Coalition reaches agreement on tax plan and box 3
The coalition is likely to postpone the new wealth tax by a year and wants to offer additional tax relief.
Follow-up to: Cabinet has yet to agree on Tax Plan Tuesday, 3 November 2026, 08:45
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The coalition parties D66, VVD and CDA have agreed on changes to the 2027 tax plan and on the introduction of a capital gains tax in box 3. According to NOS, the new tax will probably be postponed by a year; the broadcaster reports that the cabinet is discussing the agreements today in an additional Council of Ministers meeting.
The agreement marks a new step in a dossier on which the cabinet has been unable to find a majority in the Lower House (Tweede Kamer) in recent weeks. The coalition sought support from both left-wing and right-wing opposition parties, but those talks produced no breakthrough. The coalition is now opting for its own proposal, which will then be put before the House.
Under the new box 3 system, savers and investors would pay tax on actual returns, such as interest, dividends and realised capital gains. The current system uses a notional return. The government initially wanted the new arrangements to take effect in 2028, but according to the Council of State, that timetable is not feasible without more preparation.
The Council of State warned that more than 250 additional civil servants would be needed to implement the system and that banks were not yet ready to provide the Tax Administration with the necessary information on assets. The cabinet’s adviser therefore recommended that implementation should not take place before 2030. The criticism focused mainly on the haste and feasibility of the plan, not on the principle of taxing actual returns.
The coalition also wants to include additional tax relief for citizens. The precise distribution and funding had not yet been made public in the initial reports. Earlier cabinet discussions referred to €350 million in tax relief, but the new agreements still have to be worked out in official documents.
The agreement is therefore not a final law. The Lower House will debate the tax plan on Wednesday and must then vote on the proposals. The key question is whether the coalition can secure sufficient support for both the tax relief and the new timetable for box 3.
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Both sides of the figures
▲ Bright spots
- A tax on actual returns could improve the alignment between taxation and returns actually achieved, according to the cabinet’s plans.
- The coalition announced additional tax relief, although its definitive scale has not yet been worked out.
▼ Concerns
- The Council of State warns that more than 250 additional civil servants will be needed and that banks are not yet ready for the exchange of information.
- A postponement means that the current system will remain in force for longer.
Critical note
This news concerns tax policy, not an economic growth figure. The main uncertainty is not yet the level of a figure, but the feasibility, funding and definitive start date.
Who notices what
- Households
- Savers and investors still do not know when the transition to taxation on actual returns will take place.
- Businesses
- Business owners with assets do not yet have definitive clarity on their tax treatment.
- Government
- The Tax Administration and banks may receive additional preparation time, but they still have to make the new system workable.
Every point comes from the article’s sources and was included in the fact check.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- According to NOS, the coalition parties have reached agreement on changes to the tax plan and box 3.
- The Council of State has warned of implementation problems and the haste of the introduction.
- The Lower House still has to consider the proposal.
Left
Arguments Tax on actual wealth should be distributed more fairly, and tax relief should primarily reach households on low and middle incomes.
Values Equality, ability to pay and protection of public services.
Consequences A postponement could limit implementation problems, but without sufficient funding the bill could fall on other groups or public services.
Centre
Arguments A new box 3 system is defensible, but only if the Tax Administration, banks and parliamentary oversight are ready for implementation.
Values Legal certainty, feasibility and administrative prudence.
Consequences A one-year postponement could make implementation more reliable, while the current system would remain in place for longer.
Right
Arguments Wealth taxation should not discourage investment and entrepreneurship; tax relief and a predictable system are therefore important.
Values Property rights, economic growth and limited government burdens.
Consequences Rapid implementation could provide clarity, but a system that is difficult to implement could instead cause uncertainty and higher administrative costs.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The substance of the agreement and the Council of State’s criticism have been confirmed by NOS reports. The precise tax relief and definitive timetable have been presented as uncertain.
- confirmed D66, VVD and CDA reached agreement on the tax plan and box 3. — Reported by NOS. source
- confirmed The Council of State warned of implementation problems and a timetable that was too tight. — Reported by NOS. source
- confirmed The new arrangements will probably be postponed by a year. — NOS writes that, according to insiders, this is the agreement. source
Editor's note
The coalition agreement was reported by NOS; the exact text, funding and definitive start date had not yet been made public.Sources
The story so far
- Sunday, 1 November 2026, 19:14 Cabinet promises new proposal for box 3
- Monday, 2 November 2026, 10:48 Council of State puts new box 3 plan under heavy pressure
- Monday, 2 November 2026, 20:17 Council of State criticises haste over new box 3 system
- Monday, 2 November 2026, 22:47 Coalition wants to delay Box 3
- Tuesday, 3 November 2026, 08:45 Cabinet has yet to agree on Tax Plan
- Tuesday, 3 November 2026, 09:48 Coalition reaches agreement on tax plan and box 3 (this article)
More on this in Dutch media
- De Telegraaf — „belastingplan box 3”
- AD — „belastingplan box 3”
- de Volkskrant — „belastingplan box 3”