Expat Protests Still Growing Against The Dutch 30 Per Cent Tax Break Cut

A month after the Netherlands government announced its shocking decision to cut back the 30 per cent tax cut for expat professionals from eight to five years, the movement aimed at getting lawmakers to rescind the ruling is growing steadily.

An estimated 60,000 expat professionals living and working in the Netherlands are affected by the ruling, many of whom have made financial arrangements, taken out mortgages, enrolled their children in internationals school or taken on long-term rental contracts. The expat community’s anger is growing, with over 30,000 signing an online petition urging lawmakers to reconsider, and an organised grass-roots level protest group has crowd-funded over €10,000 donations to be put towards legal fees.

Some 6,500 are now members of the United Expats of the Netherlands Facebook page, with the social media platform featuring expat testimonials and a snazzy logo. Late last month, a demonstration was held in The Hague, during which a petition was handed to the Dutch Minister of Finance. The finance ministry debate on the issue was held on May 31, with reports of any results no yet available.

In addition, the German Chamber of Commerce and the American Chamber of Commerce in Amsterdam have forwarded statements of concern over the government’s lack of a transition plan for those affected. Reports from the planned protest, however, indicate that fewer than the numbers expected attended the rally, as many weren’t able to take time off work to be there.