Deductions from your salary

The short answer

Read the payslip from gross to taxable pay, then from tax to the amount transferred. Tax, an employee pension contribution and a housing charge are different items. Ask what each line means and which period it covers.

Dutch minimum-wage rules restrict deductions and set-offs from the statutory minimum. Housing and health-insurance deductions have conditional exceptions. A signature does not automatically make every charge lawful. The correct treatment depends on the type of charge and the legal conditions, not just its label.

Give every deduction a category

Distinguish statutory payroll withholding, pension contributions, agreed living costs and corrections for earlier periods. The final bank amount cannot explain those categories on its own. Ask payroll for the calculation basis and the agreement behind an unfamiliar line. Save the explanation with the payslip for later comparisons.

Check the whole arrangement

Some arrangements change taxable pay or reimburse specific costs. Request an example showing the position with and without the arrangement and check effects on other wage-based amounts. A higher immediate net payment can coexist with costs or changed entitlements elsewhere, so compare the complete package.

What to do next

Match every deduction to a contract, policy, authorisation or other clear written basis.
Check the amount and frequency: a weekly charge is not the same as a monthly one.
Compare the bank transfer with the payslip and ask payroll in writing to correct unexplained differences.

A practical example

If a payslip says €120 housing for one week and another offer says €480 per month, convert the weekly cost first: €120 × 52 / 12 = €520. These are budget figures; the comparison does not approve either deduction.

Explore this topic

ET costs and salary exchange for migrant workers
Understand which extra cross-border costs are being reimbursed and what a salary exchange changes.

Questions people ask

What if I suspect underpayment?

Keep the payslip, employment agreement, time records and bank statement. Ask for a breakdown, then use the Netherlands Labour Authority reporting route if the issue concerns statutory underpayment or exploitation.

Is ET the same as the 30% expat scheme?

No. Actual extraterritorial-cost reimbursement and the expat scheme have different conditions. Ask which route is being used.

Does every agency use StiPP?

Do not assume so. Confirm the applicable provider and scheme with the employer.

Must every employer reimburse my commute?

Not automatically under one universal rate. Check the applicable contract, CAO and travel policy.

Is the agency or the customer my first contact?

Start with the legal employer in your contract. Include the customer’s approved time records where they support your claim.

Sources

Last verified: 4 October 2026. Sources are in Dutch or English.