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There are a few countries who compete for residents.

For example, The Netherlands has a 30% tax advantage for all immigrants, for 5 years. Thats huuuuuge.

[1]: https://www.iamsterdam.com/en/live-work-study/living/officia...




Not all immigrants:

> Highly skilled migrants...


It also has among the happiest children in the world, which is why we're investigating moving there (happy for any advice or leads!)

Interestingly you can apparently, if you're careful about it, register your own foreign company there and avail of the 30% ruling so long as you register your company before you move. I have an Irish limited company and am working on figuring out how to do that so I can move to NL and avail of this tax benefit.


> From a tax perspective, the salary agreed upon between you and your employer will be reduced by 30%. In return, you receive a 30% allowance as reimbursement for expenses.

This is not at all a 30% tax advantage lol.


It actually works out better than 30%, quote is just an accounting game. You pay taxes on 70%, the top 30% is a tax free allowance. With a top marginal rate of ~50% it’s a massive savings.

Politically I think they originally justified it as covering expenses for people living in a new country (without having to declare e.g. trips home), but practically it’s a tool to help employers attract internationals and make it cheaper to offer internationally competitive salaries for professionals.


Imagine you and a local are both are paid €100k. The local gets €60,675.16 after tax.

The immigrant gets €77,281.98 annually after tax.

Thats 27% more money in your bank account for the same work done.

And there is another huge benefit for those moving from the USA... Any income from shares or overseas income are taxed at the USA tax rate rather than the dutch tax rate.


Isn't it saying that if you earn 100K, you will only be taxed as someone who earns 70K? That 30K is then an untaxed "allowance".


> Thats 27% more money in your bank account for the same work done.

A nitpick, but that's not "for the same work done", but for the same gross salary.

The benefit is in recognition of the extra home-making costs (and work) a highly skilled immigrant would have upon moving there.

A local would usually have local support system (friends, family, inheritance, knowledge of language...).




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