Working in Belgium via Connexion

[ContractorGR]

[QUOTE=Brussels Slumdog;842608]

Hello guys,

I am from Romania and I am about to come to work in Belgium as a self employed through ICC Connexion. I did not choose this company, ICC. In fact the company for which I am about to work said that if I want to work as a self employed than the contract will be through ICC. I was suspicious from the beginning and I spoke with an belgian accountant who told me that the company for which I will work is using ICC to avoid paying of VAT.

Now beside the fact that it will be possible not to receive the payments on time or at all and taking into consideration the fact that I will pay all the required taxes, WHAT are the risks on which I am exposing?

I suggest you read this thread from page1 until the last page to understand
what your risks are. Send a copy of this link to the company you are about to
work for. I no doubt there are a lot of contractors who are reading this
thread will want to know the name of the company that is forcing you to use ICC so they can avoid the company.

Probably it is more complicated than that. Imagine the agencies who received a letter from Connexion informing them that they are the only approved agency (by BTA) to work in Belgium and all the other solutions are some kind of illegal....what are agencies supposed to do??? They ask their contractors to join Connexion.....without investigating any further
I am not defending CNX but I cannot blame the agencies either.....

[surfer]

Lazy agents

[QUOTE=ContractorGR;842877]

They ask their contractors to join Connexion.....without investigating any further
I am not defending CNX but I cannot blame the agencies either.....

If they are that lazy/stupid then they deserve to lose all their clients.

[Th3 0m3n]

URGENT!!! do NOT use Access Financials AFSS

Access Financial are the old Integra risen from the ashes sometime back. Integra will be remembered by older contractors working in Europe. They went bust leaving a trail of destruction behind them. Sound familiar to what's happening now with Hugo's mob?

Access offer split income schemes aka Connexions, as well as payroll systems. None of these are any different in Belgium than any of the other ManCos. If they try and sell you better compliance it's all BS.

All ManCo systems rely on ways of making your income appear to be that of an offshore company and not yours. Up to that point it's fine, however, once you receive the cash, no matter where and how, you are supposed to declare that as Worldwide income in your tax residency. So, if this is Belgium you are back into the BTA trap that Connexions has led everyone into.

I suggest reading some of the double taxation treaties if you are in any doubt.

The only way to avoid this trap is to leave the cash in a fund/pension/trust/someone else name, until such time as you change your tax residency to say the BVI/IOM/some place where you don't pay tax etc.

Just don't get lulled into a false sense of security just because someone in Switzerland tells you it's compliant. If you have access to the cash and/or are spending it, then you are NOT compliant.

Of course all this was fine before those B*****ds started doing a plea bargain with the BTA and offering us up as collateral.

This is exactly what you need to do, and its absolutely right AFSS are claiming to be changing their accountants, but in fact they are about to do a cut an run, to sell out their clients ala "Connexions"

[rocontractor]

Hello guys,

I am from Romania and I am about to come to work in Belgium as a self employed through ICC Connexion. I did not choose this company, ICC. In fact the company for which I am about to work said that if I want to work as a self employed than the contract will be through ICC. I was suspicious from the beginning and I spoke with an belgian accountant who told me that the company for which I will work is using ICC to avoid paying of VAT.

Now beside the fact that it will be possible not to receive the payments on time or at all and taking into consideration the fact that I will pay all the required taxes, WHAT are the risks on which I am exposing?

Thanks

Hi,

Same scenario in my case too! It looks like we are talking with the same agency ... send me a PM to share some more information.

Thanks

[Fatterboy]

So now the BTA can easily link them all

Interesting stuff! We all knew ICC and Connexion were one and the same. We now also know that FMC are in that group too, although this was obvious. I actually met Ranjit (Director of FMC) at a contractor function once before and he said that basically FMC were the offshore part of Connexion and managed the black money....or something like that. Still they are trying to make money out of us. Fund Advisors should know better than to be in bed with these crooks. I hope the BTA turn up to discuss this little venture and to meet Ranjit personally.
--------------------------------------------
ICC BRUSSELS SEMINAR
________________________________________
Due to the recent changes in the Belgium contracting market, ICC, FMC and Fund Advisers will be holding seminars in Brussels at the end of May.

