Belgium: the King refused Bart De Wever's resignation and talks resumed, with a report due on 16 November, also the extended deadline for many tax filings. Netherlands: the Tax Plan 2027 goes to a vote on 12 November without a clear majority, a box 3 tax on realised gains from 2029 gains a majority, and the Hoge Raad ruled that a roll-over choice can only be undone jointly. Luxembourg: health contributions are set to rise to 5.85% in 2027, and EU ministers failed to agree on tobacco excise.
The week in one paragraph
Belgium's government survived on the King's say-so: the resignation was refused on Friday 6 November and talks resumed on Monday, with the same EUR 10 billion gap. In The Hague the cabinet is still counting votes for the Tax Plan, while support gathers for a box 3 tax on realised gains. Two rulings show that tax choices need paperwork. Luxembourg's week was about costs rather than cuts.
Netherlands
Tax Plan 2027: debate ends without a clear majority, vote on Thursday
What happened. The Tweede Kamer resumed its plenary debate on the Belastingplan 2027 on 10 November. The minority cabinet of D66, VVD and CDA still has no secured majority in either chamber, and NOS reported that the debate ended without clarity on the votes. An amendment by PRO and Volt would shift about EUR 1.5 billion from labour to wealth, including a 45% box 3 rate above EUR 1.3 million against 36% now; the VVD opposes it. A fourth memorandum of amendment dated 9 November sets the 2027 bracket limits for taxpayers below state pension age at EUR 39,337 and EUR 80,819. The vote is scheduled for Thursday 12 November.
Why it matters. The Eerste Kamer is expected to vote in December. If it rejects the plan, the measures do not take effect on 1 January 2027, while the Belastingdienst has already loaded the new parameters into its systems. Provisional assessments start going out on 20 November, before the Senate has voted.
What to do. Wait for Thursday's vote before changing salary, dividend or year-end plans. If you are a director-shareholder with significant box 3 assets, treat the PRO and Volt amendment as a downside scenario, not the base case. Read our note: Dutch personal income tax →
Source: Tweede Kamer, 9 Nov 2026, NOS, 10 Nov 2026, Taxence, 10 Nov 2026, Taxlive, 4 Nov 2026
Box 3: a majority in sight for taxing realised gains from 2029
What happened. The cabinet's amending bill (novelle, bill 37053) would tax most box 3 investments only on realised gains from 1 January 2029. It would cover all financial instruments, about 90% of box 3 assets with value growth. Interest and dividends stay taxed every year, and the market value on 1 January 2029 becomes the acquisition price for existing holdings. Bank balances, direct crypto holdings, insurance products, annuities, receivables and debts would be taxed on unrealised growth for one more year. According to an ANP report of 9 November, D66, VVD, CDA, JA21, SGP and BBB back the approach, which gives it a majority in the Tweede Kamer. Together those parties hold 37 seats in the Eerste Kamer, so a majority there is not yet assured.
Why it matters. The Council of State had advised a single switch in 2030, as covered in our week 44 digest. The cabinet sticks with 2029 and, in a note of 9 November, said it would move to 2028 only if that proves responsibly feasible in the coming weeks. Eerenberg said the rates could still be adjusted, so the final burden is not yet known.
What to do. Keep 2027 and 2028 decisions on the current rules. If your portfolio has large unrealised gains, note that the 1 January 2029 value becomes your base, and review before then whether the assets belong in box 3, a BV or a fund. Read our note: Dutch box 3 wealth tax →
Source: Taxence, 10 Nov 2026, Taxlive, 4 Nov 2026
Hoge Raad: a roll-over choice can only be undone jointly
What happened. In a judgment of 6 November, reported on 9 November (ECLI:NL:HR:2026:1677, case 23/04950), the Hoge Raad ruled that a request for a tax-free roll-over of a business under article 3.63 of the Income Tax Act 2001 must be made jointly by the transferor and the transferee, and that changing or withdrawing it is also a joint act. In the case, a pig farm transferred within a partnership in 2013, one transferee later wanted to reverse the choice alone. The Hoge Raad overturned the Court of Appeal of 's-Hertogenbosch, which had allowed this, and referred the case to Arnhem-Leeuwarden.
Why it matters. This is the outcome of the case we flagged in last week's digest. With a roll-over the acquirer takes over the hidden reserves at the tax book values, and once the choice is made it binds both sides unless they agree to change it.
What to do. When a business or a partnership share changes hands with a roll-over, agree in the deed whether and how the choice may be revisited, and model the acquirer's future tax on the transferred reserves before signing. Read our note: Freelancer in the Netherlands: sole trader or BV →
Source: Taxence, 9 Nov 2026
VAT fiscal unity: an organogram is not proof
What happened. The District Court of Gelderland ruled on 28 October, in a decision reported on 10 November (ECLI:NL:RBGEL:2026:8354), against an investment BV that charged management fees and costs to its four start-up subsidiaries from 2020 to 2023 without VAT or invoices, while deducting all its own input VAT. The BV argued that it formed a VAT fiscal unity with the subsidiaries. The court found that it had not shown the financial, organisational and economic links required by article 7(4) of the VAT Act 1968, and an organogram alone was not enough. The charges were therefore taxable supplies and the additional assessment of EUR 111,176 stood.
Why it matters. Holdings often assume a fiscal unity exists, but the burden of proof is theirs. Without invoices the subsidiaries could not deduct the VAT either, and the court rejected the argument that it all came out of the same pocket.
