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• Setting up as self-employed

  Under current Belgian law, anyone who becomes self-employed must join a social insurance fund for the self-employed within 90 days of starting self-employment.

• Reduced VAT rates

  On 14 December 2009, the extension until 31 December 2010 of the reduced VAT rates in the building industry and the reduced VAT rate for restaurant services has been published in the Belgian Official Gazette.

• Inheritance of family businesses in the Flemish Region: elimination of the employment condition in order to guarantee the continuity of family companies and businesses

  Subject to the fulfilment of a number of conditions, in Flanders one can enjoy an exemption from estate taxes upon the transfer due to death of a family business or of shares in a family company. In the Policy Memorandum Finance and Budget 2009-2014, the Flemish Minister of Finance, Philippe Muyters, is now proposing to eliminate the employment condition entirely. The beneficial regime would enter into force with retroactive effect. Nevertheless, account must also be taken of the (possible) other side of the coin.

• Belgium in international tax planning

  Belgium has improved its tax climate considerably in recent years. This may be illustrated by an improvement of its domestic tax legislation, an extension of its tax treaty network and well established ruling practice. Below we summarize Belgium’s main tax features.
  

• VAT package

  On 11 September 2009, the Belgian Government introduced the draft bill to the Belgian Parliament to implement the VAT package and the Council Directive 2008/117/EC of 16 December 2008 to combat tax evasion connected with intra-Community transactions.