openaccountants Netherlands -- Payroll Skill v1.0
General reference only. This skill is general tax/accounting reference material for AI-assisted workflows. It has not been reviewed for any specific person's facts, documents, elections, deadlines, residency, filing status, or local procedures. Do not rely on it to file, pay, amend, or take a tax position without review by a qualified professional in the relevant jurisdiction.
Section 1 -- Quick Reference
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Country | Netherlands (Koninkrijk der Nederlanden) |
| Currency | EUR (€) only |
| Tax year | Calendar year (1 January -- 31 December) |
| Primary legislation | Wet op de loonbelasting 1964; Wet financiering sociale verzekeringen (Wfsv) |
| Tax authority | Belastingdienst (Dutch Tax Administration) |
| Social insurance bodies | UWV (employee insurance); SVB (national insurance) |
| Reporting system | Loonaangifte (payroll tax return) via Digipoort |
| Pay frequency | Monthly (most common) |
| Employer registration | Loonheffingennummer via Belastingdienst |
| Validated by | Pending -- requires sign-off by a Dutch registeraccountant or payroll specialist |
| Skill version | 1.0 |
Section 2 -- Income Tax Withholding (Loonheffing)
Loonheffing combines wage tax (loonbelasting) and national insurance premiums (premies volksverzekeringen) into a single withholding. The employer withholds based on published tax tables (white or green table) using the loonheffingskorting (payroll tax credit) if applicable.
Combined Brackets -- Under State Pension Age (2026)
| Bracket | Annual Wage (EUR) | Combined Rate | Composition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 -- 38,883 | 35.75% | 8.10% tax + 17.90% AOW + 0.10% Anw + 9.65% Wlz |
| 2 | 38,883 -- 78,426 | 37.56% | 37.56% tax only |
| 3 | 78,426+ | 49.50% | 49.50% tax only |
Combined Brackets -- At or Above State Pension Age (2026)
| Bracket | Annual Wage (EUR) | Combined Rate | Composition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 -- 38,883 | 17.85% | 8.10% tax + 0.10% Anw + 9.65% Wlz |
| 2 | 38,883 -- 78,426 | 37.56% | Tax only |
| 3 | 78,426+ | 49.50% | Tax only |
AOW-age recipients do not pay AOW premie (17.90%), reducing the bracket 1 rate.
Loonheffingskorting (Payroll Tax Credits -- 2026)
Employees may request the loonheffingskorting via only one employer (prevents double credit). Key credits:
| Credit | Maximum Amount (EUR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Algemene heffingskorting (general) | ~3,362 | Phases out above ~24,813; zero at ~78,426 |
| Arbeidskorting (employment credit) | ~5,599 | Phases out above ~43,071; zero at ~124,935 |
| Ouderenkorting (elderly) | ~1,963 | For AOW-age recipients; phases out at higher income |
30% Ruling (Extraterritorial Costs)
Qualifying inbound employees may receive up to 27% of their employment income (capped at the Balkenende norm ~EUR 233,000) tax-free for a maximum of 5 years. The ruling phases down: 27% in year 1-2, then 18% year 3, then 9% year 4-5.
Section 3 -- Social Security: Employee Deductions
Employee deductions in the Netherlands are primarily collected through the combined loonheffing (bracket 1 includes AOW, Anw, Wlz premiums). There are no separate employee premiums for WW or WAO/WIA -- those are employer-only.
National Insurance Premiums Embedded in Loonheffing (2026)
| Premium | Rate | Ceiling | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AOW (state pension) | 17.90% | Bracket 1 only (up to EUR 38,883) | Not payable at/above AOW age |
| Anw (surviving dependants) | 0.10% | Bracket 1 only | |
| Wlz (long-term care) | 9.65% | Bracket 1 only |
Zorgverzekeringswet (ZVW) -- Health Insurance
| Type | Rate (2026) | Maximum Income |
|---|---|---|
| Werkgeversheffing (employer levy, standard) | 6.10% | EUR 79,409 |
| Werknemersbijdrage (employee/DGA contribution) | 4.85% | EUR 79,409 |
Most employees pay the werkgeversheffing (employer levy form), which is technically paid by the employer but treated as taxable wage. DGAs (directeur-grootaandeelhouder) and certain others pay the lower employee rate, which is withheld from gross pay.
