COVID-19: impact on the expatriate tax regime in Belgium
Even though national containment measures, to flatten the curve and ultimately stop the further spreading of the coronavirus, are gradually being phased out by many countries and we can even start to see a silver lining, the COVID-19 pandemic has a major impact on how people and organisations are functioning today and how they will
Update COVID-19 and cross-border employment: agreement between Belgium and France on home working
The exceptional COVID-19 situation resulted in various government introduced measures which are themselves also exceptional and which are aiming to combat the spread of the coronavirus. Measures such as international travel restrictions, quarantine and lockdown (in whatever form or degree), also impact international business travel and prevent cross-border workers from carrying out their professional activities
Update COVID-19 and cross-border employment: Belgium reaches agreement on “force majeure” tolerance for cross-border workers with Germany
As described in our newsflash of 7 May 2020, Belgium has reached an agreement with the Netherlands on a more general force majeure approach. And things are still moving forward. Recently Belgium has concluded a mutual agreement with Germany concerning the situation of cross border workers working from home in the context of the COVID-19
Parliamentary Committee approves corona tax measures
Next to the impact on human health and lives, the COVID-19 pandemic also has a worldwide economic impact. Businesses are being impacted, the economy slows down and families have less purchasing power. In Belgium, the latter is compensated to a certain extent by temporary employment due to force majeure. This week, various measures have been
COVID-19 and cross-border employment: Belgium reaches agreement on “force majeure” tolerance for cross-border workers with the Netherlands
International travel restrictions and COVID-19 lock down measures, imposed by governments during the coronacrisis in order to “flatten the curve”, are pushing cross-border workers into a continuous home working scenario for many weeks now. Working days abroad are no longer an option. As stated by the OECD guidance, exceptional circumstances call for an exceptional level
EBITDA Interest Limitation Rule: New Circular Letter avoids unintended consequences when obtaining payment holidays
On 5 May 2020, the Belgian tax administration published its Circular Letter 2020/C/62 on specific payment holidays negotiated in the context of the COVID-19 crisis. More in particular, this circular accepts that certain loans will not lose their “grandfathered” status in case specific modifications are negotiated to loan agreements so to bridge temporary payment difficulties.
Executive pay landscape: Implementation of the Revised Shareholders’ Rights Directive (SRD II) into Belgian law for Belgian quoted companies
On May 6th, the Official Gazette has published the law on implementing the SRD II – Directive (EU) 2017/828. Part of the Directive will be implemented by changing the newly introduced Belgian Code on Companies and Associations (BCCA). The aim of SRD II is to positively influence the involvement of long-term shareholders and increase transparency
COVID-19 and cross-border employment: is Belgium heading for a “force majeure” approach with its neighbouring countries?
In our newsflash of 15 April 2020, we were pleased to inform you that the Netherlands and Germany came to a mutual agreement regarding a “force majeure” tolerance for cross-border employment situations that are impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Dutch-German agreement certainly embodies the recent OECD recommendations of 3 April 2020 (see our
