Tax
Do you want to minimise your taxes and see what the optimal formula is for your tax return? Our fiscal experts can ensure the lowest possible tax burden for all the plans you have as an entrepreneur.
Doing business in Belgium - Download the e-book
Also looking to set up a company in Belgium? In this handy e-book our advisors will give you all the necessary tips and important information on:
- Which type of company do I choose?
- What are the conditions for setting up a company?
- What are the employment rules you have to follow?
- What taxes do you have to pay?
- What about VAT?
Fiscal advice tailored to your needs
Whether it’s for a reorganisation, a purchase of real estate or other plans that your company wants to implement, our tax experts are ready to support you in all possible ways, regardless of the type of company (BVBA, NV, etc.). Our fiscal experts can offer assistance in the following areas:
Reorganisations and restructuring
- Mergers aimed at simplifying the group structure, creating synergies, etc.
- (Partial) demergers with a view to separating different activities, in order to separate the property portfolio from the commercial risk, within the framework of family settlements.
- Contribution of shares to a holding company in the context of family settlements, with a view to strengthening the capital structure of the group.
Property taxation
- Assistance with the acquisition of immovable property in light of the various tax implications for the company.
- Optimal structuring when selling a property with a view to favourable taxation in the realisation of your property portfolio.
- Usufruct, leasehold, building and leasing structures belong to the field of experience of our specialists, with special attention paid to financing and discussion with the banks.
Innovation taxation
- Tax optimisation of innovation within your company, with extensive expertise in all related tax concessions, such as the innovation deduction.
- Valuation of innovation income based on a business analysis, tested by a benchmark study, and with a practical hands-on approach and a proven track record in dealings the Belgian Federal Government’s Tax Rulings Department.
Succession and estate planning
- Family succession of companies, taking into account all aspects of tax law such as direct taxes, VAT, gift and inheritance tax.
- Restructuring and land development with a view to developing family settlements that safeguard the interests of all children.
Optimal remuneration
- Alternative reward mechanisms for both employee and manager as well as guidance on the practical implementation of this.
- Development of incentives to increase the involvement of key employees in the company's capital or in a phased transfer scheme.
Ruling practice
- Providing legal certainty for tax purposes in all kinds of transactions and situations by obtaining a binding ruling from the Tax Rulings Department.
- Extensive experience and a strong reputation with the Tax Rulings Department due to the many positive rulings our specialists have obtained in the past.
Due dilligence
As well as assisting you with all tax issues, our tax experts also offer extensive tax due diligence. This is the cornerstone for a successful merger or acquisition, providing the necessary leverage to negotiate prices. In addition to its tax experts, VGD also has various experts in corporate finance at its disposal for this purpose, who can provide you with further guidance.
International tax consultancy
Our tax experts are not only active within the borders of Belgium. In the same way, they also provide tax advice on international issues such as:
- Transfer pricing
- Double taxation treaties
- Salary splits
- Foreign executives
- European directives
Do you have any further questions? You can always contact our advisors!
Related news
In the middle of 2019 the tax authorities shed some light on the matter of what values should be used to determine the tax deductibility of private cars and the calculation of the taxable benefit in kind up to the end of 2020, making it clear that both the NEDC (2.0) value and the WLTP value may be used. In most cases the latter is less advantageous, meaning that application of the NEDC (2.0) value is usually preferred.
In these difficult times, the Belgian government is making a variety of support measures available to entrepreneurs. To give companies the financial breathing space they need, the Belgian federal government has offered companies a general deferment of payment for several taxes.
Businesses increasingly tend to operate internationally or even globally. They are then tempted to shift their profits to countries with a more favourable tax rate. In times of budgetary crisis, there are obvious problems with such an approach. People have even taken to the streets to protest against the practices of the ‘tax avoiders’. As a result, Europe and the OECD have tightened up the rules. Member States, including Belgium, are now implementing the measures in their own legislation.
Anthony Meul, partner and tax advisor at VGD, explains what tax consolidation involves and what measures Belgian entrepreneurs will face.
If, as a supplier, you deliver goods or provide services, you must charge VAT on the total amount payable. In practice additional costs are sometimes charged together with the price of the delivered goods or services, such as transport costs. This raises the question, when should you charge 6% and when should you charge 21%?
Some tax-related changes have recently been made with regard to advance payments, with effect from 1 January 2019:
When a sole proprietorship is turned into a company, it is possible to sell the goodwill (e.g. the customer base) that has been built up in the sole proprietorship to the company (by means of a ‘quasi-contribution of capital’). This is only advisable if it enables the taxable party to withdraw money from the company in a tax-efficient manner.