⚡️🇳🇱 NEW - Dutch Parliament Member Michel Hoogeveen explains how the 36% unrealized capital gains tax, just passed by the House of Representatives, will work. Here is a more detailed example: ➥ Step 1. Starting position You own 500 shares. Value on Jan 1, 2028: €50,000 Value on Jan 1, 2029: €100,000 So the paper gain is: €100,000 − €50,000 = €50,000 unrealized profit You did not sell. But for tax purposes, that €50,000 is treated as income. ➥ Step 2. Apply exemption You are married, so you get a €3,600 exemption. €50,000 − €3,600 = €46,400 taxable amount Tax rate: 36% €46,400 × 36% = €16,704 tax bill That bill is due in May, even though you never sold anything. ➥ Step 3. Market falls before you pay Now suppose by May the shares drop in value. New total value: €60,000 So your portfolio is no longer worth €100,000. It’s worth €60,000. But the tax bill is still €16,704, because it was calculated based on the January 1 valuation. ➥ Step 4. You must sell shares to pay tax To raise €16,704, you sell part of your shares. After paying the tax, you’re left with: €60,000 − €16,704 = €43,296 Originally you had 500 shares. Now you have 360 shares left. You were forced to sell 140 shares. 140 ÷ 500 = 28% of your shares gone. ➥ Step 5. What happened economically? Before the correction: Paper gain was €50,000. After the correction: Portfolio is worth €60,000. Original cost basis was €50,000. Real gain is only €10,000. But you paid €16,704 in tax. So instead of being up €10,000, you are now: €43,296 − €50,000 = €6,704 below your original starting value. You turned a €10,000 real gain into a €6,704 net loss. And you lost 28% of your shares permanently.