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Belgium VAT Return (Déclaration Périodique / Periodieke Aangifte)

Prepare, review, or classify transactions for a Belgian VAT return (déclaration périodique TVA / periodieke BTW-aangifte) for a self-employed individual or small business in Belgium.

BelgiumTax year 2025· Last reviewed Apr 13, 2026

Key facts — Belgium, 2025

FieldValue
CountryBelgium (Koninkrijk België / Royaume de Belgique)
Standard rate21%
Reduced rates12% (social housing, restaurant meals including non-alcoholic drinks, certain energy products), 6% (basic foodstuffs, water, books, medicines, hotels, renovation of old residential buildings, passenger transport, cultural events)
Zero rate0% (exports, intra-EU B2B supplies of goods, certain newspapers)
Return formDéclaration périodique à la TVA (grilles/cases 00–91)
Filing portalhttps://finances.belgium.be (MyMinfin / Intervat)
AuthoritySPF Finances / FOD Financiën
CurrencyEUR only
Filing frequenciesMonthly (turnover > €2,500,000 or mandatory sectors); Quarterly (below threshold, standard)
Deadline20th of the month following the period
Companion skill (Tier 1, workflow)vat-workflow-base v0.1 or later — MUST be loaded
Companion skill (Tier 2, EU directive)eu-vat-directive v0.1 or later — MUST be loaded
ContributorOpen Accountants contributors
Validation dateApril 2026

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About

Use this skill whenever asked to prepare, review, or classify transactions for a Belgian VAT return (déclaration périodique TVA / periodieke BTW-aangifte) for a self-employed individual or small business in Belgium. Trigger on phrases like "prepare Belgian VAT return", "Belgian BTW", "déclaration TVA Belgique", "BTW-aangifte", "classify transactions for Belgian VAT", or any request involving Belgium VAT filing. This skill covers Belgium only, standard regime (normal/normal simplifié). Régime forfaitaire, partial exemption, margin scheme, and VAT units are in the refusal catalogue. MUST be loaded alongside BOTH vat-workflow-base v0.1 or later AND eu-vat-directive v0.1 or later. ALWAYS read this skill before touching any Belgian VAT work.

BelgiumTax year 2025

Full guide

Belgium VAT Return Skill (Déclaration Périodique / Periodieke Aangifte) v2.0

Section 1 — Quick reference

Read this whole section before classifying anything. The workflow runbook is in vat-workflow-base Section 1 — follow that runbook with this skill providing the country-specific content and eu-vat-directive providing the EU directive content.

FieldValue
CountryBelgium (Koninkrijk België / Royaume de Belgique)
Standard rate21%
Reduced rates12% (social housing, restaurant meals including non-alcoholic drinks, certain energy products), 6% (basic foodstuffs, water, books, medicines, hotels, renovation of old residential buildings, passenger transport, cultural events)
Zero rate0% (exports, intra-EU B2B supplies of goods, certain newspapers)
Return formDéclaration périodique à la TVA (grilles/cases 00–91)
Filing portalhttps://finances.belgium.be (MyMinfin / Intervat)
AuthoritySPF Finances / FOD Financiën
CurrencyEUR only
Filing frequenciesMonthly (turnover > €2,500,000 or mandatory sectors); Quarterly (below threshold, standard)
Deadline20th of the month following the period
Companion skill (Tier 1, workflow)vat-workflow-base v0.1 or later — MUST be loaded
Companion skill (Tier 2, EU directive)eu-vat-directive v0.1 or later — MUST be loaded
ContributorOpen Accountants contributors
Validation dateApril 2026

Key grilles/cases (the boxes you will use most):

