Administrative circular on spin-off transactions
On April 20th, 2020, the Belgian Tax Administration issued the circular 2020/C/55 further detailing the tax treatment of spin-off transactions according to article 264, first paragraph, 4° of the BITC 92. Context As a reminder, the so-called spin-off transactions are not demerger transactions nor transactions assimilated to a demerger, as defined by article 2, §1,
New measures for open-ended public undertakings for collective investment against the consequences of the COVID-19 epidemic
Summary The Royal Decree of 22 April 2020 aims to protect open-ended public undertakings for collective investment (“UCIs”) against the consequences of the COVID-19 epidemic and in particular protect the liquidity of such UCIs. UCIs that are confronted with redemption requests of their units have to sell, often at unfavourable prices, positions in their portfolios
COVID-19 measures and write-downs on receivables by financial institutions, back to deductibility issues raised during the financial crisis?
Following the measures taken by the various governments in Belgium and abroad to fight against the spread of the Covid-19, it can be expected that credit institutions take write-downs on receivables. In this respect, the Belgian tax authorities have published a circular on this topic earlier this week. In a nutshell, the tax authorities have
Constitutional Court Annuls the Tax on Securities Accounts
By law of 7 February 2018, the legislator introduced a tax on securities accounts (“taks op de effectenrekeningen”/“taxe sur les comptes-titres”). Many petitions to annul this law have been introduced before the Constitutional Court. In its judgement dd. 17 October 2019, the Constitutional Court annulled the law (and thus the tax), but decided to maintain
Belgian Tax on Savings Income (art. 19bis BITC): Important Practice Note
Last week, the Belgian tax authorities published a practice note commenting on the scope of application of the Belgian Tax on Savings Income (or “Reynders Tax”). Capital Gains Tax. As a recall, the Belgian Tax on Savings Income (“BTSI”), also referred to as the Reynders Tax, (the main provision of which being “art. 19bis” of the Belgian Income Tax
Belgian Tax on Savings Income (art. 19bis BITC): important clarification from the Minister of Finance for certain AIFs
In answer to a recent parliamentary question, the Minister of Finance has shared his view on the extension of the scope of the Belgian Tax on Savings Income (art. 19bis BITC) to certain AIFs. According to him, if they were acquired before 1st January 2018, units of funds which hold investments that are not sufficiently
First step in AIFMD review has been undertaken by European Commission
On 10 January 2019, the European Commission published a Report on the operation of the alternative investment fund managers Directive (AIFMD). This report is a first step in the AIFMD review process and will ultimately lead to the revision of the rules. While emphasizing that AIFMD has globally been a key point in the development of
Belgian Tax on Securities Accounts: a Practice Note provides further guidance
The Belgian tax administration has issued on 25 May 2018 a (welcomed) Practice Note providing further guidance regarding the Belgian Tax on Securities Accounts (BTSA). For recall, the BTSA applies to (foreign) individuals holding one or several (Belgian) securities accounts which totalized (on average) more than 500.000 euros during the reference period. In such a
