The Senate wants to reduce transfer tax for investors

Anyone who doesn't live in a home themselves currently pays 10.4 percent transfer tax upon acquisition. According to Martin van Rooijen (50PLUS), this is too high: investors are pulling out, resulting in the necessary investment in housing lagging behind. His motion to this effect received a majority in the Senate.

The motion has the support of the current Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, Hugo de Jonge. He explained in the debate that the Netherlands has gone too far in raising the transfer tax. "Because what does that mean? It means that, in international comparison, the Netherlands has roughly the highest rate in Europe. Perhaps even the highest rate of transfer tax."

Financing
Van Rooijen wants the 10.4 percent rate to be substantially reduced. De Jonge is considering a reduction to 8 or even 6 percent. However, the question is how this can be financed. According to De Jonge, this cannot be achieved without increasing the rate for private home buyers. They currently pay 2 percent transfer tax if they are not eligible for the first-time buyer exemption.