GrilleMeaning
00Sales of goods and services at 0% (non-taxable/exempt with credit)
01Sales at 6% (base)
02Sales at 12% (base)
03Sales at 21% (base)
44Intra-EU services received (reverse charge base)
45Intra-EU services provided (base)
46Intra-EU goods supplied (base, 0%)
47Other exempt operations and operations with co-contractor reverse charge
48Credit notes issued (negative output)
49Credit notes received (negative input)
54Output VAT on grilles 01, 02, 03
55Output VAT on intra-EU acquisitions and reverse charge (grilles 86, 88)
56Output VAT on co-contractor reverse charge
57Output VAT on imports with ET 14 licence
59Total output VAT
81Purchases of goods, raw materials, consumables (base)
82Purchases of services and diverse goods (base)
83Purchases of capital goods (investissements, base)
84Credit notes received on purchases
85Credit notes issued on sales
86Intra-EU acquisitions of goods and services (base, linked with grille 55)
87Other acquisitions (imports, etc.)
88Intra-EU services received (base, linked with grille 55)
59Total output VAT (sum of 54+55+56+57)
63Total deductible input VAT (voorbelasting / TVA déductible)
71Net VAT payable (if 59 > 63)
72Net VAT credit (if 63 > 59)

Conservative defaults — Belgium-specific values:

AmbiguityDefault
Unknown rate on a sale21%
Unknown VAT status of a purchaseNot deductible
Unknown counterparty countryDomestic Belgium
Unknown B2B vs B2C status for EU customerB2C, charge 21%
Unknown business-use proportion0% recovery
Unknown SaaS billing entityReverse charge from non-EU
Unknown blocked-input statusBlocked
Unknown whether transaction is in scopeIn scope

Red flag thresholds:

ThresholdValue
HIGH single-transaction size€5,000
HIGH tax-delta on a single conservative default€400
MEDIUM counterparty concentration>40% of output OR input
MEDIUM conservative-default count>4 across the return
LOW absolute net VAT position€10,000

Section 2 — Required inputs and refusal catalogue

Required inputs

Minimum viable — bank statement for the period. Acceptable from: BNP Paribas Fortis, KBC, Belfius, ING Belgium, CBC, AXA Bank, Argenta, Crelan, Revolut Business, Wise Business, or any other.

Recommended — sales invoices (especially intra-EU and co-contractor reverse charge), purchase invoices above €400, the client's TVA/BTW number (BE + 10 digits).

Ideal — complete invoice register, prior period return, reconciliation of grille 72 credit.

Refusal policy if minimum is missing — SOFT WARN. Same as Malta v2.0 template.

Belgium-specific refusal catalogue

R-BE-1 — Régime forfaitaire. Trigger: client is under the flat-rate scheme (forfaitaire regeling). Message: "Forfaitaire taxpayers have simplified obligations with pre-determined profit margins. This skill covers the normal regime only."

R-BE-2 — Small enterprise exemption (vrijstellingsregeling / franchise). Trigger: client under the small enterprise exemption (turnover < €25,000). Message: "Small enterprise exemption clients do not charge VAT and cannot recover input VAT. They file a special listing only (listing clients), not the periodic return. This skill covers the normal regime."

R-BE-3 — Partial exemption (pro rata). Trigger: both taxable and exempt supplies, non-de-minimis. Message: "You make both taxable and exempt supplies. Input VAT must be apportioned. Please use a comptable-fiscaliste."

R-BE-4 — Margin scheme (régime de la marge / margeregeling). Trigger: second-hand goods, art, antiques. Message: "Margin scheme requires per-item margin computation. Out of scope."

R-BE-5 — VAT unit (unité TVA / BTW-eenheid). Trigger: client is part of a BTW-eenheid. Message: "BTW-eenheden require consolidation. Out of scope."

R-BE-6 — Fiscal representative. Trigger: non-resident with fiscal representative. Message: "Non-resident with fiscal representative — out of scope."

R-BE-7 — Real estate (TVA immobilière). Trigger: new construction or property. Message: "Real estate VAT is complex. Please use a comptable-fiscaliste."

R-BE-8 — Income tax instead of VAT. Trigger: user asks about IPP/ISOC instead of TVA/BTW. Message: "This skill handles Belgian VAT only."


Section 3 — Supplier pattern library (the lookup table)

Match by case-insensitive substring. If none match, fall through to Section 5.

