[Until the end of 2021] Nearly all costs for career counseling are deductible, apart from travel expenses. There is a threshold at €250. The costs are only deductible if they have really been paid in the year for which the tax return is being filed. It is therefore important to pay the invoices in one tax year; otherwise, the €250 threshold will be taken into account twice.

A company often has a budget set aside for training costs and the personal development of employees. Discuss with your manager to what extent your organization considers coaching sessions to fall under this category as well. The chances are high that the company will pay the costs completely. You can also have a chat with the company’s Arbodienst or Occupational Health Service. In the framework of the Gatekeeper Improvement Act (the Wet Verbetering Poortwachter), a company will often be happy to work together with you, following a discussion with the company doctor. This is certainly the case when issues such as burn-out prevention, long-term absence through sickness, or reintegration are at hand.

For employers, career coaching falls under specific exemptions. The amount is deductible as a business expense. For entrepreneurs and freelancers, the costs may be included as entrepreneurial costs.

For more information, please visit the site of the Dutch Tax Administration. More here.

NB: No rights can be derived from this free information regarding tax regulations. Always consult your tax advisor. [This page was last updated in January 2023.]