Category News

As from tax year 2019 (income year 2018) self-employed individuals and independent contractors can benefit from the same business expense allowance as employees. Before, freelancers were always required to prove their actual business expenses, as it was not allowed for…

If you are an employee who lives in a property made available to you by your employer, or you are a director of a Belgian company that provides you with free living accommodation, such provision constitutes a taxable benefit in…

Last November, the EC took the next step in the infringement procedure against Belgium in respect to its current tax regime for real estate located abroad (see our news item of April 27, 2018). Belgium has already been convicted by…

Social security: extended interpretation of ‘salary’ Only recently, the Belgian authorities have amended their interpretation of the definition of ‘salary’ for social security purposes (Administrative instruction Nr. 2018/03). This new interpretation – not necessarily compliant with the letter of the…

In addition to making sure you report all income and only claim the deductions you qualify for, be aware that certain parts of your tax return tend to trigger more scrutiny. In an official communication last week, the tax authorities…

The Belgian law implementing a tax on securities accounts (TSA) has been adopted back in February 2018. As a reminder, the TSA is a new tax levied at the rate of 0.15% on the total value of in-scope securities held…

Already in 2007, the EC pointed out that an incompatibility arises from the different methods of calculating taxable income depending on whether the real estate is located in Belgium or in another EU country. In the latter case, as part…

In addition to your monthly or quarterly VAT filing, VAT payers are also required to file an annual return quoting their VAT taxable clients or customers (annual VAT sales listing). The deadline is 31 March of the calendar year following…

New exit rules for Belgian tax benefits: better to leave on the 15th instead of the 14th? Last week the Belgian tax authorities published an administrative guideline on the prorating and limitation of certain tax benefits, deductions and allowances in…

As from 2018, the standard corporate income tax rate in Belgium drops from 33.99% to 29.58%. That is a flat tax rate of 29% plus a 2% crisis surcharge. In 2020, the corporate tax rate will decrease even further to…