Netherlands pension tax credits and regulatory oversight

Pensioners in the Netherlands face upcoming changes to tax benefits and regulatory scrutiny regarding communication. The maximum elderly tax credit (ouderenkorting) for AOW recipients is set to decrease from €2,067 in 2026 to €1,993 in 2027. The specific amount an individual receives depends on their total aggregate income across boxes 1, 2, and 3.

Separately, the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) has announced an investigation into how pension providers communicate with members transitioning to the payout phase. The regulator has received signals that some providers may not be meeting legal information obligations. Specifically, the AFM is concerned with how funds explain the potential for fluctuations in monthly payments, particularly those that spread financial gains and losses over several years to dampen immediate shocks.