Box 3 for freelancers: how your savings and investments are taxed in 2026
Written by Ilias Aarrass7 min read · Published on · Last reviewed on 
In short
In box 3 the 2026 exemption is € 59,357 per person; above that you pay 36 per cent on a deemed return of 1.28 per cent on bank balances and 6.00 per cent on other assets.
- Tax partners have € 118,714 exempt together, and the reference date is 1 January: what you hold that day sets the levy for the whole year.
- Money your business genuinely needs belongs to your business assets in box 1 and does not count in box 3.
- If your actual return was lower than the deemed one, the counter-evidence rule lets you use the real figure, provided you substantiate it.
- For debts a deemed rate of 2.70 per cent applies in 2026, with a € 3,800 threshold.
As a freelancer you often hold more money in your accounts than an employee: a buffer for lean months, reserved tax and perhaps some investments for later. Above a certain threshold, the tax authorities levy on this in box 3. This article explains how the levy works in 2026, what will change in the coming years and what entrepreneurs specifically need to watch.
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: bank balances carry a low deemed return of 1.28 per cent, investments and other assets 6.00 per cent. You pay 36 per cent tax on that assumed return. In 2026 each person has a tax-free allowance of 59,357 euros; tax partners have 118,714 euros 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 assets 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. Keeping VAT and income tax separate also tells you how much of that balance is not yours.
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. Do mind the rules against artificial shifting around the reference date, and consult your bookkeeper when in doubt.
The 2026 figures
In 2026 box 3 still works with deemed returns: the tax authorities assume a return per asset type rather than what you actually received. You pay 36 per cent tax on that deemed return, insofar as your wealth exceeds the allowance.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Tax-free allowance per person | € 59,357 |
| With a tax partner, jointly | € 118,714 |
| Deemed return on bank balances | 1.28% |
| Deemed return on other assets | 6.00% |
| Rate on the return | 36% |
Worked example: € 90,000 in the bank, no tax partner
- Wealth above the allowance
- € 30,643
- Deemed return at 1.28%
- € 392 (pro rata)
- Tax: 36%
- around € 141
Result: So savings are taxed lightly. If your actual return was below the deemed one, the counter-evidence rule lets you use the real figure
What belongs to your business and what to box 3
Money in your business account that your business needs belongs to business assets in box 1 and stays out of box 3. Structurally surplus money parked for years without a business purpose can be moved to box 3 by the tax authorities. Private savings and the buffer in your private account always count, so keep private and business strictly separate. The reference date is 1 January; see also building a buffer.
Frequently asked questions
How much wealth is tax-free in 2026?
59,357 euros per person, jointly 118,714 with a tax partner. Only on the excess do the tax authorities assume a deemed return, taxed at 36 per cent.
Does my business account count in box 3?
No, as long as the money serves your business; that belongs to box 1. Structurally surplus money without a business purpose can be moved to box 3. Your private savings always count.
What is the box 3 reference date?
1 January. What you hold on that date sets the levy for the whole year. Making large, already-planned expenses just before year-end can therefore help.
What if my actual return was below the deemed one?
Then the counter-evidence rule lets you use your actual return. You must substantiate it with a statement of your income. With near-zero-interest savings that quickly pays off.
Do I pay box 3 on my VAT reserve?
Not if it sits in your business account as working capital. Move it to private and it simply counts as private wealth on 1 January.
Is a system based on actual returns coming?
That is the plan: a levy on actual returns is to replace the deemed system. Its introduction has been postponed repeatedly; until then the deemed system with the counter-evidence rule applies.
Sources
- Calculating box 3 income in 2026Belastingdienst · belastingdienst.nl
Sources checked on
This article provides general information based on the rules known for 2026 and does not replace personal tax advice. For your specific situation, we're happy to take a look with you.
