Notion of ‘vesting or payment’ of second-pillar complementary pensions aimed at being clarified by Practice Note
Article 64 of the Program Act of 22 June 2012 (B.S. 28.06.2012) has changed the tax rates applicable to lump-sum payments and surrender values of employer or company-sponsored pensions (i.e. second-pillar complementary pensions). The tax efficiency related to these types of pension plans results from the advantageous tax rates applied to deferred income. Depending on the beneficiary’s
Accumulation of a statutory pension and a professional activity
On 1 July 2013, the program law of 28 June containing various tax and financial measures was published in the Official Gazette. This program law includes a change in the rules on accumulation of a statutory pension with own professional income (i.e. earned income). As in previous years, accumulation of an old-age pension or a
Update regarding the special contribution payable on high pension contributions (the so-called ‘Wijninckx bijdrage’)
To recall, if the total of contributions paid into occupational pension plans for one person exceeded EUR 30,000 in 2011, the company has to pay a special contribution of 1.5% on the excess amount. This charge is due both for employees and for self-employed company directors. For employees, the special contribution has to be reported
New condition for tax deductibility of pension contributions
Section 62 of the Program Law of 22 June 2012 has introduced a new condition for the tax deductibility of contributions paid into an occupational pension plan (by amending sections 59 §1 and 60 of the Belgian Income Tax Code). As from 1st January 2013, pension contributions will only be deductible if the so-called “Sigedis-obligations”
Instructions for the special contribution on high pension contributions (the so-called ‘Wijninckx-bijdrage’) now available
Instructions for the special contribution on high pension contributions (the so-called ‘Wijninckx-bijdrage’) now available If the total of the contribution into occupational pension plans for one person exceeds EUR 30,000 in 2012, then the company needs to pay a special contribution of 1.5% on the excess amount. This charge is due both for employees and
Statutory pension bonus – eliminating uncertainty
The Belgian federal government introduced a financial incentive in 2007 (following on from the 2005 Generation Pact) for people in the private sector to work longer: the so-called “pension bonus”. This was a temporary measure. Its continued existence was to depend in part on whether it generated the desired effect – i.e. an increase in
Update – Program Act published in the Official Gazette
On 21 June 2012, we sent an HRS headline relating to the impact of the new Program Act on occupational pension schemes. A copy of the headline is included in this message. The Act has now been published in the Official Gazette of today. Special social security contribution As from 1 January 2012, the
Special social security contribution
As from 1 January 2012, the draft Finance Act (whose text has now been sent to the Senate) introduces a special social security contribution on premiums and contributions paid to occupational pension schemes. This special contribution amounts to 1.5% on the amount of premiums/contributions exceeding a threshold of EUR 30,000.00 per annum (amount to be
