For specific 'tax-friendly purposes,' employers are allowed to transfer part of the salary tax-free. In addition to sports, courses, or a new bicycle, for example, the tax authorities also contribute to the setup of a home office, union dues, or extra travel expenses.

Expanded

The student loan was usually not included in that list, noted the CNV Youth union last year. However, this is starting to change, reports RTL Nieuws. At the request of the unions, several organizations such as the Dutch government, ProRail, ING, KPN, the UWV, and Schiphol have expanded the so-called gross/net arrangement with approval from the tax authorities to also include DUO student loan repayments.

The amount that can be used for repaying the student loan varies by employer. At KPN, it's 5,000 euros every two years, while at the Dutch government, it's 2,000 euros per year.

Calculator

RTL Nieuws offers a calculator to estimate the tax benefit. If someone repays in this way for years, they can have about half of their student loan reimbursed through the tax authorities. However, this money can no longer be used for other tax-friendly purchases, such as a bicycle.