Calculation examples for actual return

Will you be reporting your actual return for 1 or more years in Box 3 to us? But would you first like to understand how the calculation works? On this page, we explain how it works using some calculation examples. In each example, we compare the result of the actual return with the notional return. This way, you can see if it's worth reporting your actual return to us.

The examples below are for the year 2025, but the calculation method applies to every tax year. Would you like to know the percentages we use for the notional return each year? Then take a look at the notional return percentages from 2017 onwards.

Choose a calculation example:

Calculation examples without a tax partner

• Calculation example with only savings (1)

  You have €150,000 in savings. In 2025, you received €1,875 in interest.

  Step 1: Calculate the actual return on your savings

  Your actual return is the interest you received. You received €1,875 in interest. This means your actual return is €1,875.

  Stap 2: Compare the actual return with the notional return

  The notional return is €1,264. You can find this in your 2025 tax return. It is listed there as 'voordeel uit sparen en beleggen' (income from savings and investments).

  The actual return (€1,875) is higher than the notional return (€1,264). There is no point in reporting your actual return to us.

• Calculation example with only savings (2)

  You have €150,000 in savings. In 2025, you received €1,050 in interest on your savings.

  Step 1: Calculate the actual return on your savings

  The actual return on your savings is the interest you received: €1,050. This means that your actual return is €1,050.

  Step 2: Compare the actual return with the notional return

  The notional return is €1,264. You can find this in your 2025 tax return. It is listed there as 'voordeel uit sparen en beleggen' (income from savings and investments).
  
  The actual return (€1,050) is lower than the notional return (€1,264). Reporting your actual return to us is beneficial for you.

• Calculation example with savings and shares (investments)

  You have the following assets and debts:

  • €100,000 in savings
    In 2025, you received €1,200 in interest on these savings.
  • investments with a value of €150,000 on 1 January 2025
    On 31 December 2025, the investments have a value of €160,000. In 2025, you bought €1,200 worth of shares and sold €3,000 worth of shares. You received €500 in dividend.

  Step 1: Calculate the actual return on your savings

  The actual return on your savings is the interest you received: €1,200. This means that your actual return is €1,200.

  Step 2: Calculate the actual return on your investments

  The actual return on your investments is the dividend you received and the value on 31 December, minus the value on 1 January of that same year. From that amount, subtract the value of the shares you bought in that year. Finally, add the shares you sold in that year.

  So: €500 (dividend received) + €160,000 (value 31 December 2025) − 150,000 (value 1 January 2025) − €1,200 (shares bought) + €3,000 (shares sold) = €12,300.

  This means that the actual return on your investments is €12,300.

  Step 3: Calculate the total actual return

  Now add up the actual return of the different types of assets. That is the interest received on your savings (€1,200) plus the actual return on your investments (€12,300).

  So: €1,200 + €12,300 = €13,500

  Your total actual return is €13,500.

  Step 4: Compare the actual return with the notional return

  The notional return is €7,838. You can find this in your 2025 tax return. It is listed there as 'voordeel uit sparen en beleggen' (income from savings and investments).

  Compare

  Your actual return (€13,500) is higher than the notional return (€7,838). There is no point in reporting your actual return to us.

• Calculation example with only crypto assets

  On 1 January, you held various crypto assets worth €80,000. The value on 31 December 2025 was €90,000. You purchased €5,000 worth of crypto assets and sold €17,000.

  Step 1: Calculate the actual return on your crypto assets

  The actual return on the crypto assets is the value on 31 December minus the value on 1 January of the same year. From that amount, subtract the value of your purchases made during that year. Next, add the value of any sales made during the same year.

  So: €90,000 (value on 31 December 2025) − €80,000 (value on 1 January 2025) − €5,000 (purchases) + €17,000 (sales) = €22,000

  The actual return on the crypto assets is €22,000.

  Step 2: compare the actual return to the notional return

  The notional return is €1,238. You can find this amount in your 2025 tax return. It is listed there as 'voordeel uit sparen en beleggen' (income from savings and investments).

  The actual return (€22,000) is higher than the notional return (€1,238). There is no point in reporting the actual return to us.

Calculation examples with tax partner

• Calculation example with only savings (1)

  You and your tax partner have €350,000 in savings. In 2025, you received €3,500 in interest on your savings.

