Belgian goverment offers companies general deferment of payment due to coronavirus
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.
Corporate income tax, personal income tax, non-resident income tax and legal entity taxation
Deferment of filing deadline
The filing deadline has been extended through Thursday 30 April 2020 for tax returns to be filed between 16/03/2020 and 30/04/2020 pertaining to:
- Corporate income tax
- Legal entity taxation
- Non-resident income tax (companies)
Deferment of payment
An additional period of two months, on top of the standard payment period, will automatically be granted for payment of personal income tax, corporate income tax, non-resident income tax and legal entity taxation, and this without incurring late payment interest. This measure applies to tax settlements pertaining to the tax year 2019, assessed as from 12 March 2020.
No automatic payment deferral applies to assessments assessed prior to 12 March 2020. A repayment plan can be requested for these assessments from the Regionaal Invorderingscentrum (RIC) – see below.
VAT
Deferment of filing deadline
The deferment below has been granted for periodic VAT returns as well as for European Sales Listings
|
Return schedule |
Deadline extension |
|
February 2020 |
6 April 2020 |
|
March 2020 |
7 May 2020 |
|
First quarter 2020 |
7 May 2020 |
Starters and holders of a monthly reimbursement license benefiting from monthly reimbursement of their VAT credit have also been granted a deferment; however, this has only been extended until the 24th of the month following the filing period.
The period has been extended by one month to 30 April 2020 for the Annual Sales Listing. For taxable parties that have terminated their activities, an annual sales listing must be submitted no later than the end of the 4th month following the cessation of their VAT-subject activity.
Deferment of payment
An automatic two-month deferment of payment will enter into force, incurring no penalties or late payment interests :
|
Payment type |
Deadline extension |
|
Monthly return – February 2020 |
20 May 2020 |
|
Monthly return – March 2020 |
20 June 2020 |
|
Quarterly return – 1st quarter 2020 |
20 June 2020 |
Withholding tax
Deferment of payment
An automatic two-month deferment of payment will enter into force, incurring no penalties or late payment interests:
|
Payment type |
Deadline extension |
|
Monthly return – February 2020 |
13 May 2020 |
|
Monthly return – March 2020 |
15 June 2020 |
|
Quarterly return – 1st quarter 2020 |
15 June 2020 |
Postponement of non-essential tax audits
The Belgian tax authority is postponing its non-essential and/or less urgent on-site tax audits. Only audits required to protect the financial interests of the Belgian State will be retained.
The retained on-site audits shall be performed in accordance with the specific hygiene standards in force due to the coronavirus crisis.
Tax audits that can be conducted remotely with the support of tax applications and based on files, will continue to move forward.
Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any additional questions, troubles or concerns. We will follow this up on your behalf to ensure that you get the best possible guidance and advice. Please contact our advisors at corona@vgd.eu
