New legislative proposal: net compensation replacing eco vouchers
Members of the four federal majority parties (N-VA, MR, CD&V and Open VLD) have introduced a new legislative initiative concerning the abolishment of eco vouchers and the replacement of this system by cash compensation equivalent to the value of eco vouchers. As an alternative way of payment, eco vouchers are paper or electronic vouchers that
Important changes to Overseas Social Security System
The Belgian Federal Government has drafted a Royal Decree modifying the system of Overseas Social Security substantially. The changes will apply to the pension pillar, which constitutes the cornerstone of Overseas Social Security. The Royal Decree was scheduled to enter into force on 1 February 2017, but we were recently informed by the authorities that
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New legislation on posting of employees adopted by the Belgian Chamber of Representatives
In the Belgian Official Gazette of December 20th, the Act of December 11th, 2016 laying down several provisions with respect to the posting of employees was published. This Act transposes the Enforcement Directive 2014/67/EU (“Enforcement Directive”) of the Posting Directive 96/71/EC (“Posting Directive”) into Belgian law and includes, among other measures, a number of additional
Benefit in kind – Private use of a company car: updated formula for 2017
The new reference CO2 emission for calculating the taxable benefit in kind for the private use of a company car in the hands of company directors and employees has been published on 5 December 2016 (Royal Decree of 24 November 2016). For income year 2017, the following CO2 emission will be applied to the above
Update on the special tax system for foreign executives in Belgium
Recently, there have been rumours about possible changes to the special tax system for foreign executives in Belgium, creating some uncertainty around it. From the privileged contacts PwC has with the tax authorities, it appears there is no intention to change the special tax system as such but rather that the Finance Cabinet is open
Costs proper to the employer – homeworking
If certain conditions are met, no income taxes and no social security contributions are due on allowances which are attributed as a ‘repayment of costs proper to the employer’. The National Social Security Office has recently decided to increase the maximum lump-sum allowance which can be attributed as a cost proper to the employer for
Company-provided family allowance – exempted from social security contributions
Companies can, for example within a flexible reward plan, opt to grant their employees (with children) a so-called ‘family allowance’, which is an additional child benefit on top of the statutory child allowance. Recently, the Belgian Supreme Court has decided that such allowances are not to be considered as “salary” for social security purposes. Consequently,
