Box 3 Tax in the Netherlands: should you file the ‘Opgaaf Werkelijk Rendement’?

If you hold bank accounts, savings, investments, or rental properties in the Netherlands, you may be familiar with Box 3 taxation. Normally, the Dutch Tax Administration (Belastingdienst) taxes a deemed return on your assets rather than the actual income you earned.
Following recent court rulings, taxpayers can choose to report their actual returns instead of the deemed return. Doing so can potentially reduce your Box 3 tax liability.
To allow taxpayers to report actual returns, the Dutch Tax Administration introduced the Opgaaf Werkelijk Rendement (OWR) form. Starting July 2025, taxpayers began receiving letters with the deemed return for a given tax year, along with the option to report their actual return.
Filing Dutch Personal Income Tax Returns for Non-Residents: A Comprehensive Guide

Navigating the complexities of tax systems can be daunting, especially for non-residents dealing with foreign tax obligations. For those living abroad with Dutch sources of income, understanding the Dutch income tax filing process is essential. This guide provides clear, step-by-step instructions to help non-residents comply with their Dutch tax obligations.