Dutch Tax Plan Could Tax Crypto at 36% on Unrealized Gains Every Year
The Netherlands is planning a major overhaul of its wealth tax regime, which could tax crypto and physical gold at 36% on unrealized gains every year, starting from January 1, 2028.
The proposed Wet werkelijk rendement box 3, or Actual Return Box 3 Act, was approved by the Dutch House of Representatives on February 12 and is now before the Senate.
Under the new system, investors will be taxed on the annual appreciation of their assets, including crypto and gold, even if they have not sold them. This means that crypto holders could face annual tax bills on gains they have never cashed out.
The 36% rate applies to investment returns, not the total value of crypto or gold holdings, and the government is considering further changes to the legislation.
Crypto's volatility makes the proposal particularly consequential, as investors could record a substantial taxable gain during a bull market, pay tax based on that year's appreciation, and then watch the asset fall sharply afterward.