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Tax authorities

Service Public Fédéral Finances
North Galaxy, boulevard du Roi Albert II 33, B - 1030 Bruxelles
Tel: +32 2 576 2111
Website: www.fiscus.fgov.be

Tax rates at a glance

(As of August 30 2009) 

Corporate income tax rate 34%
Capital gains tax rate 34%
Branch tax rate 34%

Withholding tax
Dividends 25% (a)
Interest 15% (a)
Royalties from patents and licences 15%(a)
Branch remittance tax N/A

Net operating losses (years)
Carryback Not allowed
Carryforward Unlimited (b)

(a) Numerous exceptions/reduced rates/exemptions on the dividends and interest withholding tax rates are applicable by virtue of tax treaties concluded by Belgium or by virtue of Belgian domestic tax legislation. For example, a liquidation bonus is subject to a 10% withholding tax rate.
(b)The tax deduction resulting from the so-called notional interest deduction can be transferred to the next seven tax years if for a specific taxable period no or insufficient taxable profit is available to apply and benefit from the notional interest deduction.

Source: Professionals from AB Taxand, the Belgian member of the Taxand, the global network of leading independent tax firms

Belgium

Luc Spincemaille
Tiberghien
Belgium

Luc Spincemaille of Tiberghien examines whether real estate outsourcing is a trend that will take root in Belgium

[Show full article]

Tax

Regional elections in June meant the federal government made few changes this year to tax legislation to boost the Belgian economy. But thanks to a €15 billion ($21.3 billion) budget deficit, the government is under pressure to find extra cash. Advisers ... [more]

Deloitte's tax practice has increased its client base and number of advisers this year. The group developed a new programme around integrated solutions to optimise clients' cash flow in the tax area. This programme resulted in more cross-service line ... [more]

Two partners joined the Liedekerke team this year taking the total number to 10. Henk Verstraete joined from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Jean-Michel Degée was promoted after a decade at the firm. Partner Daniel Garabedian remains the most recognisable ... [more]

Though Linklaters lost partner Thierry Denayer to Stibbe this year, the team is still considered a leader in the market. Head of tax Henk Vanhulle is described as "one of the best" by a partner of a competing firm. Guido De Wit is also recommended by ... [more]

Baker & McKenzie's involvement in the Cobelfret case gained a lot of public attention this year and helped the team maintain its high position in the rankings. Widely respected partner Alain Huyghe and his team represented the shipping group before the ... [more]

Axel Haelterman continues to lead the tax practice at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. He is highly regarded by both clients and peers and is often referred to as the group's "star". The team's impressive client list features Barclays Capital, Deutsche ... [more]

Loyens & Loeff's tax group is a multidisciplinary practice offering clients advice on compliance, litigation and indirect taxes. The team is led by Xavier Clarebout who is one of the firm's eight tax partners and 32 lawyers. All tax fields are covered ... [more]

The head of tax at Allen & Overy has acted for clients in a number of large deals this year. Patrick Smet has advised a Belgium-headquartered portfolio company of a private equity house in the airport sector on its cross-border debt restructuring, including ... [more]

Clifford Chance has been involved in a number of important deals this year. Most notably they have been working for a new client, the Flemish government, helping with the work to save the GM/Opel plant in Antwerp, which mostly involved sale and lease ... [more]

Ernst & Young focuses on working for large Belgian companies and large multinationals listed on the stock exchange. The firm has hired Marc Joostens from PricewaterhouseCoopers into the VAT practice. The general perception is he is the number one specialist ... [more]

Two hundred tax professionals and 17 partners make up KPMG's tax team. Paul Op de Beeck leads the financial services practice. He works with all the major players in the banking and insurance market. Peter Ackerman leads the firm's indirect tax team, ... [more]

PricewaterhouseCoopers has retained its top reputation this year. The group is even commended by competitors. "PwC is very well represented, particularly in the inbound market. The perception is it is a quality firm," said a partner at another of the ... [more]

Following the departure of renowned partner Werner Heyvaert, who joined Jones Day this year, Stibbe's tax practice was given a much needed boost with the arrival of Thierry Denayer from Linklaters. Denayer now heads the tax group. It is a team of eight, ... [more]

Tiberghien is highly respected by a number of its peers. One competitor said the tax boutique "is perceived as a quality firm with a very solid culture and very good brand" while another praised the firm's "strong client base". Bernard Peeters stands ... [more]

One industry specialist described Afschrift as "an important name in the Brussels tax market". It is a boutique firm headed by prominent tax lawyer Thierry Afschrift, who is an established name in the market. The team of about 20 lawyers specialises ... [more]

Dauginet is active in tax litigation and criminal tax matters. Victor Dauginet is highly regarded by peers in transactional firms and often recommended.

Dumon Sablon & Vanheeswijck offers a full range of tax services to mainly domestic clients. Founding partners Johan Dumon, Stefan Sablon and Luc Vanheeswijck lead the 20-strong team. One peer noted the firm "continues to strongly improve".

The tax team at Eubelius specialises in advising both domestic and international clients on the tax aspects of corporate transactions, investments and financial transactions.

New hire Werner Heyvaert has boosted the Jones Day tax team this year. He joined from Stibbe bringing with him a significant client base. Head of the department Howard Liebman continues to be a popular name on the market. He has an impressive client ... [more]

One partner and two other lawyers make up the tax team at Koan, a new entry this year. The team offers a full range of tax services including transfer pricing advice. The group advised one client in connection with a lobbying campaign against the release ... [more]

Laga lost well respected real estate partner Benoît Nibelle in July. One peer commented that this was "a drawback" for the firm as he was "a good tax partner". Johan Speecke head of the firm's tax litigation department, Frank Vanbiervliet, a planning ... [more]

Since new entry Mayer Brown launched its tax practice in Belgium in 2007, the group has undertaken a variety of work for clients including Standard Chartered Bank, BNP Paribas Lease Group and Lehman Brothers. The team of three is led by partner Astrid ... [more]

NautaDutilh offers transactional tax advice, VAT, customs and excise support, litigation and compliance services. Jan Werbrouck heads the department. Its client list includes the Belgian State, Fortis Real Estate and Hugo Boss.

See also

Belgium
Western Europe (Regional Rankings)

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