Why is my net salary lower than expected?

Troubleshoot the most common reasons a Dutch net salary estimate or payslip can feel lower than the gross number suggests.

This page is a salary-troubleshooting guide tied to the calculator, so you can test the likely drivers one by one.

Calculate your net salary

Use the calculator as the decision tool, then use the page sections below to compare the assumptions behind the estimate.

A lower-than-expected net result usually comes from payroll structure rather than one mysterious hidden rate.

The biggest drivers are often tax credits, holiday-allowance setup, irregular pay, multiple incomes, or a payslip month that is not representative of the full year.

The calculator helps isolate those changes by letting you compare the same salary across holiday-allowance, AOW, 30% ruling, and different period inputs.

That makes it easier to see whether the lower result comes from tax position, salary structure, or simply from comparing unlike payroll months.

Bonus month on top of regular salary

Input situation

A worker receives a bonus and wants to know why the extra payout feels taxed more heavily than the regular monthly salary.

What changes in the calculation

The calculator annualises the higher gross amount, which changes the tax and credit position and makes the extra gross euro look less net-efficient.

What to compare in the calculator

Compare the regular salary estimate with a higher one-off gross month and watch the effective tax rate and credits move.

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Holiday allowance paid separately

Input situation

A salary offer mentions holiday allowance separately instead of including it in the monthly gross amount.

What changes in the calculation

The monthly taxable salary is lower during the year, while the holiday-allowance amount is shown separately and affects the annual total.

What to compare in the calculator

Compare the regular monthly net amount with the holiday-allowance row and the net yearly total.

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Two jobs and loonheffingskorting on both

Input situation

Someone receives salary from two employers and wonders why later corrections can appear.

What changes in the calculation

The calculator shows one income stream at a time, so the comparison point is how much of the tax-credit benefit is effectively used through payroll.

What to compare in the calculator

Compare one combined income with one smaller salary estimate and focus on credits, effective rate, and why withholding may differ.

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Payslip shows higher wage tax than expected

Input situation

A payslip line for wage tax looks larger than the person expected from a simple gross-minus-net view.

What changes in the calculation

The payroll month reflects annualised withholding logic, credits, and sometimes irregular-income treatment, not just a flat percentage on the month's gross salary.

What to compare in the calculator

Compare payroll tax, credits, and annualised gross assumptions rather than looking only at gross and net.

Try this scenario in the calculator
  • Using a bonus month as the reference month.
  • Applying loonheffingskorting assumptions from one job to several incomes.
  • Skipping the holiday-allowance question when comparing offers.

FAQ

These questions stay focused on realistic payroll or salary situations, so you can compare them directly with the calculator.

Why is my net salary lower than I expected from the gross figure?

A gross figure still has payroll tax, credits, holiday-allowance structure, and sometimes irregular-income treatment behind it. The calculator helps show which of those drivers is doing most of the work in the estimate.

Why does my bonus seem taxed more heavily?

A bonus can push the payroll month into a higher annualised income picture and reduce how much tax-credit benefit still shows up in that payroll run. That often makes the extra euro look less net-efficient than regular salary.

Why is the estimate different from my employer's payslip?

Employers can use payroll settings, pension deductions, Zvw, irregular-income treatment, or other components that are not fully modeled here. The calculator is an illustrative estimate, not a payroll replacement.

Why does my payslip show more wage tax than I expected in one month?

A single payroll month can reflect annualised withholding logic, irregular-income treatment, and the current position of tax credits. That can make one month look heavier than a rough average suggests.

Calculate your net salary

Use the calculator as the decision tool, then use the page sections below to compare the assumptions behind the estimate.

Official sources

Use the official pages below to verify the public rules behind the estimate and the example explanations.

Belastingdienst: Box 1 rates

Official rule

Official Dutch income-tax and national-insurance rate page used as the base for payroll-tax explanations and calculator assumptions.

Open source

Belastingdienst: 2026 general tax credit table

Official table

Official 2026 thresholds and phase-out table for the general tax credit used in salary estimates.

Open source

Belastingdienst: apply, change, or stop loonheffingskorting

Official guidance

Official page describing when loonheffingskorting may be applied through payroll and how to change the setting with an employer or benefits payer.

Open source

Business.gov.nl: holiday allowance

Official employment rule

Official government business guide explaining the statutory 8% holiday-allowance baseline used in salary examples.

Open source
Important: This page gives a general explanation and example scenarios. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules and amounts may change. Check official sources and your payslip or employer details.
Specific payroll setups, pension arrangements, or employer payroll methods can lead to different results.