Utrecht plans to scrap €101.20 dog tax from 2027

Utrecht's council cabinet wants to abolish dog tax, which dog owners in the city currently pay at €101.20 a year. The change is in next year's budget, so Utrecht residents will probably no longer pay it from 2027.

The city is raising the property tax (onroerendezaakbelasting) and the tourist tax at the same time. The college of mayor and aldermen, which runs the city, says this is needed to spread the tax burden more fairly.

The executive said: "That way we make sure the broadest shoulders bear the heaviest burden and as much money as possible goes towards delivering our plans for the city."

This way we make sure the strongest shoulders carry the heaviest burden and as much money as possible goes to carrying out our plans in the city.Utrecht college of mayor and aldermen

The Utrecht municipal council votes on the budget on Thursday. The abolition of dog tax is part of that budget, so the vote decides whether dog owners stop paying the €101.20 from 2027.

The property tax and tourist tax rises are in the same budget for next year, so Thursday's vote covers all three changes together. The executive has presented the package as a way to share the tax burden more fairly across the city, not as a cut for dog owners alone.