Spaarrendement

Spaarrendement is a Dutch tax term meaning “savings yield.” In taxation, it refers to the notional return on assets that is assumed for the calculation of income tax on savings and investments in Box 3 of the Dutch system (inkomen uit sparen en beleggen). It is not the actual interest or gains earned on a bank account or investments.

The spaarrendement is used by the Belastingdienst to determine how much income is deemed earned from a household’s savings and investments. Assets such as bank balances, deposits, shares, and other investments held in Box 3 form the base for this calculation. A notional yield is applied to the value of these assets to produce a fictitious income, which is then taxed according to the Box 3 regime. In practice, the tax is calculated on the notional yield rather than on the actual realized returns, and the system includes a tax exemption (heffingsvrij vermogen) that reduces the amount of assets subject to tax.

Calculation and policy have undergone changes over the years. The spaarrendement is a product of Dutch tax policy and is adjusted periodically, reflecting debates about fairness and how savings and investments are taxed. Because the method is not tied to actual interest rates or realised gains, it can differ from an individual’s real income from savings.

See also: Box 3 (Netherlands), notional yield, forfaitair rendement, Belastingdienst.