The maximum amount of years the 30% ruling may apply has been reduced from 8 to 5 years as per 1 January 2019. The 30% ruling is essentially a tax credit for expats working in the Netherlands to compensate for the additional costs expats usually make for working away from their home country. By applying the 30% ruling the employer can pay out 30% of the salary tax free. Therefore, the reduction can result in significantly lower net wages for expats with the 30% ruling.
The reduction applies to current and new 30% rulings. However, for current rulings, i.e. rulings granted before 1 January 2019, there is transitional law for a period of 2 years. The transitional law results in the following for rulings granted before 1 January 2019:
| End date on ruling in year: | New end date of ruling |
| 2019 or 2020 | End date as stated on ruling (no changes) |
| 2021, 2022 or 2023 | 31 December 2020 |
| 2024 or later | End date as stated on ruling minus 3 years |
Practical implications:
- Employers need to check whether they should stop applying the 30% ruling sooner than expected for their employees and adjust wage tax withholdings/payments accordingly;
- Employees need to check if their 30% ruling will have a new end date and act accordingly to prevent unpleasant financial surprises;
Should you need any assistance, please contact us.
Contact
Do you have any questions or do you want to know more about our prices?
E-mail: info@mffa.nl
Telephone:
In the Netherlands: 085 0030140
From abroad: +31 20 2615615
Offices:
Amsterdam: Keizersgracht 62, 1015 CS
Amstelveen: Laan van Kronenburg 14, 1183 AS
Bovensmilde (Assen): Witterweg 2, 9421 PG
The Hague: Schenkkade 50, 2595 AR
Eindhoven: Hurksestraat 64, 5652 AL
Jeroen Mijlof graduated in economics and tax law at the University of Groningen. He has + 15 years’ experience in National and International Tax Law for both individuals and companies. Before MFFA he worked at the Dutch tax authorities, KPMG Meijburg and RSM International Tax Services .