Latest news & developments
Belgian government announces measures to transition Belgian economy post-covid
Yesterday, the Belgian Government reached an agreement on the Belgian budget. The budget agreement combines a number of measures to transition the Belgian economy after Covid in an environmentally balanced manner. Some points will need further agreement with the social partners, and some measures are taken explicitly in view of the recent surge of energy
Subsidy for SMEs that make water saving investments
The Flemish government has launched the new Blue Deal subsidy measure ‘water saving investments’. A call for SMEs that invest in technologies that save on the use of drinking, ground and/or surface water. The Blue Deal flows out of the Flemish governments’ goal of structurally tackling the fight against drought and water scarcity with major
Political agreement on fundamental overhaul of the international tax system
On 8 October 2021, the Inclusive Framework (IF) announced a further agreement backed by 136 (out of 140) members of the Inclusive Framework on the two-pillar approach. In the last few days, a number of countries that initially opposed the reform are now also signing up for it (e.g. Hungary, Ireland and Estonia). With this,
Update COVID-19 and cross-border employment: Agreements with the neighboring countries: extended until 31 December 2021
In our previous newsflashes of 17 June 2021, 23 June 2021 and 24 June 2021 we referred to the extension of the mutual agreements between Belgium and The Netherlands / France / Germany / Luxembourg, which includes a “force majeure tolerance” for cross-border workers in relation to government imposed COVID-19 (travel) restrictions. Despite the fact
Tax Bites Podcast: Recovering from COVID-19 – can tax play a role?
In this episode, Nancy De Beule, Florian Jacobfeuerborn and Jurgen Coessens explore how tax can play a role in the economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. These M&A experts use their experience in the Belgian market to explore the risks and pitfalls in relation to taxation and post-COVID recovery. They share valuable insights, relevant beyond Belgium,
The European Court of Justice decides the Belgian excess profits regime constitutes an aid scheme and refers the case back to the General Court
In its decision of 16 September 2021 the European Court of Justice (‘ECJ’) overruled the judgement of the General Court of 14 February 2019. Different from the General Court, the ECJ concluded that the three conditions for an aid scheme to exist are met. The ECJ referred the case back to the General Court, which
Draft law implementing the zero-emission company car as the new standard
As indicated in our newsflashes of 21 April 2021 and of 18 May 2021, it was agreed in the government declaration to adapt the tax and social legislation around mobility to stimulate the green agenda. On 14 September the draft law specifying the fiscal and social treatment of company cars was submitted to The Chamber.
Tax forms 281.10 and 281.20 – Get ready to map and report the actual reimbursement of expenses of your employees and directors!
According to article 57 of the Belgian income tax code (hereafter ‘BITC’), certain costs will only be tax deductible to the extent that they are properly reported on individual fee forms (281.10 for employees and 281.20 for company directors). This includes commissions, brokerage fees, trade rebates or other discounts, remuneration, bonuses, fees, allowances (‘vergoedingen’ /