Section 4 -- Social Security: Employer Contributions
Employer contributions are calculated on the SV-loon (social insurance wage) up to the maximum premium wage (maximumpremieloon).
Employer-Only Premiums (2026)
| Premium | Rate | Maximum Premium Wage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWf low (WW -- permanent/indefinite contracts) | 2.74% | EUR 79,409 | Indefinite contracts, written, not on-call |
| AWf high (WW -- flexible/temporary contracts) | 7.74% | EUR 79,409 | Fixed-term, on-call, no written contract |
| Aof low (WAO/WIA -- small employers) | 6.27% | EUR 79,409 | Employer < 25× avg premium wage |
| Aof high (WAO/WIA -- large employers) | 7.63% | EUR 79,409 | Employer ≥ 25× avg premium wage |
| Whk (return-to-work fund) | ~1.52% avg | EUR 79,409 | Differentiated per employer |
| Wko (childcare surcharge) | 0.50% | EUR 79,409 | |
| Ufo (flex workers fund) | 0.68% | EUR 79,409 | |
| ZVW werkgeversheffing | 6.10% | EUR 79,409 | Also counted as employer cost |
Total Indicative Employer Cost (2026)
| Scenario | Approximate Rate |
|---|---|
| Small employer, permanent staff (AWf low + Aof low + Whk avg + Wko + Ufo + ZVW) | ~17.81% |
| Large employer, temporary staff (AWf high + Aof high + Whk avg + Wko + Ufo + ZVW) | ~24.17% |
These are on top of gross salary. The actual Whk rate is employer-specific and communicated by the Belastingdienst.
Section 5 -- Minimum Wage and Overtime
Statutory Minimum Hourly Wage (Wettelijk Minimumloon -- WML)
| Period | Gross Hourly Rate (21+) | Reference Monthly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2026 | EUR 14.71 | EUR 2,294.40 |
| 1 Jul 2026 | EUR 14.99 | EUR 2,337.00 |
Youth minimum wages apply for ages 15--20 (percentage of adult rate). The minimum wage is adjusted every 6 months (January and July).
Overtime
No statutory overtime premium exists in Dutch law. Overtime compensation is regulated by the applicable Collective Labour Agreement (CAO) or individual employment contract. Common CAO premiums range from 125% to 200% depending on timing (evening, weekend, public holiday).
Working Hours
Maximum 12 hours per shift and 60 hours per week under the Arbeidstijdenwet (Working Hours Act). Averaged over 4 weeks, maximum is 55 hours/week; over 16 weeks, maximum is 48 hours/week.
Section 6 -- Mandatory Benefits
Holiday Allowance (Vakantiegeld)
Minimum 8% of gross annual salary. Typically paid as a lump sum in May or June. Accrues monthly. Must be paid upon termination for accrued but unpaid amounts.
Holiday Entitlement
Minimum 4× weekly working hours per year (20 days for full-time). Statutory days expire 6 months after the year of accrual. Many CAOs provide additional (bovenwettelijke) days.
13th Month
Not legally required. Commonly provided via CAO or employment contract (typically one month's salary paid in December).
Sick Leave (Ziektewet)
| Year | Employer Obligation | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 (weeks 1--52) | 70% of salary | Must be topped up to at least minimum wage |
| Year 2 (weeks 53--104) | 70% of salary | No minimum wage floor in year 2 |
Employer bears the cost for up to 2 years (104 weeks). Many CAOs require 100% in year 1 and 70% in year 2. Employer must follow a reintegration plan (Wet verbetering poortwachter).
Maternity Leave (Zwangerschaps- en bevallingsverlof)
16 weeks at 100% of daily wage (max dagloon), funded by UWV. Starts 4--6 weeks before expected delivery date.
Partner/Paternity Leave (Geboorteverlof)
1 week at 100% pay (employer-funded) + 5 additional weeks at 70% of daily wage (UWV-funded, taken within 6 months of birth).
Transitievergoeding (Transition Payment on Dismissal)
1/3 of monthly salary per year of service. Applies to all terminations (employer-initiated or end of fixed-term contract).