What to do. If your Dutch holding charges fees to subsidiaries without VAT, check whether the Belastingdienst has confirmed a fiscal unity. If not, request one with supporting documents or start invoicing with VAT. Read our note: Dutch VAT registration →
Source: Taxence, 10 Nov 2026
Luxembourg
Health insurance contributions set to rise to 5.85% in 2027
What happened. The General Inspectorate of Social Security (IGSS) has recommended raising the health and maternity insurance contribution rate from 5.60% to 5.85% from 2027, Delano reported on 10 November. The decision rests with the board of the National Health Fund (CNS), which meets on 11 November; the legal deadline is 1 December. Without action, the deficit of health and maternity insurance is projected at EUR 189.6 million in 2027 and reserves would fall to 9.2% of spending, below the 10% legal minimum.
Why it matters. The rise would hit payroll from January. Together with the next wage indexation, which STATEC's forecast of 4 November places in the second quarter of 2027, it adds to employment costs in Luxembourg next year.
What to do. Build the higher rate into 2027 payroll budgets and gross-to-net figures for staff and salaried directors, and check the CNS decision before the budgets are final. Read our note: Luxembourg salary calculator →
Source: Delano, 10 Nov 2026, Luxtoday, 5 Nov 2026
Tobacco excise: no deal at ECOFIN, Luxembourg backs the compromise
What happened. EU finance ministers discussed the revision of the Tobacco Taxation Directive at ECOFIN on 9 November but did not adopt it, and technical work resumes under the Irish Presidency. Finance Minister Gilles Roth said Luxembourg was willing to accept the Presidency's compromise and expects an agreement in the coming weeks. According to the Council note summarised by ETAF, the compromise would set a minimum excise on nicotine pouches of 10% of the retail price or EUR 30 per kg from 1 January 2028, rising to 25% or EUR 40 per kg from 2030 and to 50% or EUR 50 per kg from 1 January 2032. Sweden objects.
Why it matters. Higher EU minimums would change retail prices across the Benelux and narrow the price gaps behind cross-border shopping, but nothing is final until all member states agree.
What to do. If you import, distribute or sell tobacco or nicotine products, build the 2028 and 2030 steps into pricing and long-term supply contracts. Read our note: Business in border towns: VAT, excise and price gaps →
Belgium
The King refuses De Wever's resignation; talks resume with a 16 November deadline
What happened. King Philippe refused the Prime Minister's resignation on Friday 6 November and asked him to resume budget negotiations immediately and report back on 16 November. The palace said the five party presidents had committed to making concessions. Bart De Wever began bilateral talks with his deputy prime ministers on 9 November, expected to run until Wednesday, and is skipping two European summits in Dublin to stay at the table. The gap is unchanged: about EUR 10 billion in savings or new revenue by 2029, with Vooruit, CD&V and Les Engagés seeking higher taxes on the 'strongest shoulders' and MR and N-VA opposed.
Why it matters. On 5 November De Wever confirmed in parliament that Belgium will start 2027 on provisional twelfths. Measures reported in the talks include ending the reduced 20% corporate tax rate for companies without employees and excluding single-director companies working almost only for one client from the 18% VVPR-bis dividend rate on new reserves from 2028. None of this has been agreed.
What to do. Owner-managed companies without staff should not restructure on the strength of reported proposals. Keep the director's pay at the EUR 50,000 minimum needed for the reduced rate in 2026, and review year-end plans after 16 November. Read our note: Benelux tax changes in 2027 →
Source: Brussels Times, 6 Nov 2026, Brussels Times, 9 Nov 2026, Brussels Times, 5 Nov 2026, Brussels Times, 3 Nov 2026
Filing deadlines moved to 16 November after the SPF Finances cyberattack
What happened. After a cyberattack on 27 October that temporarily disrupted MyMinfin and other online services, SPF Finances extended filing deadlines that had not expired by 28 October to 16 November 2026 inclusive. It covers, among others, corporate tax returns for financial years closed on 31 March 2026, Pillar Two, DAC6 and country-by-country filings, withholding tax returns, form 275.LF, and professional withholding tax returns for September, October and the third quarter.
Why it matters. The extension covers filing only. Payment of withholding tax on investment income, professional withholding tax and miscellaneous taxes is not postponed, so the original payment dates still apply.
What to do. List every return that you or your payroll provider held back after 28 October and file it by Monday 16 November. Check that the related payments went out on the original dates. Read our note: Benelux tax filing deadlines 2026 →
Dates to watch
| Date | Country | What |
|---|---|---|
| 12 November | Netherlands | Tweede Kamer vote on the Belastingplan 2027 (some parties want a one-week delay) |
| 12 November | EU | Amendment deadline in the ECON committee on the DAC recast |
| 13 November | Netherlands | Hoge Raad judgments, including VAT on renting out a roof for solar panels |
| 16 November | Belgium | Prime Minister reports to the King; extended deadline for many tax filings |
| 20 November | Netherlands | Provisional assessments for 2027 start going out |
| 26 – 27 November | EU | Special European Council on the next EU budget and own resources |
| 30 November | Belgium | Payment deadline for the 2026 capital gains transitional option |
| 30 November | Netherlands | VAT return and payment for October 2026 |
| 1 December | Luxembourg | Legal deadline for the CNS decision on the 2027 health contribution rate |
| Mid-December | Luxembourg | Vote on the 2027 budget (bill 8800) |
| December | Netherlands | Eerste Kamer vote on the Belastingplan 2027 (expected) |
| 31 December | Belgium | Annual company contribution for 2026 (EUR 409.30 or EUR 1,022.38) |
| 31 December | Netherlands | Wtta registration closes; filing deadline for 2025 annual accounts |
| 14 January 2027 | EU | ECON committee vote on the DAC recast |