◆ Expat tax guide
RSUs and stock options in the Netherlands: how they are taxed
Restricted stock units, options and employee share plans are common at international employers. When you pay Dutch tax on them, what happens afterwards and the mistakes we see most often.
Updated October 2026
In short
- RSUs are generally taxed as salary at the moment they vest.
- Your employer usually withholds wage tax, often by selling part of the shares (sell to cover).
- After vesting the shares are an asset in box 3; there is no Dutch tax on the sale itself.
- Stock options are taxed when the shares become tradable, not at exercise, unless you choose otherwise.
- Worked in other countries during the vesting period? Part of the income may be taxable there.
RSUs: taxed at vesting
With restricted stock units you receive shares after a vesting period, often in instalments. In the Netherlands the value of the shares is generally treated as employment income (box 1) at the moment you become unconditionally entitled to them, which is usually the vesting date. Receiving the grant itself is generally not taxed yet.
Your employer normally includes this value in your salary and withholds wage tax. Many plans do this by selling part of the vested shares to cover the tax (sell to cover). You will find the RSU income on your payslip and your annual income statement (jaaropgaaf).
After vesting: box 3
Once vested, the shares are an investment like any other. They count towards your assets in box 3 (savings and investments), which is taxed on a deemed return based on your assets on 1 January. There is no Dutch income tax on the gain when you later sell the shares. If you hold 5% or more of a company, different rules (box 2) apply, but that is rare for employee shares in large listed companies.
Stock options: taxed when tradable
Since 1 January 2023, the benefit from employee stock options is taxed when the shares you acquire become tradable, not when you exercise the options. If the shares are immediately tradable, as with most listed companies, this is at exercise anyway. You can also choose to be taxed at exercise, by telling your employer no later than the exercise date. This can make sense if you expect the shares to rise in value.
Employee share purchase plans (ESPP)
If you can buy shares at a discount, the discount is generally taxable as salary. The shares themselves then fall into box 3.
Working in more than one country
Did you live or work in another country during the vesting period, for example before you moved to the Netherlands? Then the RSU income may be partly taxable in that country. Tax treaties usually split it based on where you worked during the vesting period. Your employer does not always get this right, and the 30% ruling can also play a role. This is one of the most common reasons expats pay too much tax on their shares.
Common mistakes
- Counting the income twice: once through the jaaropgaaf and again from the broker statement.
- Not applying a tax treaty for workdays abroad during the vesting period.
- Forgetting the shares in box 3, including shares held at a foreign broker.
- Foreign dividend tax that is not credited or reclaimed.
How we help
Shares, RSUs, options and an international career together make for a tax return where mistakes cost real money. We go through your payslips, annual statement and broker overviews, check how your employer handled the shares and make sure nothing is taxed twice. Get in touch for a fixed price in advance.
Frequently asked questions
When are RSUs taxed in the Netherlands?
Generally at vesting: the value of the shares at the moment you become unconditionally entitled to them is taxed as salary in box 1. The grant itself is generally not taxed yet.
Do I pay Dutch tax when I sell my RSU shares?
Not on the sale itself. After vesting, the shares count towards your box 3 assets, which are taxed on a deemed return based on your assets on 1 January.
Are RSUs taxed twice in the Netherlands?
They should not be, but it happens: for example when the RSU income is reported both through the annual income statement and again from the broker statement, or when a tax treaty for workdays abroad is not applied.
When are employee stock options taxed in the Netherlands?
Since 2023, when the acquired shares become tradable, unless you choose to be taxed at exercise by notifying your employer no later than the exercise date. For shares that are immediately tradable, taxation is at exercise.
How is an ESPP discount taxed in the Netherlands?
The discount on shares bought through an employee share purchase plan is generally taxed as salary. The shares themselves then count towards your box 3 assets.
Questions about your own situation?
Book a free introductory call. We will tell you what applies to you and what it costs, before you commit to anything.