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Healthcare Tax Deductions Netherlands 2025

Guide to deducting healthcare costs in the Netherlands. Learn about qualifying expenses, thresholds, and planning strategies.

10 min read
1,950 words
Updated: 2025-12-12

Table of Contents

  1. 1.Qualifying Healthcare Expenses
  2. 2.Threshold Calculation
  3. 3.Planning Your Deductions
  4. 4.Chronic Illness Allowance
  5. 5.Medical Transport Costs

1.Qualifying Healthcare Expenses

Threshold Percentage

1.7%

Of taxable income

Minimum Threshold

€149

For lowest incomes

Specific healthcare costs (specifieke zorgkosten) can be deducted if they exceed the income-based threshold.

Deductible Expenses

  • Medical expenses not covered by insurance
  • Prescription medicines (not over-the-counter)
  • Dental care above insurance coverage
  • Glasses, contact lenses (one pair per 3 years)
  • Hearing aids
  • Medical equipment and aids
  • Home modifications for disability
  • Extra clothing/bedding for medical reasons
  • Diet costs for medical conditions
  • Travel to medical appointments

Non-Deductible

  • Health insurance premiums (except specific policies)
  • Cosmetic procedures (unless medically necessary)
  • Alternative medicine (unless prescribed by doctor)
  • General wellness/fitness

Documentation Required

  • Keep all receipts and invoices
  • Get medical necessity letters from doctors
  • Insurance statements showing what was/wasn't covered

Quick Summary

  • Threshold: 1.65% of taxable income
  • Only expenses above threshold are deductible
  • Covers dental, glasses, hearing aids, transport
  • Must NOT be covered by insurance
Calculate your deduction

Proof of Payment

  • Receipts for medical expenses
  • Bank statements showing payments
  • Invoices from healthcare providers

Medical Necessity

  • Prescriptions from doctor
  • Medical referral letters
  • Treatment plans (for ongoing care)

Insurance Documents

  • Insurance rejection letter
  • Proof of own risk payment
  • Annual insurance summary

Practical Tips

Your healthcare expenses exceed the threshold and are deductible.

Action Steps

  • 1.Collect receipts for all qualified medical expenses
  • 2.Include uninsured dental costs, prescription glasses, hearing aids
  • 3.Add costs for transportation to medical appointments
  • 4.Consider expenses for specific dietary requirements due to illness
  • 5.Pool expenses with fiscal partner for maximum deduction

2.Threshold Calculation

Healthcare deductions only apply above an income-based threshold.

2025 Thresholds:

Income RangeThreshold Calculation
Up to €9,534€149.00 flat
€9,534 - €50,6351.65% of income
Above €50,635€753.00 + 5.75% of income above threshold

Example Calculations:

Income €30,000

  • Threshold: €30,000 × 1.65% = €495
  • If your costs are €1,500
  • Deductible: €1,500 - €495 = €1,005

Income €70,000

  • Base: €753.00
  • Plus: (€70,000 - €50,635) × 5.75% = €1,114
  • Total threshold: €1,867
  • If your costs are €3,000
  • Deductible: €3,000 - €1,867 = €1,133

Uplift for Certain Groups

  • AOW age or older: Threshold reduced by factor 1.13
  • Under AOW with income below €40,502: Threshold × 0.4
Healthcare Expense Thresholds 2025
Income RangeThreshold
€0 - €9,534€149
€9,535 - €50,6351.65% of income
€50,636+€753 + 5.75% above

Healthcare Deduction Example

Scenario: Income €40,000, medical expenses €3,000
Medical expenses
€3,000
Threshold (1.65% × €40,000)
-€660
Deductible amount
€2,340

3.Planning Your Deductions

Strategic timing can maximize your healthcare deductions.

Bunching Strategy

  • Combine multiple treatments in one tax year
  • If costs won't exceed threshold this year, delay if possible
  • Or accelerate next year's costs to this year if threshold exceeded

Examples

  • Dental work: Schedule major work in same year as other medical costs
  • Glasses: Time purchase to year with other medical expenses
  • Elective procedures: Choose timing strategically

Family Coordination

  • Fiscal partners combine medical expenses
  • Allocate to partner with lower income (lower threshold)
  • Include costs for minor children

Documentation Tips: 1. Create medical expense folder per tax year 2. Request itemized invoices 3. Get insurance rejection letters in writing 4. Keep travel logs for medical appointments 5. Get diet necessity certificates renewed annually

Deadline Awareness

  • Deductions claimed in year costs were incurred
  • Can correct past returns up to 5 years
1

Collect receipts throughout the year

Keep all medical expense receipts organized by date and category.

