On 21 December 2005, the Belgium Parlement has approved a Program Bill that contains various new tax measures. The most important are:
-the introduction of an anti-abuse measure in the VAT Code
-the introduction of an exemption with progression for international public servants
-taxation on the proceeds from capitalization UCITS (undertakings for collective investments in transferable securities)
-the introduction […]

The royal decree of 10 November 2005 contains a measure that increases the maximum contribution amount that can be invested in order to qualify from the tax reduction for pension-saving from 500 EUR to 635 EUR (non-indexed amounts). The new limit is applicable as from tax year 2006 which means that this year already you […]

Pursuant to the current wording of the Law of 22 June 2005 , an amount of the notional interest deduction should remain on a separate account for the financial year and the 3 financial years to come. However, in the bill in execution of the “Generation Pact” it was decided to abandon this intangibility […]

The Belgian treasury had the intention as of 1 January 2006 to levy a tax of 9.25% on the contributions for the health insurance in the Netherlands, paid by Belgian frontrier workers. After severe criticism by multiple organisations, the Belgian treasury recognised that this health insurance was a legally compulsory insurance and not a private […]

The program law of 27 december 2004 has introduced a CO2 tax on company cars, that are also used for private purposes. Since 1 january 2005 this tax was imposed and as of 1 January 2006 the monthly contributions will be indexed for the first time. To calculate the monthly contributions, there is used […]

la nouvelle loi promlguée lundi 19 Décembre 2005 a introduit de nouvelles mesures fiscales relatives aux impots directes, aux impôts indirectes et aux droits d’enregistrement et de timbre. une nouveauté de cette loi : l’institution d’un impôt sur les carte téléphoniques. cette loi a également révisé le minimum d’impôt à percevoir sur les sociétés […]

Since years there has been a discrepancy regarding the taxation of vehicles: a difference was made between light freight and non light freight vehicles. The light freight were for obvious reasons taxed less heavily since these were really necessar for companies.
However the difference was used for purposes which were clearly not the intention of […]

The Swedish Minister of Finance, Pär Nuder, has expressed his view on the recent judgment from ECJ in case Marks & Spencer. Pär Nuder is of the opinion that the outcome of the case does not have any major effects on the Swedish rules on group contributions.
Although the Swedish system for group relief is, according […]

The Swedish Ministry of Finance has submitted a memorandum for environmental taxes on air travels. According to the proposal such taxes shall be paid for passengers flying from Swedish airports, with few exceptions, mainly by airplanes with weight higher than two tons.
The tax shall be levied with different rates depending on the class of the […]

The Directive edited on 20 December 2001 of the Council of the European Union provides the possibility of invoices issued by the co- contractor for goods delivered or services rendered to him by the taxpayer.
On 22 December 2005 the Belgian VAT administration published an executive circular which elucidates the basic conditions, the scope and the […]

The European Commission refers Sweden to the European Court of Justice for the reason that under Swedish law, capital gains from home sales can only benefit a tax relief if the sold home is located in Sweden and if the sales profits are reinvested in a replacement residence in Sweden. The commission believes this constitutes […]

Suite à son adoption par la chambre des députés d’une part et la chambre des conseillers d’autre part, la loi de finances pour la gestion 2006 a été promulguée hier matin par le président de la république.
le chef de l’état a également promulgué la loi portant création des fonds communs de placement dans le capital […]

A circular letter dd November 28, 2005 states that as from now on the date to take into account to either tax people individually either tax them as a married couple is the date of registration of the divorce in the population registry (instead of the date of the judgement).

A circular letter of November 23, 2005 elaborates on the deductibility of costs that follow from travelling from home to work

Rules and formula for computing wage tax on remuneration and article 146, 1° and 2° bis W.I.B. ‘92 pensions and “brugpensioenen”, paid after January 1, 2006.

On 29th of October a first Council Regulation, laying down implementing measures for Directive 77/388/EEC on the common system of value added tax, based on article 29 bis of the Sixth VAT Directive is published. The aim of this Regulation is to ensure a more uniform application of value added tax systems in the member […]

On 13th December 2005 the Belgian VAT administration published a new decision concerning the supply of gas via natural gas distribution systems and the supply of electricity.
On 1 January 2005 new regulations concerning the place of delivery of gas via natural gas distribution systems and concerning the supply of electricity entered into force. These new […]

Reimbursement by the employer of certain costs with respect to internet connection at the employee’s home
Costs proper to the employer in order for the employees to perform professional activities.
Article 49 W.I.B. ‘92 (tax deductible for employer) and article 31, §2, 1° W.I.B. ‘92(non-taxable for employee)

… how investments are taxed in Belgium and what the obligations are for non-residents.

Een wetsvoorstel ingediend bij het Parlement door senator Philippe Monfils vertelt over een bevrijdende roerende voorheffing van 15% voor auteursrechten.