Benefits granted by foreign companies: Reporting and withholding tax obligation – Update
Based on the current Belgian income tax legislation, there is no obligation to withhold, deduct and pay wage withholding taxes when benefits are granted by foreign (parent) companies to employees and/or company directors of Belgian (subsidiary) companies, provided the Belgian company does not intervene in the attribution of the benefits and provided no costs are re-charged
Parliamentary Commission of Finance approves Mobility Budget
On Wednesday, 16 January, the Parliamentary Commission of Finance has approved the Mobility Budget. This is one of the last steps before the Mobility Budget can finally enter into force. If the Commission on Social Matters approves it as well then the Parliament will give the final green light in plenary session in February and
Benefit in kind – Private use of a company car: updated formula for 2019
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 27 December 2018 (Royal Decree of 19 December 2018). For income year 2019, the following CO2 emission will be applied to the above
Company provided housing – benefit in kind – change in tax law
When a company puts a house or an apartment at the disposal of one of its directors or employees, a taxable benefit in kind arises in the hands of the beneficiary. Discriminatory old rules During many years, the calculation of this benefit in kind depended on whether the housing was provided by an individual (100/60
Christmas gifts to contractors, how and what?
In our newsletters of 27 November 2018 and 10 December 2018 we recalled the possibility for employer to present year-end gifts to employees with a maximum value of EUR 40 for the occasion of Saint-Nicholas, Christmas and New Year. Indeed, provided that certain conditions are met, these gifts can be free from social security contributions
Adjusted calculation method for profit premiums
On 6 December, the Chamber approved the Act holding several employment provisions. One of the chapters of this Act adjusts the system of profit premiums, by introducing the possibility of a pro rata calculation in this respect. Background: the profit premium The system of profit premiums entered into force on 1 January 2018 and enables
Income tax thresholds for gifts to employees have been increased
In our newsletter of 27 November, we recalled the possibility to present employees with year-end gifts, free from social security contributions and income taxes. We mentioned that, although the maximum amount of those gifts for social security purposes was increased in July, the income tax amount was not yet adjusted accordingly. However, on 5 December,
New Royal Decree published on legal constructions in EEA falling in the scope of the Cayman Tax
Cayman Tax The so-called ‘Cayman Tax’, introduced as from 1 January 2015, is a taxation regime in the Belgian income tax code that introduces a tax transparency of certain legal constructions that have been set up by Belgian private individual tax residents. The income of certain qualifying entities will be taxed directly in the hands