  Step 1: Calculate the actual return on your savings

  The actual return on your savings is the interest you received. You received €3,500 in interest. This means that your and your partner's actual return is €3,500.

  Step 2: Compare the actual return with the notional return

  Notional return

  The notional return is €1,606 per person. You can find this in your 2025 tax return. It is listed there as 'voordeel uit sparen en beleggen' (income from savings and investments). Your tax partner's income from savings and investments can be found in their tax details.

  Actual return

  The actual return is divided in the same way as you divided the base for savings and investments in your 2025 tax return.

  In the 2025 tax return, you and your tax partner divided the base for savings and investments in the following way: each of you declared half.

  The actual return on your savings is €3,500 (step 1). Per person, this is €1,750.

  Compare

  Your actual return (€1,750) is higher than the notional return (€1,606). Your tax partner's actual return (€1,750) is higher than the notional return (€1,606).

  There is no point in reporting your actual return to us.

• Calculation example with only savings (2)

  You and your tax partner have €350,000 in savings. In 2025, you received €2,500 in interest on your savings.

  Step 1: Calculate the actual return on your savings.

  The actual return on your savings is the interest you received. You received €2,500 in interest. This means that your and your partner's actual return is €2,500.
  
  Step 2: Compare the actual return with the notional return

  Notional return

  The notional return is €1,606 per person. You can find this in your 2025 tax return. It is listed there as 'voordeel uit sparen en beleggen' (income from savings and investments). Your tax partner's income from savings and investments can be found in their tax details.

  Actual return

  The actual return is divided in the same way as you divided the base for savings and investments in your 2025 tax return.

  In the 2025 tax return, you and your tax partner divided the base for savings and investments in the following way: each of you declared half.

  The actual return on your savings is €2,500 (step 1). Per person, this is €1,250

  Compare

  Your actual return (€1,250) is lower than the notional return (€1,606). Your tax partner's actual return (€1,250) is lower than the notional return (€1,606).

  Reporting your actual return to us is beneficial for you and your tax partner.

• Calculation example with savings and shares (investments)

  You and your tax partner have the following assets and debts:

  • €100,000 in savings
    In 2025, you received €2,000 in interest on your savings.
  • investments with a value of €150,000 on 1 January 2025
    On 31 December 2025, the investments have a value of €151,000. In 2025, you and your tax partner did not buy or sell any investments. You and your tax partner also did not receive dividend.

  Step 1: Calculate the actual return on your savings

  The actual return on your savings is the interest you received. You received €2,000 in interest. This means that your and your partner's actual return is €2,000.

  Step 2: Calculate the actual return on your investments

  The actual return on your investments is the value on 31 December minus the value on 1 January of the same year.

  So: €151,000 (value on 31 December 2025) − €150,000 (value on 1 January 2025) = €1,000.

  This means that the actual return on your investments is €1,000.

  Step 3: Calculate the total actual return

  Add up the actual return of the interest you received on your savings (€2,000) and the increase in value of your investments (€1,000)

  So: €2,000 + €1,000 = €3,000.

  Your and your tax partner's total actual return is €3,000.

  Step 4: Compare the actual return to the notional return

  Notional return

  The notional return is €5,598. You can find this in your 2025 tax return. It is listed there as 'voordeel uit sparen en beleggen' (income from savings and investments). Your tax partner's income from savings and investments can be found in their tax details.

  Actual return

  The actual return is divided in the same way as you divided the base for savings and investments in your 2025 tax return.

  In the 2025 tax return, you and your tax partner divided the base for savings and investments in the following way: you declared the entire amount, your partner €0.

  The total actual return is €3,000 (step 4).

  Compare

  Your actual return (€3,000) is lower than the notional return (€5,598). Reporting your actual return to us is beneficial for you.

• Calculation example with savings, investments and debt

  You and your tax partner have the following assets and debts :

  • €100,000 in savings
    In 2025, you received €2,000 in interest on your savings.
  • investments with a value of €150,000 on 1 January 2025
    On 31 December 2025, the investments have a value of €160,000. In 2025, you bought €1,200 worth of shares and sold €3,000 worth of shares. You and your tax partner received €700 in dividend.
  • a debt of €50,000
    In 2025, you and your tax partner paid €1,500 in interest on this debt.

