Act was published for internet consultation in September 2023. The government recently announced a number of amendments to the bill.