Tax Specialist in Belgium

**cojak** · 13 July 2015, 20:23

Only recommendations from regular posters please...

(Which means no 1 post Johnnies.)

**Boo** · 14 July 2015, 09:40

Originally posted by Iand View Post

can anyone recommend a tax specialist in Belgium that can advise contractors and
paying tax etc...

I would find an accountant local to the area of your client and go and visit them rather than talk to specialists in contracting in Belgium - too much risk of getting involved with the wrong people otherwise IMHO.

I asked the proprietor of my B&B who was a nice guy anyway, and he gave me the details of the accountants who dealt with his business(es). Why not try that, or else ask any native Belgian contractors who you might be working with ?

Again, I think you will be better off with a local accountant who deals with small businesses rather than a sub-umbrella type outfit who may or may not have your best interests at heart. Just my HO.

Boo

**Iand** · 14 July 2015, 10:07

Thanks for your replies. I have taken a contract on in Belgium. The agency immediately pushed me towards an umbrella company. As all the paperwork is arriving, I am not liking the details. Looks a bit fishy. My money is being sent to two different companies with dividend being paid back to me from a company in Cyprus. And then there was a company name change. I don't really know what my options are. My residence status is France; however I do have a dormant limited company in the UK. It is likely that I will only do the contract for 6 months.

**sunflower** · 16 July 2015, 13:26

Originally posted by Iand View Post

Thanks for your replies. I have taken a contract on in Belgium. The agency immediately pushed me towards an umbrella company. As all the paperwork is arriving, I am not liking the details. Looks a bit fishy. My money is being sent to two different companies with dividend being paid back to me from a company in Cyprus. And then there was a company name change. I don't really know what my options are. My residence status is France; however I do have a dormant limited company in the UK. It is likely that I will only do the contract for 6 months.

This sounds very dodgy. You cannot split your income in Belgium like this and a few schemes like that have been spotted by the authorities.

Try contacting EAFS on their solutions, www.eafs.eu. They can look at options like you becoming self-employed in Belgium and payroll. On payroll you have to pay employer and employee's social security (people how are normally resident in the UK can continue to pay social security in the UK with the A1 form). The deductions in Belgium are huge. Your retention is possibly as low as 35%.

Not sure how much your social insurance contributions would be in France if you used that as a base?

Self employment in Belgium can allow you to retain about 50%-55%.

Also seek the advice of a local accountant as well.

Tax Specialist in Belgium