3.1 Belgian banks (fees exempt — exclude)

PatternTreatmentNotes
BNP PARIBAS FORTIS, FORTISEXCLUDE for bank chargesFinancial service, exempt
KBC, KBC BANKEXCLUDE for bank chargesSame
BELFIUS, DEXIAEXCLUDE for bank chargesSame
ING BELGIQUE, ING BELGIE, ING BEEXCLUDE for bank chargesSame
CBCEXCLUDE for bank chargesSame
ARGENTA, CRELANEXCLUDE for bank chargesSame
AXA BANK, AGIEASEXCLUDE for bank chargesSame
REVOLUT, WISE, N26 (fee lines)EXCLUDECheck for separate taxable subscriptions
INTERETS, RENTE, INTERESTEXCLUDEInterest, out of scope
PRET, LENING, EMPRUNTEXCLUDELoan principal, out of scope

3.2 Belgian government, regulators, and statutory bodies (exclude entirely)

PatternTreatmentNotes
SPF FINANCES, FOD FINANCIENEXCLUDETax payment (TVA, IPP, ISOC)
MINFIN, ADMINISTRATION FISCALEEXCLUDETax payment
ONSS, RSZEXCLUDESocial security contributions (ONSS/RSZ)
CAISSE D'ASSURANCES SOCIALES, SOCIAAL VERZEKERINGSFONDSEXCLUDESocial security for self-employed
UCM, ACERTA, PARTENA, LIANTIS, SECUREX, XERIUSEXCLUDESocial security funds for self-employed
GREFFE, GREFFIEREXCLUDECourt fees
BCE, KBO, BANQUE CARREFOUREXCLUDEBusiness register fees
PROVINCE, COMMUNE, GEMEENTEEXCLUDELocal government fees

3.3 Belgian utilities

PatternTreatmentGrilleNotes
ENGIE ELECTRABEL, ELECTRABELDomestic 21% or 6%82/63 (input)Electricity: 21% standard; gas/electricity may be 6% (temporary energy measures — verify current rate)
LUMINUSDomestic 21% or 6%82/63Energy
TOTALENERGIES BELGIQUEDomestic 21%82/63Energy
PROXIMUSDomestic 21%82/63 (input)Telecoms — overhead
TELENETDomestic 21%82/63 (input)Telecoms/cable/broadband
ORANGE BELGIQUE, ORANGE BEDomestic 21%82/63Mobile telecoms
BASE, MOBILE VIKINGSDomestic 21%82/63Mobile telecoms
SWDE, VIVAQUADomestic 6%82/63Water supply at reduced rate

3.4 Insurance (exempt — exclude)

PatternTreatmentNotes
AG INSURANCE, AGEXCLUDEInsurance, exempt
ETHIAS, AXA BELGIQUEEXCLUDESame
P&V, VIVIUM, BALOISEEXCLUDESame
ASSURANCE, VERZEKERINGEXCLUDEAll insurance exempt
MUTUELLE, MUTUALITEITEXCLUDEHealth insurance mutual, exempt

3.5 Post and logistics

PatternTreatmentGrilleNotes
BPOST (standard mail)EXCLUDE for standard postageUniversal postal service, exempt
BPOST (parcels)Domestic 21%82/63Non-universal services taxable
DHL EXPRESS BELGIQUEDomestic 21%82/63Express courier
UPS BELGIUM, TNT BELGIUMDomestic 21%82/63Courier
MONDIAL RELAY, COLIS PRIVEDomestic 21%82/63Parcel delivery

3.6 Transport (Belgium domestic)

PatternTreatmentGrilleNotes
SNCB, NMBSDomestic 6%82/63 (input)Rail transport at reduced rate
STIB, MIVBDomestic 6%82/63 (input)Brussels public transport
TECDomestic 6%82/63 (input)Walloon public transport
DE LIJNDomestic 6%82/63 (input)Flemish public transport
UBER BE, UBER BELGIUMDomestic 6% (transport)82/63Ride-hailing
TAXI, TAXI VERTSDomestic 6%82/63Local taxi, reduced rate
BRUSSELS AIRLINES (domestic/Schengen)Domestic 21%82/63Domestic/intra-EU flights at 21%
BRUSSELS AIRLINES, RYANAIR (international non-EU)EXCLUDE / 0%International flights exempt

