Update COVID-19 and cross-border employment: agreement with the Netherlands extended
In our newsflash of 28 August 2020 we announced the extension of the mutual agreement between Belgium and the Netherlands, which includes a “force majeure tolerance” for cross-border workers in relation to COVID-19 (travel) restrictions. The number of officially registered COVID-19 infections in Europe is still significant. Home working has become the new normal and
Update COVID-19 and cross-border employment: agreement with France extended
We refer to our newsflash of 1 September 2020 in which we announced the extension until 31 December 2020 of the mutual agreement between Belgium and France, which includes a “force majeure tolerance” for cross-border workers in relation to COVID-19 (travel) restrictions. Currently, most European countries (including Belgium and France) are trying to overcome “the
Cadastral income for properties abroad?
On 12 November 2020 the European Court of Justice (ECJ) imposed a lump-sum fine of EUR 2 million and a daily penalty of EUR 7.500 for each day that the Belgian tax authorities continue to maintain a difference in tax treatment for rental income depending on whether the property is located in Belgium or abroad.
Update – American Belgians risk losing their Belgian bank account
As stated in our newsflash of 23 August 2019, Belgians with the American nationality risk losing their Belgian bank accounts because of the strict application of the U.S. FATCA-legislation. In reply to a recent parliamentary question, the Minister of Finance provided further input on this matter going forward. Accidental Americans In application of the Foreign
Further details on the tax measures of the Vivaldi government
Introduction The program law regarding the budget statement of 2021 has recently been issued by the Belgian Vivaldi government. Again an opportunity for the PwC tax reform news room to highlight the most important tax measures that have been introduced from a personal, corporate and indirect tax perspective. Personal tax Non-indexation of fiscal amounts For
Commission refers Belgium to the European Court of Justice: deduction of alimony payments for non-residents
As stated in a press release on 30 October 2020, the European Commission decided to refer Belgium to the Court of Justice of the European Union regarding its legislation on the deductibility of alimony payments from the taxable income of non-resident taxpayers. According to current Belgian legislation, alimony payments cannot be deducted from the taxable
Circular letter published on consumption cheques
As mentioned in our newsflash of 9 june 2020, the federal government has agreed that employers will be able to grant consumption cheques to their employees to support the sectors most affected by the corona crisis. On 22 October, the Belgian Tax Authorities have published an administrative guideline clarifying some practicalities for employers to offer
Expatriate tax regime: educational expenses can be reimbursed tax-free as from the age of 5 (3rd kindergarten)
The compulsory school age throughout Belgium has been lowered from 6 years to 5. As from September 2020, all children that reach the age of 5 are considered of school age. This can also have an impact for companies employing foreigners under the special tax regime for foreign executives and specialists in Belgium. Costs proper
