rendementschemas

Rendementenschema, often used in plural rendementschema’s, is a term from the Dutch tax system describing a schedule of notional returns used to calculate tax on savings and investments (Box 3). Instead of taxing actual realized income, Box 3 applies a fictitious yield that depends on the level and composition of net assets. The schema assigns to different asset categories and wealth bands a percentage rate representing the assumed annual return. These rates are combined into a total notional return, which is then taxed at a fixed rate within Box 3.

In practice, households calculate their net assets and, via the rendementschema, derive a notional return. After applying any allowances and tax credits, this leads to the Box 3 tax due. The purpose is to reflect, in a simplified administrative framework, a reasonable approximation of risk-adjusted returns across asset classes while avoiding the need to track actual performance for every taxpayer.

Variations and updates to rendementschema occur as government policy changes. The schema may distinguish between different asset types (such as cash, equities, or other investments) and may adjust rates or bands as the total wealth level changes. Although primarily a Dutch instrument, the concept of a notional return schedule exists in other jurisdictions under different names. Rendementenschema thus denotes a structured approach to estimating returns for tax purposes, balancing administrative simplicity with a proxy for wealth-related earnings.