Revocation does not reinstate the one-time gift tax exemption
Introduction
Gifts from parents to children can be financially advantageous under Dutch tax law, particularly when using the one-time increased gift tax exemption. However, what happens if such a gift is later declared “void” or “revoked”? A recent ruling from the Court of Appeal in ’s-Hertogenbosch (ECLI:NL:GHSHE:2025:2709) clarifies that a revocation does not automatically allow the exemption to be used again.
The case
In 2008, a woman received a gift of €22,379 from her parents, recorded as a debt acknowledgment. She made use of the one-time increased exemption available at that time. No interest was ever paid on the debt. In 2017, the parents signed a declaration stating that the gift was revoked.
Later, in 2018 and 2019, the woman received additional gifts from her parents (€67,500 in 2018 and €33,300 in 2019) which she used to pay off her mortgage. For each year, she filed a gift tax return and claimed the homeownership exemption. The Dutch tax authorities disagreed, arguing that the exemption had already been used in 2008 and could not be applied again. The woman contended that the 2008 gift had been nullified by the revocation, reopening the exemption or qualifying her under a Dutch tax office knowledge group policy.
Court’s decision
The Court of Appeal ruled that the 2008 gift had not been legally rescinded or revoked. The mere absence of interest payments did not invalidate the gift, and the original agreement contained no clause allowing revocation. The later declaration of “revocation” therefore had no legal effect.
Because the 2008 gift remained valid, the one-time increased exemption had already been used and could not be applied again. For 2018, the woman was only entitled to the remaining homeownership exemption (€27,871) plus the regular annual exemption. By 2019, the increased exemption was fully closed.
The Court also rejected her reliance on the knowledge group policy, emphasizing that it only applies to cases where the gift explicitly includes a right of revocation or a dissolving condition, which was not the case here.
What this means for taxpayers
This ruling highlights the importance of precise legal and fiscal documentation in family gifting arrangements. Once a one-time gift exemption is used, it cannot be revived simply by declaring the gift void. A formal right of revocation or dissolution clause is required for that possibility to exist.
Careful planning and clear documentation are essential to ensure full and correct use of tax exemptions.