Box 3 for freelancers: how your savings and investments are taxed in 2026

How the levy works in 2026

Box 3 does not tax your actual interest or capital gains, but an assumed return. The tax authorities look at your wealth on 1 January and divide it into categories: savings carry a low deemed return of just over one percent, investments and other assets a much higher rate of almost six percent. You pay 36 percent tax on that assumed return. Each person has a tax-free allowance of roughly 58,000 euros; fiscal partners have double together.

If your actual return is lower than the deemed return, for example in a bad market year, the rebuttal scheme lets you use your real return instead. So keep your annual statements. In time, the legislator intends to switch fully to taxing actual returns; until then, this deemed system applies.

What does this mean for your buffer?

The assets of your sole proprietorship itself, such as your business account to the extent it genuinely belongs to the business, do not fall into box 3 but belong to your business in box 1. Your private savings, including the buffer you hold privately, do count in box 3. For most freelancers that is no problem: stay below the tax-free allowance with your total private wealth and you simply pay nothing.

Being smart about the reference date

Everything revolves around the 1 January snapshot. Large expenses that are coming anyway, such as an investment, a tax assessment or an extra repayment, are sometimes better made just before year-end than after: the money then no longer counts. Your pension contribution helps twice: an annuity deposit lowers your box 1 income and removes wealth from box 3. Do mind the rules against artificial shifting around the reference date, and consult your bookkeeper when in doubt.