Just for sh!ts and giggles. Netherlands €550/day Utrecht

[Angela_D]

I did a stint in Amsterdam 7 years ago but everything went through my UK Ltd. That's not on any more: I don't have one and this is potentially long-term project (well over 6 months).

Anyone (El Duder if I'm desperate) have current experience in NL ? What's the reasonable take-home on that rate ? High-risk, low-risk, no-risk. Its all about the net. I've learnt over the years that gross is just a number.

I think the 30% rule is still very much in effect. So the first 30% is tax-free as a foreigner who has moved to NL specifically to work ? Searching the board tells me that Dutchie accountants charge top whack.

It is 30 mins from Amsterdam CS as well and that could be a grind.

A.

[oxtailsoup]

Well Utrecht is easy to get to from Schiphol. Not a bind at all. Loads of trains straight from airport. IBIS hotels and the like are cheap at around 40/50 euros a night.

30% rule still applies. Can't claim normal expenses like travel and accom when using the 30% rule though. Dutch payroll companies are expensive.

If you have nothing better to do then take it.

[Clog II The Avenger]

The 30% rule only applies on your first job on arrival in the Netherlands. If you were using your limited company before did you register a as a resident? Best to conveniently forget about you first stint.

For my 2p’s worth I would like to go back regardless of any tax disadvantage just to get away from Blighty.

[Angela_D]

Never registered. To be honest:: I didn't even know it was expected. I was green.


Regarding the rate. Ball-park: what would you expect as take-home ?

[expat]

Well Utrecht is easy to get to from Schiphol. Not a bind at all. Loads of trains straight from airport. IBIS hotels and the like are cheap at around 40/50 euros a night.

There are no trains straight from Schipol to Utrecht at normal times, only a very few long-distance trains at odd hours stop at both: normally you have to change at Duivendrecht.

You would be hard put to it to find a hotel regularly at 50 euros a night in Utrecht. For example the Ibis Bizetlaan is currently showing 75€ for the night of 7/8/06 on hotels.nl; that's out of town, in Utrecht the 2-star Ouwi is 79 and the Hotel Little Siam is a little less on hotels.co.uk (note that these 2 sites often have different availability although they're both driven by hotels.com).

Nevertheless it is not inconvenient (take 1st class back to Schipol on Friday is it's rush-hour) and I'd much rather stay in Utrecht myself. Don't miss the Argentinian steakhouse on the Oude Gracht.

[Phoenix]

Never registered. To be honest:: I didn't even know it was expected. I was green.


Regarding the rate. Ball-park: what would you expect as take-home ?

How much are you expecting?

[Angela_D]

From 550 I would want at least 400 /day net. Is that reasonable in NL ?

[cab]

From 550 I would want at least 400 /day net. Is that reasonable in NL ?

Hi Angela,

I am a contractor who lives (and sometimes works) in the Netherlands.

Your net pay will be based on the package used by the company you work through, and most Dutch Clients prefer their contractors to use Dutch Umbrella companies for payroll, and your Client, or Employment Business may have negotiated special rates with one, which can cost as little as 150 euro per month. However, ideally I generally negotiate that the Employment Business pays the payroll charges.

Most Umbrella Companies operate a system whereby they withold "holiday pay" monthly (Dutch clients expect that even contractors take holidays) which they pay to you when you take an holiday, or at the end of the contract period, so of course this will reduce your bottom line. However, depending on the system they use you should expect your take home pay to be between 8,000 - 10,000 Euro per month (assuming you are accepted for the 30% Tax ruling), and the accrued holiday pay is useful when the contract ends.

Whichever payroll method you use I would advise that you employ a different Tax consultant to do your end of year return for the Belastingdienst (Dutch Tax Office) both to verify your payroll, and to ensure that you have received all the correct Tax benefits. Generally I get a refund from the Belastingdienst following the submission of my return. I use a company called Taxpat based in Amsterdam for my annual returns.

Good luck whatever you decide.

[BlasterBates]

Utrecht.....no

I mean there are better places than Utrecht

Good I suppose you could live in Amsterdam. But don't forget the Netherlands is flat, ....very flat and miles to the nearest hill.

Personally it would drive me up the wall.

[AlfredJPruffock]

Beware of contracting in Holland.