Реферат: Налоговая система Нидерландов

Income from present employment includes salaries, payments, gratuities, tips and certain periodic payments received under social security legislation (in cash), and the free use of a private car and free housing paid for by the employer (in kind). Income from past employment includes pensions, and invalidity, disablement and unemployment benefits.

Salaries, wages and certain periodic payments received under social security legislation are subject to the salaries tax. This tax is withheld by the employer, and is essentially an advance levy on the person's final income tax assessment (see 4.5.1).

Income from activities and services which does not qualify as income from business or employment is considered to be income from services rendered outside employment. To be regarded as income there must be a reasonable expectation that these activities will yield income. Examples are the provision of boarding for lodgers, and fees for services and copyrights.

In principle expenses incurred in connection with employment and the provision of services are deductible from the income derived from these activities. The deduction is equal to the actual expenses less reimbursements or, subject to upper and lower limits, 12% of the gross salary, whichever is larger. A fixed sum is tax-deductible for travel between home and work.

IV. Net income from capital

Net income from capital is comprised of all income from movable and immovable property and rights not related to goods. Only the yield from property and rights is taxable; the increase in the value of the assets is exempted. There is no capital gains tax in the Netherlands.

A special provision is applicable to owner-occupied property. The property is taxed at an imputed rental value, which represents the balance of the revenue and expenses connected with the use of a dwelling. This rental value, which is a positive amount, is assessed on statutory tables. As normal expenses are included in the imputed rental value, no expenses other than (mortgage) interest and ground rent may be deducted.

Interest and dividends received by private investors from designated credit or investment institutions which mainly participate in environmental projects are exempt from income tax.

Income from stocks and shares includes cash dividends, stock dividends and bonuses. The final payment to the shareholder following the liquidation of a corporation is regarded as a dividend if it exceeds the average amount paid on the shares concerned.

Notional dividends from foreign investment corporations and funds are income from assets, and are taxed accordingly. In principle the income from the latter is set at 6% of the market value of the shares.

A maximum allowance of NLG 1,000 is granted insofar as dividends subject to Dutch dividends tax exceed related expenses (including interest expenses). Under certain conditions the amount of the dividend allowance can be raised:

· for dividends received from specific private participation companies, the allowance is raised by a maximum of NLG 1,000;

· for dividends received in connection with employee savings and profit-sharing schemes, the allowance is raised by a maximum of NLG 1,000;

· For dividends received from specific participation companies which mainly participate in starting entrepeneurs (both natural persons and corporate bodies), the allowance is raised by a maximum of NLG 5,000. However, insofar as the corresponding interest allowance in connection with starting entrepeneurs is utilized, this amount of NLG 5,000 is reduced.

For married taxpayers the above mentioned amounts of the dividend allowance are doubled. The dividend allowance is not applicable with respect to dividends from a substantial holding in a corporation.

Interest is more than just the interest received from a debtor or bank. There are special provisions for taxation of the increase from the lower issue price to par value of zero bonds and deep discount bonds, and the notional interest on the bare ownership of rights and claims of which the temporary usufruct is divided.

A maximum allowance of NLG 1,000 is granted insofar as any interest received exceeds the interest paid in connection with sources of income and personal obligations. This is exclusive of the interest paid on a mortgage, which is related to the purchase or renovation of owner-occupied property. Under certain conditions the amount of the interest allowance can be raised:

· for interest received in connection with employee savings and profit-sharing schemes, the allowance is raised by a maximum of NLG 1,000;

· for interest received in connection with a subordinated loan to a starting entrepeneur of at least NLG 5,000, or interest originating from specific participation companies wich mainly participate in starting entrepeneurs (both natural persons and corporate bodies), the allowance is raised by a maximum of NLG 5,000.

For married taxpayers the above mentioned amounts of the interest allowance are doubled. Furthermore, the taxpayer is entitled to an additional interest allowance when his children under the age of 18 receive interest, up to a maximum of NLG 500 per child.

The interest component of a capital payment from a life insurance policy (and the investment income) is not taxed if the payment occurs because the person insured dies before the age of 72. The beneficiary is generally allowed the same exemption for payments upon the death of the insured person at or after the age of 72 if the premiums have been paid over a period of at least 15 years. Interest included in payments of up to NLG 62,000 on a fixed date is exempt from income tax if the annual premiums are paid over a period of at least 15 years. This is also applicable to interest included in life insurance payments of up to NLG 210,000 if the annual premiums are paid over a period of at least 20 years. Both exemptions are subject to the condition that the highest annual premium paid for the insurance may not be more than ten times the lowest premium.

Income from capital includes income from life annuities and other periodic payments resulting from either a lump-sum payment or the payment of premiums. These payments are liable to tax over the amount that the payments and the payments received in the past exceed the total premiums or lump sum paid under the policy.

V. Net income in the form of periodic payments

There are two categories of periodic payments, those which are classed as income from capital, and those which qualify as a separate source of income.

Periodic payments forming a separate source of income can be divided into different categories. Examples are:

· payments from the state, such as certain public scholarships and government subsidies;

· periodic payments under family law, such as maintenance payments, unless received from relatives once or twice removed;

· other periodic payments, claimable in court, unless received from close relatives, foster parents or members of the same household, such as maintenance payments to a former partner.

4.2.4. Non-source-related deductions