Belgium explains 2014 Tax Audit Focus
The Belgian Tax Administration has declared the areas that will be the focus of its tax audits in 2014, to encourage taxpayers to correctly fulfill their tax obligations, and to increase voluntary tax compliance in Belgium. The aim is to increase
See MoreBelgian tax reform begin to emerge
In Belgium a consensus is arising that taxpayers should declare both their income from capital and income from labor in their income tax declaration. Advocates of this idea suggest that the income tax scale should be revised, to strengthen the
See MoreBelgium: Transfer pricing audits process
Likely high-risk targets for audits are highly leveraged companies, those with large tax losses carried forward, and those with fluctuating profits. Belgium has increased the number of transfer pricing audits and expanded the team of transfer
See MoreBelgium increases quarterly VAT return threshold
The normal rule is that VAT returns are submitted on a monthly basis in Belgium. There is however a quarterly filing option for smaller businesses whose turnover is below a certain threshold. The annual turnover threshold for companies
See MoreBelgium – Andorra DTA negotiations
Following a meeting on 14 January 2014, it has been confirmed that Belgium and Andorra will negotiate a double taxation agreement
See MoreBelgium: Simplified Tax Return
Belgium will extend the number of taxpayers eligible to receive a pre-completed, simplified income tax declaration; such tax returns will reduce and simplify reporting requirements for taxpayers. From the 2014 tax year the target group will include
See MoreBelgium: New tax rules on notional interest, small companies and withholding tax
The Official Gazette issue of 31 December 2013 notifies some new tax rules. The first measure aligns the rules relating to notional interest deductions (NID) with the judgment of the European Court of Justice in the Argenta Spaarbank case. The NID
See MoreBelgium: Rules for “self-billing” for VAT purposes
The Belgian fiscal administration has issued guidance on the application of a “self-billing” system for value added tax (VAT) purposes. The Belgian self-billing rules enable a customer to issue an invoice in respect of the supplier, for supplies
See MoreBelgium: Proposed changes to expatriate tax rules
The Belgian government has proposed legislation to amend the rules for determining the non-resident individual (personal) income tax as applicable to expatriates. Proposed changes include the repeal of personal exemptions for expatriates benefiting
See MoreBelgium: Increase in resident VAT registration threshold
Belgium has proposed an increase in the resident EU VAT registration threshold. This will rise to EUR 15,000 from the current EUR €5,580 at a date in early 2014 to be confirmed. The European Commission to reduce the compliance paperwork and
See MoreProtocol to treaty between Belgium and Japan
For the entry into force of the Protocol amending the Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) between Japan and Belgium, mutual notification procedures were completed on 27 November 2013. The Protocol will enter into force on December 27, and in the case of
See MoreBelgium: Cornerstones of savings tax reform is unveiled
A draft banking law is introduced by the Belgian Finance Minister.The Minister also confirmed has a plan to extend the favourable tax regime which is currently benefiting savings account interest in order include other types of savings and
See MoreBelgium increases withholding tax exemption for SME employers
A draft Royal Decree is approved by the Council of Ministers. It is relating to an increased exemption from professional wage-withholding tax (précompte professionnel) only for employers in the small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector. For
See MoreBelgium: Documentary proof for intra-community VAT exemption is clarified
The Belgian VAT office is compelled to change its guidance regarding the requirements for the application of the VAT exemption on intra-community supplies. To enable suppliers of goods or services a number of conditions are set out under the EU
See MoreBelgium: Royal Decree on tobacco tax rise
A draft Royal Decree, regarding tax rise on tobacco is approved by the Belgian Council of Ministers. As a result, the excise duty on cigarettes will be fixed at EUR 6.8914 (USD 9.2) per 1,000 pieces from 1 January 2014, and the special excise duty
See MoreBelgium: Enhancement of employers’ social security tax break
A draft Royal Decree is approved by the Council of Ministers of Belgium with a purpose to strengthen the structural reduction of employers’ social security contributions. An increased rate of structural reduction of employers’ social security
See MoreBelgium confirms withholding tax rate changes
Belgium has decided to reduce the rate of withholding tax levied on small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) dividends from 25 percent to 15 percent; and it is a confirmation from The Belgian Prime Minister. In order to encourage entrepreneurs to
See MoreBelgium: EC investigates R&D incentives, tax exemption
An “in-depth investigation” is launched which will determine whether Belgium’s implementation of a system of support for innovative companies i.e., research and development (R&D) incentives is consistent with the EU rules on state aid. It
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