THE HAGUE – October 6, 2026 | The Dutch Daily
Box 3 small savers: on 2 October 2026 the Dutch cabinet announced a “definitive and lasting solution for box 3”. Through a novelle (an amendment bill) to the bill on the Real Return Box 3 Act (Wet werkelijk rendement box 3) the cabinet wants to bring as much as possible under a capital gains tax. The Council of Ministers adopted the novelle that day and asked the Council of State for urgent advice. Finance Minister Heinen has said that smaller savers and investors will be spared in the proposal for how the changes are paid for, and the cabinet will quickly coordinate an adjusted proposal with the House of Representatives.
Key facts
- Announced: 2 October 2026, by Prime Minister Jetten after the Council of Ministers.
- What: a novelle to the bill on the Real Return Box 3 Act, to bring as much as possible under capital gains (vermogenswinst) taxation.
- Status: the novelle was adopted and urgent advice was requested from the Council of State.
- Box 3 small savers: Minister Heinen has said smaller savers and investors will be spared in the proposal for the funding of the changes.
- Funding: an adjusted funding proposal is to be coordinated “at high speed” with the House of Representatives, taking in suggestions from opposition parties.
- Not yet known: the new funding proposal itself and any threshold for “small” savers.
In this report
What the cabinet decided on box 3
Prime Minister Jetten said the cabinet comes with “a definitive and lasting solution for box 3”. The cabinet chooses to put as much as possible under the capital gains tax (vermogenswinst) by means of a novelle to the bill on the Real Return Box 3 Act. Today the Council of Ministers adopted the novelle and asked the Council of State for urgent advice. Jetten said that, according to many parties, the most important thing this summer was to come with a bill so that the Netherlands can move to a capital gains tax straight away; since that afternoon it is with the Council of State.
What was said about box 3 small savers
Jetten said that in the House of Representatives box 3 was discussed at length over the past two days. Following this, Minister Heinen has already said that smaller savers and investors will be spared in the proposal for the funding of the adjustments to box 3. The cabinet will therefore “at high speed” coordinate an adjusted proposal with the House of Representatives.
Jetten also described the earlier funding proposal. According to him the proposal for small savers and investors “went back to the level of 2021” and concerned people with €50,000 or more in savings and, for couples, more than €100,000 in savings. He said the cabinet thought this was a balanced part of a package of funding measures; the House of Representatives has now said: do not do that, do it differently. He said that is “no matter of principle” for the cabinet: the principle is solving box 3 together and also paying the bill.
The funding discussion
- The funding question: Jetten said that in talks with the opposition many different options for funding were put forward, and that there is “clearly no perfect mix”.
- The cabinet’s line: a solution for box 3 will also require box 2 and box 3 to be arranged financially, and “at the bottom of the line the bill must be paid”.
- The opposition: Jetten said there is no uniform view in the opposition on how it should be done, and that it is the task of a minority cabinet to come up with a better proposal each time.
- Who works on it: Minister Heinen and State Secretary Eerenberg of Finance will continue, and will also take in suggestions from a number of opposition parties.
Jetten said the funding of box 3 “was at boiling point for a day and a half”, which left little time to discuss other important elements of the proposal.
What happens next
- The Council of State advises urgently on the novelle.
- The cabinet coordinates an adjusted funding proposal with the House of Representatives “at high speed”.
- Jetten said four legislative consultations are scheduled for the Tax Plan (belastingplan), around which the State Secretary will talk with several opposition parties about possible adjustments.
The announcement does not give the new funding proposal, the date the capital gains tax would start, or the exact threshold for “small” savers.
What it means for you
- If you have modest savings or investments: the minister has said smaller savers and investors will be spared in the funding proposal. Details are not yet known.
- If you invest: the cabinet wants as much as possible to fall under a capital gains tax; the novelle is now with the Council of State.
- Read more: our guide to box 3 in 2026 and our overview of tax changes for 2027.
Frequently asked questions
What is the novelle?
An amendment bill to the bill on the Real Return Box 3 Act. The cabinet adopted it on 2 October 2026 and asked the Council of State for urgent advice.
Will small savers be taxed more?
Minister Heinen has said that smaller savers and investors will be spared in the funding proposal. An adjusted proposal is being coordinated with the House of Representatives.
What was the earlier proposal for small savers?
According to Jetten it went back to the level of 2021 and concerned people with €50,000 or more in savings and, for couples, more than €100,000. The House of Representatives asked for something different.
Is the capital gains tax decided?
No. The novelle is with the Council of State and the funding still has to be worked out with the House of Representatives.
Who is working on the new proposal?
Minister Heinen and State Secretary Eerenberg of Finance, who will also take in suggestions from some opposition parties.
🇳🇱 Dutch Corner
| Dutch | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Box 3 | Tax box for savings and investments |
| De vermogenswinst | Capital gain |
| De novelle | Amendment bill |
| De kleine spaarder | Small saver |
| De belegger | Investor |
| De dekking | Funding, coverage |
| Het spoedadvies | Urgent advice |
| De Raad van State | Council of State |
| Het belastingplan | Tax Plan |
| De minderheidskabinet | Minority cabinet |
Sources
- Rijksoverheid, 2 October 2026: Letterlijke tekst persconferentie na ministerraad 2 oktober 2026 (all facts and quotes in this report, from Prime Minister Jetten’s statements)
More on The Dutch Daily: box 3 in 2026 · tax changes for 2027
Free: Netherlands 2027 Money Checklist
Every deadline and number you need before and after 1 January 2027, on two printable pages. Confirm your email and the PDF is yours; we will also email you when the 2027 figures are confirmed.
