Pension Equalization (Pensioenverevening)
Pension equalization is the legal division of pension rights built up during marriage or registered partnership. Under the Pension Equalization Act (Wvps), your ex-partner is entitled to half of the pension you accrued during the marriage, and vice versa. Important: you must report the pension equalization to your pension fund within 2 years of the divorce. The fund will then pay your ex-partner directly later. If you miss this deadline, you must arrange the settlement privately between yourselves. The tax consequence is that the pension payment is taxed as income in box 1 for the recipient.
Example
You were married for 20 years and built up €400 per month in pension during that period. Upon divorce, your ex-partner is entitled to half: €200 per month. You report this to your pension fund within 2 years. When you later retire, the fund pays €200 per month directly to your ex-partner. Your ex pays income tax on this themselves.
Why does this matter?
Pension equalization has significant long-term financial consequences. The 2-year deadline for reporting to your pension fund is crucial — missing it makes the arrangement much more difficult. A tax advisor can help calculate the impact on your future pension income and tax burden.
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