Learn the 2026 liquid reserve rules: 3-year waiting period, 10% tax at setup, and updated withholding taxes at payout.
Since 2025, new rules apply to the liquid reserve. This system allows entrepreneurs to set aside part of their profits and withdraw them later at a lower tax rate than a standard dividend. When a liquid reserve is set up, an anticipatory tax of 10% always applies, regardless of the regime.
From 2026, the waiting period is shortened from five to three years, and the tax rates at payout are adjusted. For reserves established before 2026, there is a choice: keep the old regime with five years waiting and 5% withholding tax (total tax 13.64%) or switch to the new regime with three years waiting and 6.5% withholding tax (total tax 15%). For reserves set up from 2026 onward, the waiting period is always three years, and the withholding tax is 9.8%. Early payouts are taxed at 30%, which together with the anticipatory tax leads to an effective tax rate of 36.36%.
Early payouts can sometimes be advantageous, for example for urgent personal needs, planned acquisitions, or repaying personal debts. The right choice depends on cash flow, timing, and fiscal strategy. Waiting is often the most fiscally advantageous option, but the overall picture determines when an early payout makes sense.