3.7 Food retail (blocked unless hospitality business)

PatternTreatmentNotes
COLRUYT, COLRUYT GROUPDefault BLOCK input VATPersonal provisioning
DELHAIZE, AHOLD DELHAIZEDefault BLOCKSame
CARREFOUR BELGIQUE, ALDI, LIDLDefault BLOCKSame
MATCH, PROXY DELHAIZE, SPARDefault BLOCKSame
RESTAURANT, BRASSERIE, CAFEDefault BLOCKEntertainment — see Section 5.12

3.8 SaaS — EU suppliers (reverse charge, grille 88/55 for services, 86/55 for goods)

PatternBilling entityGrilleNotes
GOOGLE (Ads, Workspace, Cloud)Google Ireland Ltd (IE)88/55 + 63EU service reverse charge
MICROSOFT (365, Azure)Microsoft Ireland Operations Ltd (IE)88/55 + 63Same
ADOBEAdobe Systems Software Ireland Ltd (IE)88/55 + 63Same
META, FACEBOOK ADSMeta Platforms Ireland Ltd (IE)88/55 + 63Same
LINKEDIN (paid)LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited (IE)88/55 + 63Same
SPOTIFY TECHNOLOGYSpotify AB (SE)88/55 + 63EU reverse charge
DROPBOXDropbox International Unlimited (IE)88/55 + 63Same
SLACKSlack Technologies Ireland Ltd (IE)88/55 + 63Same
ATLASSIAN (Jira, Confluence)Atlassian Network Services BV (NL)88/55 + 63EU reverse charge
ZOOMZoom Video Communications Ireland Ltd (IE)88/55 + 63Same
STRIPE (subscription)Stripe Technology Europe Ltd (IE)88/55 + 63Transaction fees exempt — see 3.11

3.9 SaaS — non-EU suppliers (reverse charge, grille 87/56 area)

PatternBilling entityGrilleNotes
AWS (standard)AWS EMEA SARL (LU) — check88/55 + 63LU → EU reverse charge
NOTIONNotion Labs Inc (US)87 + 56 + 63Non-EU reverse charge
ANTHROPIC, CLAUDEAnthropic PBC (US)87 + 56 + 63Non-EU reverse charge
OPENAI, CHATGPTOpenAI Inc (US)87 + 56 + 63Non-EU reverse charge
GITHUB (standard)GitHub Inc (US)87 + 56 + 63Check if billed by IE entity
FIGMAFigma Inc (US)87 + 56 + 63Non-EU reverse charge
CANVACanva Pty Ltd (AU)87 + 56 + 63Non-EU reverse charge
HUBSPOTHubSpot Inc (US) or IE — check87/56 or 88/55Depends on billing entity
TWILIOTwilio Inc (US)87 + 56 + 63Non-EU reverse charge

3.10 SaaS — the exception

PatternTreatmentWhy
AWS EMEA SARLEU reverse charge 88/55 + 63 (LU entity)If invoice shows Belgian BTW, treat as domestic 21%.

3.11 Payment processors

PatternTreatmentNotes
STRIPE (transaction fees)EXCLUDE (exempt)Financial services
PAYPAL (transaction fees)EXCLUDE (exempt)Same
STRIPE (subscription)EU reverse charge 88/55 + 63IE entity
MOLLIE, ADYENCheck invoiceDutch entities — typically via NL entity
SUMUP, SQUARE, ZETTLECheck invoiceIf Belgian: domestic 21%; if EU: reverse charge

3.12 Professional services (Belgium)

PatternTreatmentGrilleNotes
COMPTABLE, BOEKHOUDERDomestic 21%82/63Always deductible
EXPERT COMPTABLE, BEDRIJFSREVISORDomestic 21%82/63Audit/accounting
AVOCAT, ADVOCAATDomestic 21%82/63Business legal matters
NOTAIRE, NOTARISDomestic 21%82/63Business notarial fees
FISCALISTE, BELASTINGCONSULENTDomestic 21%82/63Tax adviser

3.13 Payroll and social security (exclude entirely)

PatternTreatmentNotes
ONSS, RSZEXCLUDESocial security employer contributions
PRECOMPTE PROFESSIONNEL, BEDRIJFSVOORHEFFINGEXCLUDEPayroll tax withholding
SALAIRE, LOON, WEDDEEXCLUDEWages
PENSION, PENSIOENEXCLUDEPension contributions
UCM, ACERTA, PARTENA, SECUREXEXCLUDESelf-employed social contributions

