Update on the Belgian Stock Exchange Tax (TOB/beurstaks)
Recently, several modifications of the Belgian Stock Exchange Tax regime (TOB/beurstaks) have been enacted. For recall, this tax generally applies to secondary market transactions (with the exception of redemptions of own units by certain investment funds) concerning certain financial instruments entered into by Belgian investors, be it through a Belgian or a foreign financial intermediary.
Act published modifying the Belgian Net Asset Tax
Update – As announced in our Newsflash of 27 June 2017, the Belgian annual tax on undertakings for collective investment (the Belgian ‘Net Asset Tax’ or ‘NAT’) would be adapted with the following measures: Introduction of a reduced tax rate of 0.01% on institutional share classes of foreign undertakings for collective investment (provided the units
Refund requests of Belgian WHT filed by non-residents: administrative guidance published
The Belgian tax administration has just published on its website a guidance (FR/NL) related to refund requests of Belgian WHT on dividends, interest and royalties filed by non-resident taxpayers. In particular, the Belgian tax administration has made a distinction between refund requests of Belgian WHT based on Double Tax Treaties and those based on Belgian
Belgian tax reform: impact on the FS industry
On 26 July 2017, the Belgian federal government reached an agreement on an important corporate tax reform. The contemplated changes go far beyond corporate tax as they also have a direct impact on the taxation of financial products, hence on the FS industry in general. Wealth Management Belgian Tax on Savings Income (art. 19bis ITC)
Reduced Belgian net asset tax rate soon also for foreign institutional funds
A recent bill of law on various financial and tax provisions aims at adapting the Belgian annual tax on undertakings for collective investment (the Belgian ‘Net Asset Tax’ or ‘NAT’), in particular at the level of the tax rate applicable to foreign institutional funds. As a reminder, the Belgian NAT standard rate is currently 0.0925%.
Belgian Tax on Stock-Exchange Transactions: Action for Annulment before the Constitutional Court
Last week, the Belgian financial press referred to an upcoming action for annulment of the Program Act of 25 December 2016 providing for enlarging the scope of the Belgian tax on stock exchange transactions to transactions carried out through foreign financial intermediaries (see among others L’Echo and De Tijd of 20 June 2017). As per
Belgian Tax on Stock Exchange Transactions: Capitalising v. Distributing Shares
The Finance Minister recently commented on the definition of capitalising v. distributing shares of an investment company in the framework of the Belgian Tax on Stock Exchange Transactions. According to the Minister, the distinction between “distributing shares” and “capitalising shares” for the purposes of the tax on stock exchange transactions corresponds in principle to the
Belgian Tax on Stock Exchange Transactions: FAQ published
The Belgian tax administration has just published a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the webpage dedicated to the Belgian Tax on Stock Exchange Transactions (French / Dutch). This publication is quite important as it not only covers issues connected to the recent extension of the scope of the tax but also clarifies some ‘pre-existing’
