If you are compulsorily insured for social security in the Netherlands, you also have to pay national insurance contributions. The national insurance contributions owed are calculated on the so-called contribution base. The contribution base (usually) equals the taxable income of Box 1. If you are not liable for national insurance contributions in the Netherlands throughout the year, the contribution base will be calculated only over the period in which you were liable for these contributions. The amount owed is reduced by the national insurance part of the tax credit, and is levied as one amount with any income tax owed. The contribution base is restricted to a maximum.
The contribution base (usually) equals the taxable income of Box 1, calculated in accordance with the rules applicable to a resident of the Netherlands. This means that the contribution base is calculated not only on your Box 1 income in the Netherlands, but also on any positive or negative income from employment and home ownership from another country. The personal allowance is taken into account as well.
Please refer to Income and deductible expenditure when electing resident taxpayer status for the method of calculating the worldwide income of Box 1.
Example
You are unmarried and were employed in the Netherlands in 2009. Your wage income amounted to € 18,151. You received € 4,538 in alimony from your ex-spouse in your country of residence. In addition, you received earned income in your country of residence in the amount of € 2,269. You own an owner-occupied property. The notional rental value amounts to € 908. You paid € 3,360 in interest and charges for a loan in relation to this property.
| The contribution base amounts to: | Amount |
|---|---|
| Wage income | € 18,151 |
| Earned income country of residence | € 2,269 |
| Alimony | € 4,538 |
| Notional rental value | € 908 |
| Subtotal | € 25,866 |
| Less: interest and charges owner-occupied property | - € 3,360 |
| Contribution base | € 22,506 |
In 2009, you owe the following contributions on this contribution base (before deduction of the tax credit):
| AOW contribution | 17.90% of € 22,506 = |
€ 4,028 |
|---|---|---|
| Anw contribution | 1.10% of € 22,506 = |
€ 247 |
| AWBZ contribution | 12.15% of € 22,506 = |
€ 2.734 |
The calculation of the contribution base is separate from the right of option for income tax purposes. The right of option allows emigrants, immigrants and non-resident taxpayers to elect to be taxed in accordance with the rules applicable to residents of the Netherlands. Even if you do not use the right of option, your worldwide income in Box 1 will be the assessment base in calculating the national insurance contributions owed.
The contribution you owe is restricted to a maximum. In 2009, the maximum contribution base on which you owe contributions amounts to € 32,127. Below is an overview of the maximum national insurance contributions you may owe in respect of 2009 (before deduction of the national insurance component of the tax credit).
| Contribution | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AOW contribution | 17.90% |
€ 5,751 |
| Anw-contribution | 1.10% |
€ 353 |
| AWBZ contribution | 12.15% |
€ 3,903 |
| Total | 31.15% |
€ 10,007 |
The contribution owed is reduced by the AOW, Anw and AWBZ components of the tax credit. For 2009, these components are the following:
Example
The general tax credit amounts to € 2,007. The component of the general tax credit that relates to:
Please note:
If you are 65 or older, different rules apply for the calculation of the various components of the tax credit, because you will cease owing AOW contributions from the month in which you turn 65.
If you are not subject to national insurance in the Netherlands throughout the year, you will only owe national insurance contributions in relation to the period in which you are subject to national insurance in the Netherlands. If the period of liability for national insurance contributions is not the same as the period of liability for tax, there are 3 calculation methods to determine how much you owe in contributions:
The calculation method most favourable in your situation will be applied.
The first and third methods can only be applied if the period of liability for tax is different from the period of liability for national insurance contributions. If you exercise the right of option for income tax purposes, this will not affect your period of liability for tax.
If the period of liability for national insurance contributions equals the period of liability for tax, the amount of contributions owed will be calculated in accordance with the method of time-proportionate restatement of the maximum contribution base (calculation method 2). If the period of liability for national insurance contributions differs from the period of liability for tax, and the contribution base pertaining to the period of liability for national insurance contributions is lower than the outcome of calculation method 2, this lower amount will be taken as the point of departure.
Example
You are employed in the Netherlands throughout 2009. On 1 August, you start working in Germany for your Dutch employer. From August, you will no longer be subject to national insurance in the Netherlands, but you will still be liable for tax in the Netherlands (because you remain in the Dutch employer's service). Your income for 2009 amounts to € 36,000. Of this amount, € 14,000 relates to the period in which you worked in Germany.
Calculation method 1: time-proportionate restatement of the contribution base
You are insured in the Netherlands for 210 days. Your contribution base is restated in proportion to time, and amounts to 210/360 x € 36,000 = € 21,000.
Calculation method 2: time-proportionate restatement of the maximum contribution base
On an annual basis, you owe contributions on a maximum contribution base of € 31,589 in 2008. This maximum contribution base is restated as a maximum contribution base for the period in which you were insured in the Netherlands. The maximum contribution base for 7 months amounts to 210/360 x € 32,127= € 18,740.
Calculation method 3: income-proportionate restatement of the contribution base (deductive method)
Your income for 2009 amounts to € 36,000. Of this amount, € 14,000 concerns income from Germany. Your contribution base is restated in proportion to income, and amounts to € 36,000 - € 14,000 = € 22,000.
The calculation based on calculation method 2 results in the lowest contribution base and is applied. The national insurance contributions owed in 2009 (before deduction of the tax credit) amount to 31.15% x € 18,740 = € 5,837.
Please note:
In calculating the restated contribution base, a month is assumed to comprise 30 days and a year 360 days.
If you are insured in the Netherlands for a part of the year, you are entitled to the full parts of the tax credit that concern the Old Age Pensions Act (AOW), Survivor’s Benefits Act (Anw) and the Exceptional Medical Expenses Act (AWBZ). In that case there will be no time-proportional recalculation.
