Crisis tax puts more than 600 million euros in government coffers

The Dutch government has received just over 628 million euros in revenues from the 2012 crisis tax. This extra charge is imposed on wages above 150 thousand euros. More than half of the amount received came from wages paid in the financial and business services sector.

Extra tax affects 13.5 thousand employers

Nearly 13.5 thousand businesses in the Netherlands employed one or more workers who earned more than 150 thousand euros in 2012. They had to pay an extra tax of 16 percent on all earnings above 150 thousand euros. More than 44 thousand employees fell into this category. Employers in specialised business services (holdings, consultancies,  accountants, solicitors) paid 178 million euros in extra tax. For employers in financial institutions, the extra levy amounted to 125 million euros. These two sectors together accounted for nearly half of the total revenues from the crisis tax.

Crisis tax 2012 by industry sector

Average amount paid nearly 50 thousand euros

Employers who were liable for the extra charge paid on average nearly 47 thousand euros. Some smaller sectors paid a relatively large amount: employers in sport and culture, for example, which includes professional football, paid an average 108 thousand euros.

Some 92 percent of the employees for whom the extra tax was paid were men. The care sector had the highest share of women earning more than 150 thousand euros: 16 percent. This sector also has the largest share of female employees.

Share of women in employees for whom crisis tax was paid, 2012

Mark Hartog van Banda