Latest news & developments
Catch-all clause: new practice note
Article 228, §3 BITC has been amended by the Act of 18 December 2016. The amendments brought retroactively enter into force on 1 July 2016. These changes are commented in the practice note of 30 June 2017. In a previous newsflash, we summarised the main changes brought by the recent legislative change. The practice note
Federal government reaches agreement on “Cash for Car”
Recently, an agreement was reached by the federal government regarding the introduction of a mobility budget, as an alternative for company cars. As of 1 January 2018 it would become possible for employees (who already use a company car) to exchange their current company car for a cash compensation, provided that both parties (employer and
Ruling Office “up and running again”
On 28 April 2017, the Belgian Council of State annulled the nomination of the French-speaking Board members of the Ruling Office, due to a complaint by a previous Board member (see our newsflash of 8 May 2017). As a result of the judgment, the Ruling Office was not able to take any formal decisions because
Draft Law amending the regime for B-REITs (regulated real estate companies) submitted to the Belgian Parliament
On 27 June 2017, a draft Law on Belgian REITs (the so-called Regulated Real Estate Companies or B-REITs) was submitted to the Belgian federal Parliament. The draft Law amends the existing regime for public and institutional B-REITs and introduces a new category of B-REITs with social purpose. What’s new? The majority of the new provisions
Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments: IFRS
The IASB recently issued a new Interpretation on Uncertain Tax Treatments (IFRIC 23). In short, it is the IFRS equivalent of the US GAAP Interpretation, ASC 740 (formerly FIN 48). IFRIC 23 was ratified in the IASB meeting on 16-17 May 2017, and issued on 7 June 2017. It will be effective for annual reporting
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
New lump-sum amount for reimbursement of business use of private car
Employees using a privately-owned car for business purposes can now be reimbursed a lump-sum amount of EUR 0.3460 per kilometre. Costs that an employee incurs when using a privately-owned car for business purposes can be reimbursed by the employer free of income tax and exempt from social security contributions. Repayment can be made on a
