Your salary
Your result
The ruling cliff — when it expires
How the 30% ruling works in 2026
Under the Dutch expat scheme, your employer may pay up to 30% of your wage tax-free as compensation for the extraterritorial costs of moving to the Netherlands. In 2026 the rate is a flat 30% for everyone — the old 30/20/10 step-down was scrapped. From 1 January 2027 the rate drops to a flat 27% for everyone.
Two conditions matter most:
- Salary norm: your taxable salary (after the 30%) must stay above €48,013/year in 2026 (€36,497 if you're under 30 with a master's). Earn less and the allowance shrinks — or vanishes.
- Cap: the allowance applies up to the WNT norm — €262,000 in 2026. Above that, no extra tax-free amount.
Plan for the cliff
The ruling lasts a maximum of 5 years (less if you lived in NL before). When it ends, your entire salary becomes taxable again — most expats see net pay drop by €800–€1,200/month. Use the "without ruling" number above as your post-ruling budget.
FAQ
Is it 30% extra salary on top?
No — a common misunderstanding. 30% of your existing salary becomes tax-free; you don't get paid 30% more.
Does the ruling apply to bonuses and RSUs?
Yes. It applies to your total wage from current employment — base salary, bonuses, and vested RSUs alike, up to the cap.
I'm under 30 with a master's degree — what changes?
You qualify for a reduced salary norm of €36,497 in 2026 instead of €48,013. So a €45,000 salary — too low for the standard ruling — still qualifies. The tax-free amount is then trimmed so your taxable pay lands exactly on the norm: €45,000 − €36,497 = €8,503 tax-free. Tick the "under 30" box in the calculator above to see the effect on your numbers.
What if my salary is below the norm?
The tax-free percentage is reduced so your taxable salary stays at the norm (€48,013 — or €36,497 if you're under 30 with a master's). Below that entirely, the ruling can't apply.
Can I still use partial foreign tax liability?
No — since 1 January 2025, ruling holders are fully taxable in Box 2 and Box 3 like everyone else.