The eigenwoningforfait is an extra tax on home owners and is based on the property’s official local authority valuation (WOZ). In 2009, home-owners paid 0.8% of the WOZ value of their homes in extra tax – up to a maximum of €9,150. The tax was introduced years ago as an income equaliser because home owners were considered to be better off than tenants who pay rent. The actual effect of the eigenwoningforfait is to all but wipe out any benefits from the Netherlands’ very generous mortgage tax relief system.