3.14 Property and rent

PatternTreatmentNotes
LOYER COMMERCIAL, HUUR BEDRIJFSPANDDomestic 21%Commercial lease with TVA/BTW option
LOYER, HUUR (residential)EXCLUDEResidential lease exempt
PRECOMPTE IMMOBILIER, ONROERENDE VOORHEFFINGEXCLUDEProperty tax
CADASTRE, KADASTEREXCLUDEGovernment

3.15 Internal transfers and exclusions

PatternTreatmentNotes
VIREMENT INTERNE, INTERNE OVERBOEKINGEXCLUDEInternal movement
DIVIDENDE, DIVIDENDEXCLUDEOut of scope
REMBOURSEMENT PRET, AFLOSSINGEXCLUDELoan repayment
RETRAIT, GELDOPNAMETIER 2 — askDefault exclude
APPORT, INBRENGEXCLUDEOwner injection

Section 4 — Worked examples

Six fully worked classifications from a hypothetical Belgium-based self-employed IT consultant.

Example 1 — Non-EU SaaS reverse charge (Notion)

Input line: 03.04.2026 ; NOTION LABS INC ; DEBIT ; Monthly subscription ; USD 16.00 ; EUR 14.68

Reasoning: Notion Labs Inc is US (Section 3.9). Non-EU reverse charge. Client self-assesses: output VAT on grille 56, input VAT on grille 63. Base on grille 87. Net effect zero.

Output:

DateCounterpartyGrossNetVATRateGrille (input)Grille (output)Default?Question?Excluded?
03.04.2026NOTION LABS INC-14.68-14.683.0821%6356 (base 87)N

Example 2 — EU service, reverse charge (Google Ads)

Input line: 10.04.2026 ; GOOGLE IRELAND LIMITED ; DEBIT ; Google Ads April 2026 ; -850.00 ; EUR

Reasoning: IE entity — EU service reverse charge. Base on grille 88, output VAT on grille 55, input VAT on grille 63. Net zero.

Output:

DateCounterpartyGrossNetVATRateGrille (input)Grille (output)Default?Question?Excluded?
10.04.2026GOOGLE IRELAND LIMITED-850.00-850.00178.5021%6355 (base 88)N

Example 3 — Entertainment, treatment in Belgium

Input line: 15.04.2026 ; COMME CHEZ SOI BRUXELLES ; DEBIT ; Business dinner ; -220.00 ; EUR

Reasoning: Restaurant transaction. In Belgium, the TVA on restaurant meals at 12% is deductible if the meal has a business purpose and is properly documented (names, business reason). However, frais de réception (entertainment of external guests) at 50% deductible for income tax but fully deductible for VAT if documented. Personal meals: blocked. Default: block, flag for reviewer.

Output:

DateCounterpartyGrossNetVATRateGrilleDefault?Question?Excluded?
15.04.2026COMME CHEZ SOI BRUXELLES-220.00-220.000YQ1"Restaurant: TVA deductible if business purpose. Confirm and provide names."

Example 4 — Capital goods (investissement)

Input line: 18.04.2026 ; DELL BELGIQUE SA ; DEBIT ; Laptop XPS 15 ; -1,595.00 ; EUR

Reasoning: Capital goods in Belgium go to grille 83 (investissements / investeringen). There is no explicit minimum threshold for capitalisation for TVA purposes, but assets used for more than one year are typically treated as capital goods. Input VAT on grille 63. Subject to herzieningsregeling (5 years movable, 15 years immovable).

Output:

DateCounterpartyGrossNetVATRateGrilleDefault?Question?Excluded?
18.04.2026DELL BELGIQUE SA-1,595.00-1,318.18-276.8221%83/63N

Example 5 — EU B2B service sale

Input line: 22.04.2026 ; STUDIO KREBS GMBH ; CREDIT ; Invoice BE-2026-018 IT consultancy ; +3,500.00 ; EUR

Reasoning: B2B services to Germany — place of supply is customer's country. Report on grille 45 (services intracommunautaires fournis). No output VAT. Verify German USt-IdNr on VIES.