Section 7 -- Payslip Requirements
Employers must provide a payslip (loonstrook) the first time they pay the employee and whenever there is a change in pay or deductions. Under the WML, the payslip must include:
Mandatory Payslip Contents
- Employee name and period
- Gross salary
- Applicable minimum hourly wage for the employee's age
- Itemised deductions (loonheffing, pension, etc.)
- Net salary
- Number of hours worked (if variable)
- Overtime, holiday allowance, and other components separately stated
- Name and address of employer
Recommended Additional Items
- Employer and employee pension contributions
- Holiday days balance
- Cumulative year-to-date figures
- BSN (burger service nummer) reference
- CAO reference
Section 8 -- Filing Obligations
Loonaangifte (Payroll Tax Return)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Per pay period (monthly for most employers) |
| Filing method | Electronically via Digipoort (payroll software) |
| Deadline | Last day of the month following the pay period |
| Content | Employee-level data: BSN, wages, loonheffing, premiums, days worked |
Payment of Loonheffingen
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Deadline | Same as filing: last day of following month |
| Method | Bank transfer to Belastingdienst |
| Reference | Betalingskenmerk from the tax return |
Annual Obligations
| Task | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Jaaropgave (annual statement) to employees | Before 1 March |
| Correctie-berichten (corrections to prior returns) | Within 5 years |
| Pensioenfonds reporting | Per fund requirements |
Penalties
| Violation | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Late filing / late payment | Up to 3% of payroll tax due (minimum EUR 50) |
| Incorrect or incomplete return | Fines up to EUR 5,514 per occurrence |
| Failure to withhold loonheffing | Employer liable for tax + possible criminal prosecution |
| Underpayment of minimum wage | Fine up to EUR 10,000 per employee per violation |
Section 9 -- Common Payroll Patterns
Pattern 1 -- Standard Monthly Employee (Indefinite Contract)
Gross monthly salary EUR 4,000. Under AOW age. Loonheffingskorting applied.
- Loonheffing: computed from tax tables (approx. 35.75% on first EUR 3,240/month minus heffingskorting)
- ZVW werkgeversheffing: EUR 4,000 × 6.10% = EUR 244 (added to taxable wage, then employer cost)
- Employer AWf low: EUR 4,000 × 2.74% = EUR 109.60
- Employer Aof: EUR 4,000 × 6.27% = EUR 250.80
- Pension: per fund; typical employee contribution 4--6% of pensionable salary
Pattern 2 -- Temporary Contract Employee
Same gross but AWf high rate applies: EUR 4,000 × 7.74% = EUR 309.60. Employer cost difference: EUR 200/month higher vs permanent contract. This incentivises permanent contracts.
Pattern 3 -- Holiday Allowance Payment (May)
Employee earns EUR 48,000/year. Vakantiegeld = EUR 48,000 × 8% = EUR 3,840. Paid in May as a separate component. Subject to loonheffing at the special table rate (bijzondere beloningen).
Pattern 4 -- 30% Ruling Employee
Gross salary EUR 6,000/month. 27% is extraterritorial allowance = EUR 1,620 tax-free. Taxable wage = EUR 4,380. Loonheffing calculated on EUR 4,380 only. The employee must meet the minimum salary requirement (EUR 44,192 for 2026; EUR 33,567 for under-30 with MSc).
Pattern 5 -- Sick Employee (Week 1--52)
Employee earning EUR 3,500/month falls ill. Employer pays 70% = EUR 2,450. CAO requires 100% in year 1, so employer pays EUR 3,500. Employer must continue all social security premiums on the actual wage paid.
Section 10 -- Interaction with Other Skills
| Skill | Interaction |
|---|---|
| payroll-workflow-base | Provides generic payroll processing steps; this skill adds Dutch-specific rules |
| netherlands-bookkeeping | Payroll journals: gross salary + ER premiums to P&L; net pay + loonheffing + pension liabilities to BS |
| netherlands-vat | No BTW on salaries; but salary components that are payments in kind may trigger BTW |
| netherlands-einvoice | Payslips are not e-invoices but share employer identification requirements |
Disclaimer
This skill and its outputs are provided for informational and computational purposes only and do not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice. Open Accountants and its contributors accept no liability for any errors, omissions, or outcomes arising from the use of this skill. All outputs must be reviewed and signed off by a qualified professional (such as a CPA, EA, tax attorney, or equivalent licensed practitioner in your jurisdiction) before filing or acting upon.
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