The short answer
A tax rule allowing an employer to reimburse travel without wage tax does not itself require the employer to pay that amount. Your entitlement can come from the contract, CAO or employer’s travel policy.
A tax allowance is not an automatic wage right
Ask about the covered journey, transport method, qualifying days, distance method and any employee contribution. Keep commuting separate from travel required during the working day.
Compare the real cost of getting to work
Check whether an agency provides transport, charges for it or requires a contribution for a shared vehicle. A job with a higher hourly wage can leave less spending money if the commute is costly. Recalculate when the assignment location changes. Keep fares, agreed distances and workdays where needed to support a reimbursement claim.
What to do next
- Read the travel clause and applicable CAO or policy.
- List the actual transport cost and any agency charge.
- Compare reimbursements on the payslip with the agreed eligible journeys.
Offer A pays €0.50 more per hour for 40 hours but adds €35 a week in unreimbursed travel. The extra €20 gross is not enough to cover that €35 cash cost even before tax.
Questions people ask
Must every employer reimburse my commute?
Not automatically under one universal rate. Check the applicable contract, CAO and travel policy.
Is a tax-free maximum a compulsory payment?
No. Tax treatment and a contractual right to reimbursement are different questions.
Can agency transport have an employee charge?
Check the agreement and payslip breakdown. Any deduction must have a proper basis and comply with relevant wage protections.
What if my workplace moves farther away?
Ask whether distance, reimbursement and transport arrangements change. Recalculate the job’s practical costs before accepting assumptions.
Should travel reimbursement be included in gross salary comparison?
Show it separately, alongside the related expense. Reimbursement is not automatically equivalent to guaranteed base wages.
Sources
Last verified: 4 October 2026. Sources are in Dutch or English.