3.6 Deferred income tax assets and liabilities

Accounting policies

Deferred tax assets and liabilities arising from temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and the tax base of assets and liabilities are calculated using the substantively enacted tax rates expected to apply when they are realised or settled. Deferred tax assets are recognised if it is probable that they will be realised. At the end of each reporting period the amounts of deferred tax assets and the amounts of unrecognised deferred tax assets are reassessed. Deferred tax assets and liabilities within the same tax group, where a legally enforceable right to offset exists, are presented net in the balance sheet.

PostNL has applied a temporary mandatory exception from deferred tax accounting for the impacts of the top-up tax and accounts for it as a current tax when it is incurred.

The following table shows the movements in deferred taxes in 2025:

PostNL Statement of changes deferred taxes in € million

Of the deferred tax assets at 31 December 2025, before offsetting, €23 million (2024: €58 million) is to be recovered within 12 months and €121 million (2024: €72 million) after 12 months. Of the deferred tax liabilities at 31 December 2025, before offsetting, an amount of €40 million (2024: €39 million) is to be settled within 12 months and an amount of €120 million (2024: €121 million) after 12 months.

The other changes of €2 million (2024: €(0) million) represent an adjustment of the Dutch deferred tax asset position in connection with the finalized liquidation of the former Nexive entities.

The total accumulated losses available for carry forward at 31 December 2025 amounted to €246 million (2024: €95 million). The increase is caused by tax losses incurred in the years 2023 and 2025; years in which we recognised liquidation losses in connection with the unwinding of our Nexive (Italy) and Postcon (Germany) organisations.

With these losses carried forward, future tax benefits of €63 million could be recognised (2024: €25 million). Tax deductible losses give rise to deferred tax assets at the statutory tax rate in the relevant country. Deferred tax assets are recognised if it is probable that they will be realised. The probability of the realisation is impacted by uncertainties regarding the realisation of such benefits, for example as a result of the expiration of tax losses carried forward and projected future taxable income.

As a result, PostNL has not recognised €17 million (2024: €17 million) of the potential future tax benefits and has recorded deferred tax assets of €46 million at 31 December 2025 (2024: €8 million).

The expiration of total accumulated losses is as follows:

• 2026: €0 million
• 2027: €0 million
• 2028: €0 million
• 2029: €0 million
• 2030 and thereafter: €4 million, and
• Indefinite: €242 million.

The table on the above right shows the accumulated losses and tax credits per jurisdiction as well as the corresponding gross deferred tax assets.

PostNL Statement of deferred tax assets per jurisdiction in € million

The table below shows the movements in deferred taxes in 2024:

PostNL Statement of changes deferred taxes in € million