From 1 January 2017, endowment policies can be surrendered tax-free in more circumstances. In our article Surrendering a home equity insurance policy You can find out exactly what endowment insurance entails. You can also find out in which situations the so-called time constraints are no longer applied.
Tax plans for 2017
The decision not to use time constraints in more situations was part of the tax plans for 2017. During the debate on these bills, the House of Representatives adopted an amendment to remove the time limits in all situations.
In a statement, State Secretary Wiebes said letter The House is aware that he has tabled this amendment as of 1 April 2017 wishes to bring into force. If the House has no objections, this will be implemented by Royal Decree.
Surrender of an endowment policy
It is not expected that the removal of the time restrictions will lead to a mass redemption of endowment policies. In many cases, it is estimated that DNB and AFM are not in the best interests of the insured person(s). In many cases, the surrender value of an endowment policy is considerably lower than its actual value. However, this must be weighed against the return that could be achieved by using the surrender value and the premiums no longer due in other ways.
More importantly, endowment insurance is almost always part of your financial planning. This planning is usually carried out – whether consciously or not – in the context of financing the purchase of a (replacement) home. After all, this involves calculating whether the monthly costs associated with the property can be met over the term of the loan. The premium for and the payout from the endowment policy play a role in this.
It is a good idea to review your financial situation and financial planning every few years. If you are considering surrendering your endowment policy, this is certainly a good time for a thorough reassessment.
Mixed insurance
Endowment insurance often takes the form of what is known as a mixed insurance. It consists of a savings insurance policy and a term life insurance policy.
On the one hand, the insurance is intended to help you save the amount needed to repay the mortgage on your home at the end of the term (savings insurance). The surrender value of the endowment policy is not always sufficient to repay the loan in full. The remaining amount must then be covered by other means.
On the other hand, the insurance provides a payout should one of the partners die (term life insurance). This death benefit is then used to (partially) repay the loan, thereby reducing the monthly costs for the surviving partner. When the combined insurance policy is paid off, you may wish to consider taking out a separate life assurance policy. In that case, ensure that this policy is structured in the most tax-efficient way.