Belgium grew significantly following the World War II, but
due to its export dependent economy, it has suffered as a
result of the recent economic crisis, although in a report
in November 2009, the OECD reported that the economy had entered
‘a slow recovery, supported by an acceleration in world
trade’.
Belgium’s corporate income tax rate of 33.99% means
that it is not considered to be a low tax jurisdiction. That
said, Belgium offers favourable tax treatment to expatriates
seconded there (subject to certain conditions), and offers
relatively favourable taxation for holding companies.
Belgium was a founding member of the European Union, and
as an EU member, benefits from visa-free travel and enhanced
trade relations with Member States. The Euro was adopted as
the Belgian currency in 1999; prior to that the currency was
the Belgian Franc (BEF).
Following the G20 Summit of April 2, which focused on international
tax cooperation, Belgium was placed on the OECD ‘grey
list’. Belgium confirmed its commitment to the OECD
standard on transparency and tax information exchange in March
and has since been placed on the OECD ‘white list’
of territories that have substantially-implemented the internationally-agreed
standard on transparency and information exchange, having
signed more than twelve Tax Information Exchange Agreements.
Belgium has, at the time of writing, more than 80 double
taxation avoidance agreements in place.
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has published its annual report on 'Taxing Wages 2008-2009,' an overview of the share of tax and social security charges in the total cost of employment. RSS
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Governments must now gear their economies towards jobs, international competitiveness
and increasing the tax-take, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has said in its latest ‘Going for
Growth’ report, analyzing the next step for recovering economies. RSS
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Updates
The Humanist group cdH of the Walloon parliament in Belgium has rejected the
idea of a road tax levied per kilometre travelled, advocating instead the introduction
of an inclusive road tax disc, which could then be modified to take certain environmental
criteria into account. RSS
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Updates
Just wondering if anyone had any tips on getting clients to pay up in a timely fashion?
Am a freelance writer, with a number of regular gigs with online and offline publications, but, with a couple of exceptions - which have just about kept my head above water some months - they're all pretty awful at paying up on time. The payments trickle through eventually, but often not without pushing from me.
It's really getting me down, and may well end up sinking me financially. So...what do you do?
I am not an Irish citizen but have been based in Ireland for many years. For the last 6 years I have worked overseas (outside EU) only spending max 6 weeks holiday a year in Ireland. For the time I have been overseas I continued to make an Irish tax return and there was no liability to foreign tax. It is possible that I will secure a 2 year contract overseas that will substantially increase my income. This new contract will require that I pay local income tax. What can I do to minimise Irish tax liability? It may be possible to have salary paid in a double tax agreement location if this would help.
I am looking to set-up as a sole trader in Ireland. One of my clients is an American company paying into my Irish account for work done. Do I have to pay taxes in both countries, or how does this work? Help!M
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