What you keep of a €5,000 bonus
| You keep | Lost to tax | |
|---|---|---|
| €40,000 | €2,679 | 46% |
| €60,000 | €2,477 | 50% |
| €90,000 | €2,200 | 56% |
Figures for 2026, on top of the stated salary plus holiday allowance, no pension. The share lost is your marginal rate plus the tax credits you lose as income rises, which is why it can be higher than the tax bracket suggests.
Why the payslip takes so much
- 1Special rate (bijzonder tarief)
Bonuses, holiday allowance and 13th months are withheld at a special rate based on your yearly wage, often higher than your real marginal rate.
- 2Settled in your return
After the year, your total income is taxed at the normal rates. Too much withheld comes back.
- 3File, even if it is not required
If you expect a refund, filing is how you get it.
Ways to keep more
- Put part of the bonus into your pension, if your scheme allows it: it is taxed later, often at a lower rate.
- Use your jaarruimte for an annuity deduction.
- Some employers let you exchange a bonus for tax-free items under the work-related costs scheme (WKR), such as a bike or training.
Sources
This article is based on these official pages. If anything here differs from them, the official page is right.
- Belastingschijven en tarieven (in Dutch)
- Loonbelastingtabellen vinden (in Dutch)
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