Output:

DateCounterpartyGrossNetVATRateGrilleDefault?Question?Excluded?
22.04.2026STUDIO KREBS GMBH+3,500.00+3,500.0000%45YQ2 (HIGH)"Verify German USt-IdNr on VIES"

Example 6 — Motor vehicle, partial recovery

Input line: 28.04.2026 ; ARVAL BELGIUM ; DEBIT ; Lease payment BMW 3 Series ; -650.00 ; EUR

Reasoning: Car lease. In Belgium, TVA on cars is deductible based on professional use, capped at a maximum of 50% (Art. 45 §2 CTVA). The default professional use percentage can be calculated using the formula: (distance domicile-travail x 2 x 200 working days + private km) / total km. For mixed-use vehicles, the 50% cap applies. Default: 50% deductible (most common for self-employed).

Output:

DateCounterpartyGrossNetVATRateGrilleDefault?Question?Excluded?
28.04.2026ARVAL BELGIUM-650.00-537.19-112.81 (x 50% = -56.40 deductible)21%82/63 (partial)YQ3"Vehicle: max 50% TVA deductible. Confirm professional use %."

Section 5 — Tier 1 classification rules (compressed)

5.1 Standard rate 21% (Art. 37 §1 CTVA)

Default rate. Sales → grille 03/54. Purchases → grille 81 or 82 or 83 / grille 63.

5.2 Reduced rate 12% (Table B, Annex to AR no. 20)

Restaurant meals (food + non-alcoholic drinks), social housing, certain energy products (margarine). Sales → grille 02/54. Purchases → grille 81 or 82 / 63.

5.3 Reduced rate 6% (Table A, Annex to AR no. 20)

Basic foodstuffs, water supply, books, medicines, hotels, renovation of old residential buildings (>10 years), passenger transport, cultural events (concerts, theatre, museums), social housing rehabilitation. Sales → grille 01/54. Purchases → grille 81 or 82 / 63.

5.4 Zero rate

Exports → grille 00 (with export evidence). Intra-EU goods → grille 46 (with VIES). Intra-EU B2B services → grille 45.

5.5 Exempt without credit (Art. 44 CTVA)

Medical, education, insurance, financial services, residential rent, postal universal service. If significant → R-BE-3 refuses.

5.6 Local purchases

Input VAT on compliant invoice. Goods → grille 81, services → grille 82, capital goods → grille 83. Input VAT → grille 63.

5.7 Co-contractor reverse charge (medecontractant / cocontractant)

Belgium has a domestic co-contractor reverse charge for construction work (Art. 20 AR no. 1), real estate transactions, and certain other sectors. The customer self-assesses VAT. Base → grille 87, output VAT → grille 56, input → grille 63. Invoices must mention "TVA due par le cocontractant" or "BTW verlegd".

5.8 Reverse charge — EU services (Art. 21 §2 CTVA)

EU service: base → grille 88, output VAT → grille 55, input → grille 63. Net zero.

5.9 Reverse charge — EU goods (intracommunautaire verwervingen)

EU goods: base → grille 86, output VAT → grille 55, input → grille 63.

5.10 Reverse charge — non-EU

Non-EU services/goods: base → grille 87, output VAT → grille 56, input → grille 63. If goods import with ET 14 licence → base grille 87, output → grille 57.

5.11 Capital goods (investissements)

Assets used for >1 year → grille 83. Subject to herzieningstermijn (5 years movable, 15 years immovable). No explicit minimum value threshold for TVA capitalisation.

5.12 Blocked/restricted input VAT

  • Motor vehicles: max 50% deductible (Art. 45 §2 CTVA). Professional use formula or lump sum.
  • Fuel: follows vehicle deduction percentage (max 50%).
  • Restaurant meals: TVA deductible if business purpose documented. Alcohol excluded.
  • Entertainment/reception (frais de réception): TVA fully deductible for VAT purposes (unlike 50% income tax deduction). BUT personal entertainment blocked.
  • Gifts: TVA deductible if unit value ≤ €50 (excluding VAT) per occasion.
  • Tobacco: not deductible.
  • Hotel accommodation for staff: not deductible. For clients/third parties: deductible.

