Working in Belgium?

[mikeyboy]

Has anyone any experience of working in Belgium long-term? (6 month rolling contract)
In particular, the tax situation there.

Having worked abroad for the past 2 tax years I have an NT tax code and I'm not keen on returning to the UK and losing it.

Thanks

[mikeyboy]

No one??

[ace00]

Depends on who you work for & length of contract.
There is a degree of confusion.
Basically, you should pay tax in Belgium and it is a lot. If you're there under 6 months you might not have to. I believe the client is liable for any tax avoided so many clients will insist you go through an Umbrella, ITECS are the biggest and will provide pro advice.

Further info on thread:

http://forums.contractoruk.com/accou...gium-help.html

[mikeyboy]

Thanks Ace00

[mikeyboy]

The contract is working in NATO HQ, duration 6 months rolling contract. Likely to go on for at least a year.
Rate is £390 per day.
Do you think it is worthwhile?

[SueEllen]

The contract is working in NATO HQ, duration 6 months rolling contract. Likely to go on for at least a year.
Rate is £390 per day.
Do you think it is worthwhile?

The question is:
Do you think it is worthwhile?

Your the one doing the contract so it's up to you to take the risk.

[mikeyboy]

I knew you were gonna say that!

Been reading a little about the "Special Tax Scheme for Expats" and I think I may qualify as I have a home in the Uk and I will continue to pay Nat Insurance contributions.

The whole tax thing does seem to be a minefield though and I am having second thoughts about this role. Pity as the job itself is very interesting and I would really like to give it a bash.

[ace00]

The contract is working in NATO HQ, duration 6 months rolling contract. Likely to go on for at least a year.
Rate is £390 per day.
Do you think it is worthwhile?

Can you handle some major office politics / back-stabbing the contractor?
Nice canteen though.

[The Lone Gunman]

The rate sounds OK for Brussels, but do not know your skills.
You do not want to get involved in the Belgian tax system.
Find a decent Brolly. I used a company called pearl systems. I know one of them and trust him. They are not the cheapest, but I was impressed with the service.

NATO HQ is well out of town, but there is a decent bus service to the gate.
Brussels is a tiny city so you can live anywhere and still have a short commute. Plenty will tell you where not to live. A lot of the expats are around Schuman (as are the Irish bars).

I didnt like the place and you would have to pay me a lot to go back but there are plenty on here who like it.

[Fred Bloggs]

I'm really disillusionewd with the EU over this. We are supposed to have a single market for goods and services, yet working in anothert EU state is a positive nightmare for personal tax it appears. If the 183 day rule was for (say) 2 years then we could elect to be taxed in the UK while taking a project in the EU. I've recently turned down 2 years in Munich because it seemed like just too much hassle, reliable, good advice on the web is very hard to come by.