You get a Dutch tax refund (belastingteruggaaf) when more wage tax was withheld during the year than you actually owe, or when you have deductions that have not yet been applied. With Taxmo you calculate your refund for free: enter your gross salary and withheld wage tax, add your deductions, and you see your refund or amount due straight away. Filing afterwards costs a one-time €49.
Your employer withholds wage tax (loonheffing) based on an estimate. At year end the Belastingdienst calculates the real amount. Deductions such as mortgage interest, medical costs, and donations lower your taxable income, so you often paid too much. Mid-year job changes, part-time periods, and leaving the country also commonly produce a refund.
Mortgage interest on an owner-occupied home (deductible at up to 37,48% in 2025), specific medical costs above the threshold, donations to charity, paid partner alimony, public-transport commuting, and annuity premiums within your annual margin. Taxmo checks each item against its threshold and applies the right tax credits automatically.
If you file before 1 April, the Belastingdienst aims to decide before 1 July. Otherwise a refund is usually paid within a few months of the final assessment (definitieve aanslag). You can track the status in Taxmo after you file.