The decision to delay the implementation of changes to the 30% ruling, the tax break given to a small group of international workers, cost the treasury some €750m, according to government documents, obtained under freedom of information legislation.

The government originally planned to cut the tax break from eight to five years in 2019 but agreed to a two-year transition to 2021 for current claimants following pressure from employers at both Dutch and international companies.

People arriving in the Netherlands since 2019 can only claim the tax break for five years.

The 30% ruling only applies to people actively recruited to work in the Netherlands from abroad and who meet certain salary limits.