Doing business in Belgium

Belgium is a federal state composed of the federal level, three regions (Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels-Capital) and three language communities. Company law, tax, social security and customs are federal; investment promotion, many subsidies and export licensing are regional. Companies receive an enterprise number from the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises, tax and customs are administered by the Federal Public Service Finance, the National Bank and the FSMA share financial supervision, the Belgian Competition Authority handles merger control and the Data Protection Authority enforces the GDPR.

Key facts

Corporate income tax

25% standard; 20% on first EUR 100,000 for qualifying SMEs

VAT

21% standard; 12% and 6% reduced

Main entity form

BV/SRL, no minimum capital but financial plan required

Foreign investment

Non-EU investments in sensitive sectors screened since July 2023

Currency and capital flows

Euro; no exchange controls

Data protection

GDPR and Law of 30 July 2018; GBA/APD

New York Convention

Party

E-invoicing

Mandatory structured B2B e-invoicing from 1 January 2026

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Belgium is a federal state in which company law is federal and set out in the Code of Companies and Associations. Most foreign investors use a private limited company (BV/SRL), which has no minimum capital but needs sufficient initial equity and a financial plan, or a public limited company (NV/SA). An NV/SA is formed by notarial deed, companies receive an enterprise number from the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises, and beneficial owners must be identified in the UBO register.

Key facts

• A BV/SRL needs no minimum capital but requires a financial plan and adequate equity, and founders carry risk if equity is manifestly insufficient.

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• An NV/SA needs EUR 61,500 and suits larger or listed businesses.

• Incorporating an NV/SA needs a notary, then filing with the enterprise court and publication in the Official Gazette.

• The enterprise number from the KBO/BCE is the key identifier, used also for VAT.

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• Identify beneficial owners in the UBO register kept by the FPS Finance promptly after incorporation.

Who handles this in BelgiumSetting up and running a companyContracts and commercial law

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2 statements on rates, thresholds or deadlines are held back until they are checked against an official source.

Key facts

• Profits are taxed at 25%, or 20% on the first EUR 100,000 for qualifying SMEs.

• VAT is 21% standard, with 12% and 6% reduced rates.

• Withholding tax of 30% applies before exemptions and treaty relief, so check relief before payments to foreign parties.

Who handles this in BelgiumTax and structuringAccounting and annual filings

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Key facts

• Budget for employer contributions on top of the 13.07% employee contribution.

Who handles this in BelgiumEmployment, payroll and immigration

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Financial services follow a twin-peaks model, with the National Bank of Belgium handling prudential supervision and the Financial Services and Markets Authority conduct supervision. Foreigners can generally buy real estate without special approval. Investment promotion and many incentives are regional.

Key facts

• Banks and insurers are licensed by the National Bank or the ECB; investment services and markets fall under the FSMA.

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• Foreign buyers can acquire real estate, but registration duties differ by region.

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• Public tenders follow the 2016 Public Procurement Law.

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• Contact the regional agency where you plan to locate, as incentives are largely regional.

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Who handles this in BelgiumLicences, permits and regulators

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Belgium uses the euro and has no exchange controls. Banks apply customer due diligence under the 2017 anti-money laundering law, and the financial intelligence unit is CTIF-CFI. Belgian banks report account holders to a central point of contact at the National Bank.

Key facts

• Profits can be repatriated freely in euro, subject to withholding tax.

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• Expect full KYC, including a UBO register extract, when opening an account.

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• Account information is reported centrally and accessible to the tax authorities in defined cases.

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Who handles this in BelgiumBanking and capitalPayments and currencyAnti-bribery, sanctions and compliance

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1 statement on rates, thresholds or deadlines is held back until it is checked against an official source.

Belgium is part of the EU customs union and the Benelux Union, and the port of Antwerp-Bruges is a major entry point for EU imports.

Key facts

• Importers need an EORI number and pay EU common tariff rates on non-EU goods.

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• Benelux cooperation with the Netherlands and Luxembourg extends to shared institutions such as the IP office.

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Who handles this in BelgiumCustoms, trade and export controls

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Key facts

• GDPR and the 2018 law apply, enforced by the Data Protection Authority.

• Invoicing systems must handle structured e-invoices for B2B transactions, exchanged through Peppol.

Who handles this in BelgiumData protection and cyber

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Belgian trademarks and designs are registered at Benelux level through the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property, while national patents are handled by the Belgian Office for Intellectual Property. Belgium participates in the Unified Patent Court, which has a local division in Brussels. Copyright arises without registration.

Key facts

• A Benelux trademark covers Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg together.

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• Patents can be obtained nationally, through the EPO, or as unitary patents enforced in the Unified Patent Court, which has a Brussels local division.

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• Copyright needs no registration, so keep evidence of authorship.

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Who handles this in BelgiumTrade marks, patents and brands

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1 statement on rates, thresholds or deadlines is held back until it is checked against an official source.

Since 1 July 2023 investments by non-EU investors in sensitive sectors have been screened by the Interfederal Screening Commission. Insolvency and judicial reorganisation are governed by Book XX of the Code of Economic Law.

Key facts

• Check Belgian merger thresholds for any deal with Belgian turnover, and do not close before clearance.

• Non-EU buyers of sensitive businesses must notify the Interfederal Screening Commission before closing.

• Judicial reorganisation offers a court-protected route to restructure debts.

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Who handles this in BelgiumBuying, selling and investingLicences, permits and regulators

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1 statement on rates, thresholds or deadlines is held back until it is checked against an official source.

Bribery is a criminal offence, and legal entities have been criminally liable in Belgium since 1999. Listed companies follow the Belgian Corporate Governance Code on a comply-or-explain basis.

Key facts

• Bribery, including of foreign officials and in the private sector, is criminal, and companies themselves can be prosecuted.

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• Listed companies report against the 2020 Corporate Governance Code.

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Who handles this in BelgiumAnti-bribery, sanctions and compliance

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Commercial disputes between enterprises are heard by the enterprise courts, with the Court of Cassation at the top of the system. Arbitration is governed by the Judicial Code, revised in 2013 along UNCITRAL Model Law lines, and CEPANI is the main Belgian arbitration centre. Belgium is a party to the New York Convention.

Key facts

• Awards are enforceable abroad under the New York Convention, and the 2013 arbitration law follows the Model Law.

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• Disputes between businesses go to the enterprise courts.

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• CEPANI is the main domestic institution for arbitration and mediation.

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• EU judgments are enforced under Brussels I bis.

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Who handles this in BelgiumDisputes and arbitrationContracts and commercial law