  Step 1: Calculate the actual return on your savings

  The actual return on your savings is the interest you received. You received €2,000 in interest. This means that your and your partner's actual return is €2,000.

  Step 2: Calculate the actual return on your investments

  The actual return on your investments is the interest you received and the value of the investments on 31 December minus the value on 1 Januari of that same year. Subtract the value of the shares you bought and add the value of the shares you sold in that same year.

  So: €700 (dividend received) + €160,000 (value on 31 December 2025) − €150,000 (value on 1 January 2025) − €1,200 (shares bought) + €3,000 (shares sold) = €12,500.

  This means that the actual return on your investments is €12,500.

  Step 3: Calculate the actual return on your debts

  You and your tax partner paid €1,500 in interest on your debts. You do not have to take into account the threshold for your debts. The actual return on your debts is - €1,500.

  Step 4: Calculate the total actual return

  Add up the actual return of the different types of assets:

  The interest you received on your savings (€2,000) plus the value of your investments (€12,500). Subtract the interest your paid on your debts (€3,000).

  So: €2,000 + €12,500 − €1,500 = €13,000

  Your and your tax partner's total actual return is €11,500.

  Step 5: Compare the actual return with the notional return

  Notional return

  The notional return is €3,629. You can find this in your 2025 tax return. It is listed there as 'voordeel uit sparen en beleggen' (income from savings and investments). Your tax partner's income from savings and investments can be found in their tax details.

  Actual return

  The actual return is divided in the same way as you divided the base for savings and investments in your 2025 tax return.

  In the 2025 tax return, you and your tax partner divided the base for savings and investments in the following way: you declared the entire amount, your partner € 0.

  The total actual return is €13,000 (step 4).

  Compare

  Your actual return (€13,000) is higher than the notional return (€3,629). There is no point in reporting your actual return to us.

• Calculation example with savings, investments and a rental property

  You and your tax partner have the following assets:

  • €150,000 in savings
    In 2025, you received €2,000 in interest on these savings.
  • investments with a value of €75,000 on 1 January 2025
    On 31 December 2025, the investments have a value of €77,000. In 2023, you and your tax partner did not buy or sell any investments. You and your tax partner also did not receive dividend.
  • a 2nd home in the Netherlands you are renting out for the entire year
    You are renting out the home for €1,500 per month. This includes a €200 contribution for service costs. The value of the home on 1 January 2025 was €200,000. On 31 December 2025, it was €205,000. For the value on 1 January 2025, use the WOZ-value ('WOZ-waarde') with reference date 1 January 2024. This is listed on the WOZ decision ('WOZ beschikking') you received from the municipality in 2025. For the value on 31 December 2023, use the WOZ-value with reference date 1 January 2025. This is listed on the WOZ decision you received from the municipality in 2026.

  Step 1: Calculate the actual return on your savings

  The actual return on your savings is the interest you received. You received €2,000 in interest. This means that your and your partner's actual return is €2,000. In this example, the tenant is not entitled to rent control.

  Stap 2: Calculate the actual return on your investments

  The actual return on your investments is the value on 31 December minus the value on 1 January of the same year.

  So: €77,000 (value on 31 December 2025) − €75,000 (value on 1 January 2025) = €2,000

  This means that the actual return on your investments is €2,000.

  Step 3: Calculate the actual return on your 2nd home

  The actual return on your second home is the base rent you received. Add the WOZ-value of 31 December to that, minus the WOZ-value on 1 January.

  We start with the base rent. The rent includes a monthly contribution to the service costs. This amount must be subtracted from the rent to find the base rent. The base rent per month is €1,500 − €200 = €1,300. Multiply it by 12.

  The total base rent is: €1,300 × 12 = €15,600

  Add to this the difference between the WOZ-value on 31 December minus the value on 1 January.

  So: €205,000 (value on 31 december 2025) − €200,000 (value on 1 January 2025) = €5,000.

  This means that the actual return on your second home is €15,600 + €5,000 = €20,600.

  Step 4: Calculate the total actual return

  Add up the total return of the different types of assets.

  The interest you received on your savings (€2,000) plus the increase in value of your investments (€2,000) and the return on your 2nd home (€20,600).

  So: €2,000 + €2,000 + €20,600 = €24,600

  Your and your partner's total actual return is €24,600.

