Dutch Wealth Tax Overhaul Faces Severe Delays

Finance Minister Eelco Heinen is racing to launch a new Dutch capital gains tax by 2028 amid mounting technical and advisory setbacks.

Why it matters: Postponing the reform by a year would cost the national treasury €3.5 billion in lost revenue and prolong the current wealth tax model.

State of play:

• The Raad van State (Council of State) confirmed it cannot issue advisory guidance before 19 October, missing a parliamentary debate set for 12 October.
• Dutch banks warned that their IT infrastructure cannot adapt quickly enough to pre-fill customer tax forms for 2028.
• The Belastingdienst (Dutch tax authority) must juggle this overhaul alongside software updates for mandatory disability cover for self-employed workers.

The big picture: Switching away from taxing unrealised paper gains creates a multi-billion-euro budget shortfall, yet lawmakers previously threw out ministerial plans to close this deficit by taxing small savers.

What is next: Heinen and State Secretary Eerenberg are briefing the Eerste Kamer (Dutch Senate) while attempting to find alternative financing arrangements with opposition parties.

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