Working in Belgium via Connexion

[ContractorGR]

ContractorGR and fatboyContractor - tag team?

Why don't they just get a room (or maybe they already have???)

At least this means us poor blighters in the Fatherland aren't the only ones suffering.

The thread name is "Working in Belgium via Connexion"
Who is not interested should not even look at it
I don't understand your problem

[BlightyBoy]

The thread name is "Working in Belgium via Connexion"
Who is not interested should not even look at it
I don't understand your problem

Schadenfreude.

[fatboyContractor]

ContractorGR and fatboyContractor - tag team?

Why don't they just get a room (or maybe they already have???)

At least this means us poor blighters in the Fatherland aren't the only ones suffering.

Yep that's it and I am BIG DADDY

[BlightyBoy]

Ooh, too much information.

Maybe you should just get back to thrashing out tax issues (rather than each other).

[Rantor]

I ran this past my Belgian mate who owns a Belgian Co. For me, it probably isn't worth it. But the figure of €8 - 10K isn't far off as most of that will be the deposit to run a BVA. If you're planning to hang around 3 years or more then it's worth pursuing.

There is a service in Brussels that he'd recommend visiting that will set you up inside 3 days; the cost is about €2K.

The upfront costs are high compared to Britain, but the worst part is actually the lawyers fees (around 1k for knob all) and the grasping accountants setup fee (1k, ditto)

These can be repaid from the company capital (30% of 20 something thousand – usual unfathomable belgoreg) and the rest is company operating capital and is not considered when calculating profit.

What you can do, and it involves a few hundred euros more in audit fees, is to use your car as the company capital. Accountants hate this approach as it involves them doing some work for their fee.

Once it is set up, the expense regime is pretty good. As well as utilities, car, fuel etc. you can rent part of your house to yourco. If you are here for a while, then group assurance is worth it. Its even possible to do daily expenses through your company.

I’m expecting to pay around 35% in Social, Income & Corporate taxes for 2009 though possibly a bit less. A lot of people will not like the sound of that, but if you are here for a few years then it makes life a wee bit easier.

BTW - 3 days to set up - in Belgium

[fatboyContractor]

Would you mind expanding on this – it seems to be a very specific number?

So all ‘14’ have, or are going to, open their books to the BTA? Even the ones with no Belgian presence?

I spoke to the owner of the company I used before going ltd, and they seemed convinced that they had not received any such demands from BTA and explained what their response would be if any such demand did arrive.

Personally, I would assume that the lack of clarity with this ‘deal’ has got a good chance of being down to various interested parties angling to maximize their cut. I am 100% convinced that there will be a lot of ‘poacher turned gamekeeper’ stuff going on from the Belgian end of things. I’m not with Connexions but I have the same bean counter as many of you and I am concerned that this is where much of the risk will lie (hint!)

Hi Rantor,

I think it is deeper than this, all companies are now fighting for survival. Even with the much spoken of 75/25 split people - people even on this thread - are talking about starting ltd/sprl/bvba instead of using a manco. Manco's will bury their heads for so long as they can in order to maintain their business model. Remeber that Connexion also have no Belgian prescence, but are implicitly accepting that their business model is holed beneath the water as they are no longer preparaed to do a split for people - other than - 75/25.

If people start ltd on mass then the manco's will at best be heavily wounded at worst toast.

The manco's are slowly but surely becoming redundant.

[Fatterboy]

Just to be clear, there is not one single person at Connexion that is a qualified accountant.

[BlightyBoy]

Just to be clear, there is not one single person at Connexion that is a qualified accountant.

Just to be clear, there is not one single person on this Forum that is a qualified accountant either!

If that is not true, then I suggest they make themselves known!

[fatboyContractor]

Just to be clear, there is not one single person at Connexion that is a qualified accountant.

I have been saying this all along. They are "solution providers". With smooth Cape Town accents.

[Fatterboy]

I raise this point not as a criticism but as an important point considering that people on this forum have said that "the accountant at Connexion" will be making the calculations.

Also, specifically to Fatboycontractor, the current MD has said to you that the previous MD binned letters from the BTA. That is laughable. I know for an absolute fact that this is not the case. This urges me to beg the question "what else is not the case in what you are being told?"

Belgium is not the only country where there is a current investigation with the Modus Operandi of this company. There have been 3 or 4 MD's in this time but only ONE owner. So I would suggest that the real focus of frustration should be aimed towards Cape Town.

If you want to talk to him, GOOGLE him...............it is actually quite amusing. Or look on Linkedin or facebook.

"Financial Evangelist" or something like that.

Just to be clear, there is not one single person on this Forum that is a qualified accountant either!

If that is not true, then I suggest they make themselves known!