The Amsterdam council has sent an urgent letter to Deputy Finance Minister Frans Weekers about his intention to limit the tax breaks currently enjoyed by expats.

A spokesperson for Mayor Eberhard van der Laan said that a number of companies have already expressed concern after a report on the intended measure was published in.

Mayor Van der Laan writes he fears for a deterioration of the Dutch knowledge economy and “our carefully constructed investment climate.” He expects international companies will move elsewhere when the limitations on expats’ tax breaks are introduced.

At present, expats working in the Netherlands pay no taxes over 30 percent of their income. In future, this tax break will only apply to workers earning more than 70,000 euros a year. International companies fear the measure will lead to a substantial increase in their salary costs.

(gsh)

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