Home owners in the Netherlands enjoy an average tax advantage of €280 a month, according to calculations by the national statistics office CBS.

That is €20 down on 2012, due to lower mortgage interest rates and the fact more people are paying off their debt, the CBS says.

In total, the tax break on mortgages cost the treasury €14.2 bn last year and went to 4.2 million home owners.

Almost half of this went to people living in the two highest income bands. They are also responsible for paying 60% of the total income tax and social insurance premiums, the CBS pointed out.

The CBS figures do not appear to take into account the special tax all home owners face, known as the eigenwoningforfait. This tax is based on the value of the property. Last year, for example, someone with a property valued at €440,000 would have had to pay over €1,200 in home owners’ tax.