Ongoing
2

Request insurance rejection letters

For expenses not covered, get written confirmation from your insurer.

When needed
3

Calculate if you exceed threshold

Add up all qualifying expenses and subtract your income-based threshold.

End of year
4

Claim in tax return

Enter the deductible amount in your tax return under "specifieke zorgkosten".

Tax filing season

Calculate Your Tax Benefit

See how healthcare deductions affect your overall tax refund or payment.

Calculate now

Practical Tips

Plan your healthcare expenses to maximize deduction potential.

Action Steps

  • 1.Track all medical expenses - they must exceed the threshold to be deductible
  • 2.Bundle multiple treatments in one tax year if possible
  • 3.Include travel costs to medical appointments ([[thuiswerk.travelAllowancePerKm]]/km)
  • 4.Special diets for medical conditions may qualify
  • 5.Don't forget pharmacy costs not covered by insurance
  • 6.Include mobility aids and home modifications for health

4.Chronic Illness Allowance

Additional deductions available for chronic illness or disability.

Extra Deductible Costs

  • Extra clothing and bedding: Fixed amount based on condition
  • Extra washing costs: Fixed amount
  • Home care beyond insurance: Per-hour or per-day rates
  • Disability-related travel: Enhanced rates

2025 Rates

  • Daily care allowance: €12.00/day for intensive care
  • Travel rate: €0.21/km (disability travel)
  • Medical transport: €0.23/km
  • Annual medical transport allowance: €925

Requirements

  • Medical documentation of chronic condition
  • Proof that expenses are above what insurance covers
  • Evidence that costs are ongoing

Obtaining Documentation

  • Request condition attestation from specialist
  • Get insurance coverage statements
  • Document ongoing nature of expenses

Tip: Chronic conditions often qualify for WMO (municipal support) as well. Check with your gemeente for additional support.

Practical Tips

If you have chronic health conditions, you may qualify for additional deductions beyond regular healthcare expenses.

Action Steps

  • 1.Document ongoing medical conditions
  • 2.Claim 'extra kosten arbeidsongeschiktheid' if applicable
  • 3.Consider diet costs for medical conditions
  • 4.Include recurring medication costs
  • 5.Check for assistive devices deduction

5.Medical Transport Costs

Medical Transport Rate

€0.23

Per kilometer

Travel to medical appointments can be deducted under specific conditions.

2025 Rates

  • Own car: €0.23/km
  • Taxi/medical transport: Actual costs
  • Public transport: Actual costs
  • Parking at medical facilities: Actual costs

What Qualifies

  • Travel to hospitals, clinics, doctors
  • Travel to pharmacies for prescription collection
  • Travel for therapies (physio, psychologist, etc.)
  • Travel for medical device fitting/adjustment

Documentation

  • Keep a travel log: Date, destination, purpose, distance
  • Save parking receipts
  • Keep PT tickets/confirmations
  • Medical appointment confirmations

Annual Allowance: General medical transport allowance of €925 may apply if your documented transport costs are significant.

If regular transport isn't possible due to disability:

Disability Transport

  • Higher reimbursement rates may apply
  • Special medical transport (Valys) partially covered
  • Taxi costs may be deductible if medically necessary

Calculation Example: 12 hospital visits × 50km round trip × €0.23 = €138 Plus parking: 12 × €5 = €60 Total: €198 deductible (if above threshold)

Practical Tips

Travel to medical appointments, hospitals, and therapy is deductible at [[healthcare.transportRate]] or actual public transport costs.

Action Steps

  • 1.Keep a log of all medical trips: date, destination, km
  • 2.[[healthcare.transportRate]] for car travel or actual public transport costs
  • 3.Include trips to: doctor, hospital, pharmacy, therapy
  • 4.Trips for chronically ill family members may also qualify
  • 5.Combine with other healthcare costs to exceed threshold
  • 6.Parking at hospitals also deductible

Calculate It Yourself

Use our free calculators to calculate your personal situation:

Gross To Net

Related Guides

Dutch Tax Credits 2025 Guide
ZZP Tax Deductions Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Official Sources

Information verified with government websites

  • Tax Administration - Healthcare Costs

    Deductible healthcare expenses and thresholds

    www.belastingdienst.nl

Disclaimer

This guide is intended for general informational purposes and does not constitute personal tax advice. Please consult a tax advisor for advice on your specific situation.

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