Income tax is levied on the income of Belgian residents earned in Belgium and abroad and on the income of non-residents from sources in Belgium.
Income tax is levied at progressive rates:
Investment income is taxed according to special rules. Interest and dividend income received through Belgian financial institutions is taxed at 30%. Interest on ordinary savings accounts is taxed at 15%. There are non-taxable minimums on interest and dividend income.
Residents of Belgium pay municipal taxes on income at rates ranging from 0% to 9%, the average rate is 7%. For non-residents the tax rate is 7%.
The standard income tax rate is 25%. A reduced rate of 20% is set for small and medium-sized businesses.
An additional fee of 6,75% is also payable on the amount of income tax, which may not be charged if the quarterly advance payments of income tax are sufficient.
If a number of conditions are met, dividends received and gains from the sale of stock are not subject to income tax. These conditions include holding for one year or more a shareholding of 10% or more or a value of at least EUR 2 500 000. In addition, the subsidiary must be subject to income tax under similar conditions as in Belgium.
The standard VAT rate is 21%. For certain goods and services, the rate can be 12% or 6%.
The employer's social contributions are calculated at a rate of 25%. In addition, contributions are paid to various funds depending, among other things, on the economic sector. In general, the rate is usually 27,5%.
The employee pays a social contribution at the rate of 13,07%. In addition a special social contribution is paid at different rates, which must not exceed EUR 731,28 per family per year.
Withholding tax is levied on the payment of dividends, interest, royalties, service charges and some rent payments.
The normal tax rate for dividends, interest and royalties is 30%.
The rate may be reduced in accordance with double taxation treaties or EU directives, as well as under domestic law.
The basis for the annual property tax is the imputed rent, calculated according to special rules. The tax rate depends on the location of the property and is a combination of regional, provincial and community tax.
The purchase and transfer of Belgian real estate (excluding new buildings, to which VAT applies) is subject to a registration tax at a rate of 12.5% (rates are lower in the Flemish region). The tax base is the transaction value or the market value if higher.
Heirs to an estate pay inheritance tax (the family home is usually excluded). Gifts must be notarized and tax is paid on them. The tax rate varies from region to region.
Stamp duty is payable on transactions with public funds in certain cases.
Austria has signed 95 Double Tax Treaties (DTC) and 13 Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEA) with the following jurisdictions:
95 DTS: Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Congo (Republic of the), Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea (Republic of), Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova (Republic of), Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam.
13 TIEA: Andorra, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Gibraltar, Grenada, Liechtenstein, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Belgium has also signed and ratified the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (MLI). The Multilateral Convention entered into force for Belgium on October 1, 2019.
Belgium has no foreign exchange controls.