Possible reimbursements for career coaching, life coaching and return-to-work guidance

Many Dutch Collective Labour Agreements (CAO) include a budget for training or coaching. This gives employees the right to a certain amount to spend on (career) coaching — after discussing it with their employer or manager. Be sure to check your CAO specifications on this topic. You can find an overview of all Dutch CAOs here.

Many employers provide employees with an individual training or development budget that can be used to cover coaching, training or education. As an employee, this budget is there for you to use. Often, the coaching journey is covered in its entirety. Sometimes, you will have to pay part of the costs yourself. Discuss with your manager or someone from HR how you would like to invest in your growth or employability. In cases of (impending) stress or burnout, this could also be an occupational health physician (the Dutch bedrijfsarts).

T42 Coaching & Training can assist by providing a proposal, based on your coaching goal, that clearly outlines what a coaching programme would look like, how it would enhance your performance at work, and the amount of guidance involved. Once your employer approves, you can start your coaching journey.

Employees are valuable. That’s why many employers are open to supporting you when you wish to work on yourself. A better personal life, improved mental well-being and better health will also make you more effective at work and help prevent unnecessary prolonged absence. Contributing to the costs of coaching can therefore also benefit employers. Consider discussing the available options with your employer, manager, or someone from HR.

T42 Coaching & Training can assist by providing a proposal, based on your coaching goal, that clearly outlines what a coaching programme would look like, how it would enhance your performance at work, and the amount of guidance involved. Once your employer approves, you can start your coaching journey.

Many industries have sector-level Training and Development funds that provide financial support for employee education and training. This often includes career coaching. Your employer can apply for this support on your behalf. You can find an overview of all Dutch Training & Development funds here.

For civil servants, there are similar Arbeids- en Ontwikkelingsfondsen — Labour and Development Funds. For example, the A+O fonds Rijk for national government employees provides a free career scan by a career coach every five years through the Regeling loopbaanadvies, a career advice scheme.

In the creative or cultural sector, Werktuig Permanente Professionele Ontwikkeling (PPO) can contribute to the costs of professional development and career opportunities. PPO supports both employees and those seeking work in cultural and creative organisations, as well as self-employed professionals, provided they are registered in one of the following sectors: arts, heritage, media, or the creative industry. PPO finances one-third of your development plan, with a maximum (in 2025) of €2,250 per 12 months (including VAT). Your employer/client must also contribute one-third. The remaining one-third is your responsibility. Note: You must apply for the contribution, make all arrangements, and advance the costs yourself. Then, you submit a claim to PPO.

Through the so-called SLIM scheme, the Dutch government makes funds available for learning and development in small and medium-sized enterprises, als well as in large companies in agriculture, hospitality, and recreation. Employers can apply for a budget for activities such as career advice or improving employees’ skills. So be sure to discuss this with your manager, HR, or employer.

For business owners and self-employed professionals, coaching may be tax-deductible for income tax or corporate tax purposes if it can be demonstrated that the coaching is intended to maintain or improve professional knowledge and skills.

For freelancers and self-employed professionals, the hours spent also count towards the Dutch hours criterion — a requirement for the tax deduction for the self-employed. VAT-registered professionals can reclaim the VAT. The Dutch Tax Authorities assess the deductibility of costs based on the purpose for which they were incurred. Costs must be fully incurred with your business interests in mind, but as an entrepreneur, you are free to determine which expenses qualify. If coaching helps you improve your personal performance in a way that is crucial for your business, these are fully deductible costs for a self-employed professional. (If coaching is more about broadening your knowledge, the tax authorities may consider it a personal expense, which might be deductible as educational expenses for private purposes. In that case, the hours do not count towards the hours criterion.)

Always consult with your accountant on how to interpret the rules for your specific situation.

If you would like the support of a coach to help you return to work after illness or burnout, there may be options under the Gatekeeper Improvement Act. Discuss possibilities for supporting a coaching programme with your case manager and/or occupational health physician.

If you have disability insurance, it will likely cover the full cost of a return-to-work coaching programme. Check with your insurer to confirm.

If you receive a sickness or disability benefit from the Dutch Employee Insurance Agency (UWV), but are ready to start returning to work, UWV will likely approve return-to-work coaching. Work with your labour expert or UWV consultant to find out what is possible.

In many cases — but not always — UWV requires that your coach also has a contract with UWV. At present, T42 Coaching and Training does not.

Do you receive an unemployment benefit from UWV? There may be options to help improve your employability. UWV will often cover coaching if it helps you return to work and remain sustainably employable. Coaching can support you in discovering what suitable work looks like for you, and how you might find it. Work with your labour expert or UWV consultant to find out what is possible.

In many cases — but not always — UWV requires that your coach also has a contract with UWV. At present, T42 Coaching and Training does not.

A personal budget (PGB) can be requested from your local municipality, health insurer, or regional care office — depending on the type of care you require. For more details, visit the Dutch government website.

Both career coaching and return-to-work mentoring can qualify as a ‘leertraject’ (a ‘learning programme’ aimed at acquiring knowledge under supervision or guidance), and therefore are deductible as training costs for income tax purposes (including VAT, excluding travel costs, with a threshold of €250). This may result in a refund of 30-50% of the costs incurred. The coaching must be related to income generation and/or improving your position in the labour market, for example, when seeking new work or improving your performance at work.

Please visit the Belastingdienst (Dutch Tax Authorities) website for more information: Conditions for deducting study costs and other training expenses or call the Tax Authorities (‘Belastingtelefoon‘) at 0800 – 0543.