What was the jubelton and how much could you receive?
The jubelton was a one-time exemption that allowed you to receive over a hundred thousand euros tax-free. Your parents could give you this amount to purchase your own home. Its official name was the "one-time increased exemption for owner-occupied homes." This amount decreased rapidly in recent years.
In 2022, you could still receive over a hundred thousand euros tax-free. A year later, less than thirty thousand euros remained. As of 2024, the exemption for owner-occupied homes no longer exists.
The jubelton had specific conditions for the recipient. You had to be between 18 and 40 years old. The money had to be used for the purchase, renovation, or mortgage repayment of your home. Filing a gift tax return was mandatory, even if you didn't owe any tax.
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Why does the jubelton no longer exist?
The jubelton was phased out because the legislature scrapped the exemption in two steps. First, the amount was significantly reduced in 2023. As of January 1, 2024, the exemption was abolished entirely.
The scheme was unfair to first-time buyers. You could only receive the jubelton if your parents could afford to give it. Those without such parents missed out on the benefit entirely, forcing them to buy their first home without a large gift.
Since the abolition of the jubelton, that specific exemption no longer exists. Your parents can still give you money for your purchase, but it now falls under the standard exemptions, which are significantly lower.
What can you receive instead of the jubelton since 2024?
Instead of the jubelton, you can now use the one-time increased gift exemption. This exemption is for general use, so you are free to spend the amount on your home. Additionally, your parents can give you a fixed amount tax-free every year. That amount is lower than the one-time exemption.
The table below compares the 2026 amounts with the old jubelton.
You can only use the one-time increased exemption once in your lifetime. If you choose to use it, the annual exemption for that year is forfeited. Above the exemption, you pay 10% gift tax on amounts up to €158,669. All amounts are also listed in our article on tax-free gifting for your first home.
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Can your parents still help you without the tax-free gift?
Yes, your parents can still help you with your first home. They can gift you an amount or lend you money. Both options affect your mortgage application differently.
In practice, parents have three options for this:
- A gift counts as your own capital, which means you need to borrow less.
- A family mortgage is a loan from your parents, which you pay back with interest.
- A combination of gifting and lending spreads the amount across both routes.
Put every agreement in writing, as your bank will want to see the source of the funds. A written gift agreement prevents the bank from viewing the amount as a loan. A loan reduces your borrowing capacity, whereas a gift does not. You can read about how a family mortgage affects your application in our article on the subject. A notary can formalize the agreements for you.
You can also discuss which route is right for you. To do so, sign up for free as a homeup buyer.
What does the end of the tax-free gift mean for first-time buyers?
For first-time buyers, the end of the tax-free gift means contributing more of your own money. This creates a gap where the large gift used to be. Existing homeowners fill that gap with the proceeds from their previous home. As a first-time buyer, you don't have those proceeds. You will notice this especially with the costs that you cannot include in your mortgage.
When buying a home, most of your own money goes towards closing costs. These include notary fees, the appraisal , and property transfer tax. Your mortgage does not cover these costs, so you pay them out of pocket. That is why you should calculate in advance how much of your own money you will need.
Two schemes significantly reduce these costs for first-time buyers. With the first-time buyer exemption , you pay no property transfer tax, provided you meet all the requirements. In addition, many municipalities offer a starter loan . Check the Loan Checker from the Stimuleringsfonds Volkshuisvesting (SVn) to see if your municipality participates.
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What if you have already received a tax-free gift for a home?
A tax-free gift received before 2024 had to be spent on time. The deadline was two calendar years after the initial gift. For a gift received in 2022, this meant by the end of 2024 at the latest. If you received it in 2023, the deadline was December 31, 2025.
Both deadlines will have passed by 2026. If you did not use the gifted amount in time, you must report it. The Tax and Customs Administration will then calculate gift tax on the remaining amount. Therefore, discuss your situation with the Tax and Customs Administration or an advisor.
We are a housing platform and buying agent, not tax specialists. We only calculate what the amount means for your purchase, so you know how much you can offer without depleting your savings.
How does homeup help you buy your first home?
homeup helps you secure your financing before you start bidding. You can choose between two services: purchase guidance on the open market costs €2999, while guidance for an exclusive property costs €5999. You only pay upon transfer of the keys.
As a buying agent we provide you with:
- A free initial mortgage consultation, in which we incorporate any gifts or loans.
- A mortgage certificate, ensuring your financing is in place before you start your search.
- Review of your legal documents, from the purchase agreement to the attachments.
- A bidding strategy and a bid on your behalf, based on market value research.
All buyers on the homeup platform are pre-screened financially. This gives sellers confidence that the sale will not fall through due to financing issues. As a result, homeup buyers purchase a home an average of three months faster. Also read our explanation about the first-time buyer schemes for your first home. You can register for freeright away, or ask your question via our contact page.
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