Working in Belgium via Connexion

[nodric]

All the searches I did point to these corporate tax rates in Belgium:

The standard corporate tax rate is 33,99%. Reduced rates can be applied when the taxable profit does not exceed EUR 322,500, 24.25% on profits of up to EUR 25,000, 31% on profits between EUR 25,000 and EUR 90,000 and 34.5% on profits between EUR 90,000 and EUR 322,500.

About the 12000 you have to pay out of the 36000 salary:
Shouldn't you also pay employer's SS contributions?

In any case, thanks for the info you have provided.

Nikos,

I gave a basic guide as to what to expect in Belgium. Your post highlights that as your company profits rise so will your tax. This should also serve as a warning that if you have a high daily rate, and minimal expenses, you will pay more tax if operating on 100% declaration, even through a company.

Yes the company has to pay employers SS contributions, but on the minimum salary (why would you take more) this is only 21 Euros a month plus an annual amount of about 350 Euros (exact amounts vary slightly).

If you make Belgium your home and buy a house here, your company can be used as a tax efficient vehicle for this, and other 'personal' expenses. The problems start when you need cash for school fees, holidays, your UK mortgage and so on. If you take money from the company, dividends and bonuses etc, this becomes personal income just the same as the UK. However, unlike the UK you will then get mugged by the BTA, the impact of which can go on for years.

Most contractors will not have a Ltd Co in Belgium, and will seek to work as freelance in some capacity to avoid costs and complexity for what may turn out to be a short engagement. This is where they fall into the high personal tax, and almost criminal SS trap.

I am not an accountant and anyone considering working in Belgium should seek the advice of one before accepting a contract and moving here.

DO NOT LISTEN TO THE ENDLESS BS THE MANCOS WILL FEED YOU TO GET YOUR 500+ (insert currency of choice here) A MONTH.

My comments are based on my real experiences, and those of colleagues and friends over the last 10 years, and we all use local non ManCo accountants

If it is helping a few folks, as it seems to be, then it was worth the RSI

[Fred Bloggs]

It's helped me, I'll just avoid the country like the plague.

[fm123]

Nikos,

Most contractors will not have a Ltd Co in Belgium, and will seek to work as freelance in some capacity to avoid costs and complexity for what may turn out to be a short engagement. This is where they fall into the high personal tax, and almost criminal SS trap.

If someone is in Belgium just on a four-monther, then they can probably get away with going through their limited company back home, or whatever.

For anyone in Belgium long-term, I can't see any better alternative to the limited company - if you want to be fully legal. Sure you'll pay more tax than going through a ManCo. However, there is no way I want anything to do with any ManCo ever again. They are without exception a bunch of cowboys - riding by the seats of their pants. And in some cases they are out and out crooks.

My hope is in due course that the BTA will come to their senses, and devise a taxation structure for freelancers, similar to that in the Netherlands.

Thanks to everyone here for the great advice.

[naijamanuk]

Sh*ite!!
I've spent hours on this thread and i'm getting more and more depressed by the minute... Maybe i should have read this before accepting a contract i've just been offered. Its for 4 months so i was thinking of just using my uk ltd co... but now i just dont know...

[AlfredJPruffock]

Sh*ite!!
I've spent hours on this thread and i'm getting more and more depressed by the minute... Maybe i should have read this before accepting a contract i've just been offered. Its for 4 months so i was thinking of just using my uk ltd co... but now i just dont know...

I would use your Ltd - that will cover you for six months - if you want to stay on after that - then cross that bridge when the time comes.

Who know what the future will bring - maybe you will like Bel maybe you wont.

Maybe youll get more than 4 months work - maybe more - maybe youll be back after 4 days.

Better the devil you know.

[JustMe]

any news about connexion

It is very quiet about connexion. Does someone has any news.

A connexion victim

[JustMe]

One of the worst days of my life

Just received a letter from BTA code 316 to supply details of my foreign
bank details

Require advice

Say you do not have one. Could be a standard message. Let them proof it. If so you are ****ed anyway.

[Brussels Slumdog]

My Worst day

Say you do not have one. Could be a standard message. Let them proof it. If so you are ****ed anyway.

OK

[Brussels Slumdog]

Worst day

Gruesome stuff - do you still work via a mgmt co or is this for past years?

Last year not Belgium
This year mainly on bench

[TiroFijo]

[QUOTE=Brussels Slumdog;935884]

It is very quiet about connexion. Does someone has any news.


Just received standard letter from BTA to supply details of my bank details

I guess you are living in Belgium? If so why not just up sticks and leave and head back to the UK? I'm assuming you are from the UK and since that you have an offshore account the BTA would be after your stash? Better now to up sticks and leave (keeping your wad) than face the BTA...

Looks like Belgium along side Germany are two countries not worth contracting in - not that I'v ever have wanted to anyway. After all isnt Brussels just a tad f ucking boring?