Due to the success of previous seminars the format will remain the same, highlighting solutions and opportunities for the future, whilst also giving you the opportunity to raise questions about the current status quo with the Belgium Tax Authorities.

The sessions will be held in Brussels from the morning of the 25th May with the aim to give the main seminar that evening at 7pm, followed by personal meetings over the following two days. If there is enough interest there will be a further seminar the following day or the date may be changed. Personal meetings may be requested at any time and the precise venue will be confirmed nearer the date.

This is by invitation only and the numbers are expected to be high due to the current climate. Therefore please RSVP to seminar@internationalcontractornews.com with your name, contact number and preferred date or time as soon as possible.

[nodric]

Interesting stuff! We all knew ICC and Connexion were one and the same. We now also know that FMC are in that group too, although this was obvious. I actually met Ranjit (Director of FMC) at a contractor function once before and he said that basically FMC were the offshore part of Connexion and managed the black money....or something like that. Still they are trying to make money out of us. Fund Advisors should know better than to be in bed with these crooks. I hope the BTA turn up to discuss this little venture and to meet Ranjit personally.
--------------------------------------------
ICC BRUSSELS SEMINAR
________________________________________

Take an overnight bag & toothbrush with you for the night in the cells/interview room as the man from the BTA says oui! And trots you off to discuss the last 7 years of your earnings

I cannot believe after everything that is written in the 100s of posts in this thread and, all the buzz in other forums and communication channels, that anyone would waste their billable hours by giving these shisters [sic] the time of day. If you need advice see your accountant/lawyer/tax advisor/travel agent...

Read back some posts from OldTimer about sting operations

[romanian_contractor]

Hi,

Same scenario in my case too! It looks like we are talking with the same agency ... send me a PM to share some more information.

Thanks

Sorry, I didn't see your post until now. You can write me on romanian_contractor@yahoo.com.

For the other guys here, I did what you suggested. Send the company the post and asked them to choose others than ICC. And they did. Now I have a contract with CRI/Infopartners and I think it's OK. So the company was very receptive and well intended.

Thanks

[Londonboy]

"C" like Connexion or "C" like Confusion?

Fatterboy: thanks to your post a discussion I had with this Ranjit fellow came to my mind and I link their MAY 08 newsletter for that:

http://www.internationalcontractorne.../ICN_May08.pdf (check on page 1 right advert)

This issue refers to a new Manco called Union Tower ltd which was supposed to be a low-cost manco as per their nl. When speaking to this chap he make me understand that this company was not operational but would for sure start trading in 2009 latest as this was depending on various elements.

He then confirmed that this new company was part of the Connexions/ICC consort but it would not be managed by any European based office (Malta = Europe..or not??).

Another thing was when I contacted ICC for an alternative project in November 2008 and gave their Lux details to my agent. My agent called me back an hour later saying that the company details I gave him were not for ICC but for a company called Karmason (still have the email). I called them up and was told that this company was providing the same services as ICC was registered at the same office and used for new agencies not yet working with them.

With all these companies involved from Connexions it's obvious that the only purpose is to confuse everybody. BTA included !!!!!!!!!!!

[ace00]

Hi fellas, another connexion victim.
--
But hey, i work for the commision actually not a belgium company, This is via a preferred supplier based in Luxembourg, so i can actually MOVE (administrativly) to Luxembourg and say "bye bye" BTA. No contracts with Belgium companies, There is only a contract with the EU and a Lux company (not other supervision of the BTA).

I know the EU has a special taxation regime - but not sure how it applies to contractors.

Any opinions here on Albany, are they a "bit less dodgy" than the rest (that's my impression)?

[nodric]

I know the EU has a special taxation regime - but not sure how it applies to contractors.

Any opinions here on Albany, are they a "bit less dodgy" than the rest (that's my impression)?

I used Albany some years ago when in France. They work the same way as Conx for the most part. Jason is ex Albany and was Nuno for those that know Conx.

Only difference is Albany are not trying to shaft everyone, yet