Members of the panel. There is only one 100% legit way of working in Belgium if you are resident here (resident for tax is basically here for more than 183 days and/or registered with LIMOSA/The Commune), and that is to declare 100% of your income into Belgium and get raped for tax and Social Security.
All the ManCo systems/schemes/dodgy setups involve some method or other of hiding/concealing/making invisible some of your income and paying it to you offshore or, deferring payment to a later date.
Belgium subscribes to the mantra that all Worldwide income must be declared. So, even if you salt it away somewhere you are supposed to tell them where and how you did it. The BTA will then decide if that's OK. I suggest most ManCos will not be too supportive of this approach
The iTecs NI system may no longer hold water in Belgium so ask an accountant!
Deferred income schemes typically involve your cash being put into a pension fund of some description and when you leave say Belgium, and de-register but, before you land somewhere else, you take the cash. Problem with these systems is you don't have access to the cash until you leave. There is also a risk that the scheme may fold and you loose all of it.
Most folks of course use one or other of these systems otherwise, few career contractors would ever work in Belgium unless rates where double what they are now. Problem is with the Connexions tax investigation the agencies have got spooked, some locals have exposed themselves and are being hung out to dry, and other ManCos are now running scared of being next on the BTA hit list.
If you do use a ManCo, use one that has no commercial activity directly in Belgium. Do not transfer or use any foreign source income in Belgium other than cash. Get a good accountant, and not one affiliated with the ManCo! Keep your nose clean and fingers crossed.
All the ManCo systems/schemes/dodgy setups involve some method or other of hiding/concealing/making invisible some of your income and paying it to you offshore or, deferring payment to a later date.
Belgium subscribes to the mantra that all Worldwide income must be declared. So, even if you salt it away somewhere you are supposed to tell them where and how you did it. The BTA will then decide if that's OK. I suggest most ManCos will not be too supportive of this approach
The iTecs NI system may no longer hold water in Belgium so ask an accountant!
Deferred income schemes typically involve your cash being put into a pension fund of some description and when you leave say Belgium, and de-register but, before you land somewhere else, you take the cash. Problem with these systems is you don't have access to the cash until you leave. There is also a risk that the scheme may fold and you loose all of it.
Most folks of course use one or other of these systems otherwise, few career contractors would ever work in Belgium unless rates where double what they are now. Problem is with the Connexions tax investigation the agencies have got spooked, some locals have exposed themselves and are being hung out to dry, and other ManCos are now running scared of being next on the BTA hit list.
If you do use a ManCo, use one that has no commercial activity directly in Belgium. Do not transfer or use any foreign source income in Belgium other than cash. Get a good accountant, and not one affiliated with the ManCo! Keep your nose clean and fingers crossed.
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