Prinsjesdag 2026 · Box 3
On the third Tuesday of September the cabinet presents the 2027 Tax Plan. Around box 3 a delay is taking shape: the coalition wants to push the Actual Return Box 3 Act forward. Here we follow what that means for the tax on your wealth.
Counting down to the King's speech
The coalition (VVD, D66 and CDA) does not want to put the Actual Return Box 3 Act to a vote now, but to push it forward. That makes a start on 1 January 2028 unlikely to be met.
The dispute is between two models: an unrealized-gains tax that taxes annual value increases even before you sell, or a capital gains tax that only levies on sale. The coalition now leans toward the gains model but has not agreed the details. The delay is estimated to cost €2.4 billion a year in forgone revenue.
The King reads the speech from the throne: the cabinet's plans for the coming year, written by the ministers.
It sets the tone for fiscal policy — including the direction for box 3.
The Minister of Finance presents the briefcase with the Budget Memorandum and the National Budget: what the cabinet wants and how it is paid for.
The budget shows how much box 3 revenue the cabinet books in.
Alongside the budget, the Tax Plan package goes to the House of Representatives. The big box 3 reform is expected to be pushed back.
This year, notably what it leaves out: box 3 is expected to be delayed rather than settled.
Leaked Prinsjesdag documents show VVD, D66 and CDA cannot agree on box 3. The coalition does not want to vote on the Actual Return Box 3 Act now but to push it forward; a 2028 start is therefore unlikely to be met. The preference is shifting toward a capital gains tax levied only on sale. The delay is estimated to cost €2.4 billion a year.
The Senate debated bill 36748 in plenary. Four motions were submitted: Kroon (BBB) on investing in a law based on a capital-gains tax (J); Van den Oetelaar (FVD) on that tax's long-term revenue (K); Van Rooijen (50PLUS) on a one-off dividend-tax reduction (L); Schalk (SGP) stating no objection to withdrawing the bill (M). Coalition party CDA voiced fundamental objections to taxing unrealized share gains ('paying tax on money that isn't there'). The final vote is postponed until the novelle has been treated. Intended entry into force remains January 1, 2028.
On Prinsjesdag the cabinet presents the 2027 Tax Plan. Around box 3 a delay is expected: the coalition wants to push the Actual Return Box 3 Act forward, making a 2028 start unlikely and shifting the course toward a capital gains tax.
The Senate rejected the Schalk et al. motion (36748, M) stating 'no objection to withdrawing the bill'. Against: GroenLinks-PvdA, Volt, ChristenUnie, CDA, D66, SP, PvdD, VVD, Fractie-Visseren-Hamakers and OPNL. In favour: SGP, FVD, PVV, JA21, BBB and 50PLUS among others. The Kroon (J), Van den Oetelaar (K) and Van Rooijen (L) motions were held. The bill itself was not put to a vote — that follows only after the novelle is treated.