  Step 5: Compare the actual return with the notional return

  Notional return

  The notional return is €6,571 per person. You can find this in your 2025 tax return. It is listed there as 'voordeel uit sparen en beleggen' (income from savings and investments). Your tax partner's income from savings and investments can be found in their tax details.

  Actual return

  The actual return is divided in the same way as you divided the base for savings and investments in your 2025 tax return.

  In the 2025 tax return, you and your tax partner divided the base for savings and investments in the following way: each of you declared half.

  The total actual return is €24,600 (step 4). Per person, this is €12,300.

  Compare

  Your actual return (€12,300) is higher than the notional return (€6,571). Your tax partner's actual return (€12,300) is higher than the notional return (€6,571).

  There is no point in reporting your actual return to us.

• Calculation example with savings, investments, a 2nd home for personal use and a debt

  You and your tax partner have the following assets and debts:

  • €150,000 in savings
    In 2025, you received €2,000 in interest on your savings.
  • investments with a value of €75,000 on 1 January 2025
    On 31 December 2025, the investments have a value of €77,000. In 2025, you and your tax partner did not buy or sell any investments. You and your tax partner also did not receive dividend.
  • a 2nd home in the Netherlands for personal use
    The value on 31 January 2025 was €200,000. The value on 31 December 2025 was €205,000. For the value on 1 January 2025, use the WOZ-value ('WOZ-waarde') with reference date 1 January 2024. This can be found in the WOZ decision ('WOZ-beschikking') you received from the municipality in 2025. For the value on 31 December 2025, use the WOZ value with reference date 1 January 2025. This can be found in the WOZ decision you received from the municipality in 2026.
  • a debt of €100,000 for the 2nd home
    In 2025, you paid €5,000 interest on this debt.

  Step 1: Calculate the actual return on your savings

  The actual return on your savings is the interest you received. You received €2,000 in interest. This means that your and your partner's actual return is €2,000.

  Step 2: Calculate the actual return on your investments

  The actual return on your investments is the value on 31 December minus the value on 1 January of the same year.

  So: €77,000 (value on 31 December 2025) − €75,000 (value on 1 January 2025) = €2,000

  This means that the actual return on your investments is €2,000.

  Step 3: Calculate the return on your 2nd home

  The actual return on your 2nd home is the value on 31 December 2025 minus the value on 1 January 2025.

  So: €205,000 (value on 31 December 2025) − €200,000 (value on 1 januari 2025) = €5,000.

  This means that the actual return on your 2nd home is €5,000.

  Step 4: Calculate the actual return on your debts

  You paid €5,000 in interest on your debts. This means that the actual return on your debts is − €5,000.

  Step 5: Calculate the total actual return

  Add up the actual return of the different types of assets:

  The interest you received on your savings (€2,000) plus the increase in value of your investments (€2,000) and the increase in value of your 2nd home (€5,000). Subtract the interest you paid on your debts (€5,000).

  So: €2,000 + €2,000 + €5,000 − €5,000 = €4,000

  This means that your and your tax partner's total actual return is €4,000.

  Step 6: Compare the actual return to the notional return

  Notional return

  The notional return is €6,571 per person. You can find this in your 2025 tax return. It is listed there as 'voordeel uit sparen en beleggen' (income from savings and investments). Your tax partner's income from savings and investments can be found in their tax details.

  Actual return

  The actual return is divided in the same way as you divided the base for savings and investments in your 2025 tax return.

  In the 2025 tax return, you and your tax partner divided the base for savings and investments in the following way: each of you declared half.

  The total actual return is €4,000 (step 5). Per person, this is €2,000

  Compare

  Your actual return (€2,000) is lower than the notional return (€6,571). Your tax partner's actual return (€2,000) is lower than the notional return (€6,571).

  Reporting your actual return to us is beneficial for you and your tax partner.

How can you report your actual return to us?

How you report your actual return depends on the year.

For 2025 onward, you can report your actual return in your income tax return. If you have assets, we will automatically ask if you also wish to report your actual return. If you choose to do so, we will use the amount most beneficial to you: the notional or actual return.

For 2024 or earlier years, use the form 'Opgaaf werkelijk rendement' (Report actual return, only available in Dutch). Check where you can find this form.

What is the actual return?

Find out how the actual return works.