5.13 Co-contractor reverse charge (construction detail)

For registered construction contractors: when a registered contractor provides construction services to another registered contractor, the customer self-assesses. The supplier invoices without VAT and mentions "BTW verlegd — medecontractant" or "Autoliquidation — Art. 20 AR n° 1". This is uniquely Belgian — not found in all EU member states.

5.14 Sales — local domestic

Charge 21%, 12%, or 6%. Map to grille 01/02/03 + 54.

5.15 Sales — cross-border B2C

Above €10,000 EU-wide → R-EU-5 OSS refusal fires.


Section 6 — Tier 2 catalogue (compressed)

6.1 Fuel and vehicle costs

Pattern: TOTAL, SHELL, Q8, TEXACO. Default: 50% deductible (vehicle cap). Question: "What is the professional use percentage?"

6.2 Restaurants and entertainment

Pattern: restaurant, brasserie, café. Default: block. Question: "Business meal? Names and purpose? Note: alcohol VAT never deductible."

6.3 Ambiguous SaaS billing entities

Default: non-EU reverse charge (87/56/63). Question: "Check invoice for legal entity."

6.4 Round-number owner transfers

Default: exclude. Question: "Customer payment, own money, or loan?"

6.5 Incoming from individuals

Default: domestic B2C 21%. Question: "Sale? Business or consumer?"

6.6 Foreign counterparty incoming

Default: domestic 21%. Question: "B2B with VAT number, B2C, goods or services, country?"

6.7 Large one-off purchases

Default: grille 83 if capital good. Question: "Confirm invoice amount."

6.8 Mixed-use phone, internet

Default: 0%. Question: "Dedicated business or mixed?"

6.9 Outgoing to individuals

Default: exclude. Question: "Contractor, wages, refund, or personal?"

6.10 Cash withdrawals

Default: exclude. Question: "What was cash used for?"

6.11 Rent

Default: no VAT (residential). Question: "Commercial with TVA option?"

6.12 Foreign hotel

Default: exclude from input. Question: "Business trip?"

6.13 Airbnb income

Default: [T2] flag. Question: "Duration? Tourist accommodation?"

6.14 Co-contractor construction reverse charge

Pattern: construction companies, entrepreneurs. Default: [T2] flag. Question: "Is this construction work subject to co-contractor reverse charge (medecontractant)?"

6.15 Platform sales

Default: if EU cross-border above €10,000 → R-EU-5. Otherwise: domestic 21%. Question: "Sell outside Belgium?"


Section 7 — Excel working paper template (Belgium-specific)

The base specification is in vat-workflow-base Section 3.

Sheet "Transactions"

Column H accepts grille codes from Section 1.

Sheet "Grille Summary"

| 01 | Sales 6% base | =SUMIFS(...) |
| 02 | Sales 12% base | =SUMIFS(...) |
| 03 | Sales 21% base | =SUMIFS(...) |
| 45 | Intra-EU services provided | =SUMIFS(...) |
| 46 | Intra-EU goods supplied | =SUMIFS(...) |
| 54 | Output VAT on domestic sales | =01*0.06 + 02*0.12 + 03*0.21 |
| 55 | Output VAT on EU reverse charge | =(86+88)*0.21 |
| 56 | Output VAT on non-EU/co-contractor | =87*0.21 |
| 59 | Total output VAT | =54+55+56+57 |
| 81 | Purchases goods base | =SUMIFS(...) |
| 82 | Purchases services base | =SUMIFS(...) |
| 83 | Capital goods base | =SUMIFS(...) |
| 86 | EU goods acquired base | =SUMIFS(...) |
| 88 | EU services received base | =SUMIFS(...) |
| 87 | Other acquisitions base | =SUMIFS(...) |
| 63 | Total deductible input VAT | =SUM(input VAT) |
| 71 | Net payable | =MAX(0, 59-63) |
| 72 | Net credit | =MAX(0, 63-59) |

Mandatory recalc step

python /mnt/skills/public/xlsx/scripts/recalc.py /mnt/user-data/outputs/belgium-vat-<period>-working-paper.xlsx

Section 8 — Belgian bank statement reading guide

CSV format conventions. Belgian banks export CSV with semicolons and DD/MM/YYYY. Common columns: Datum/Date, Omschrijving/Description, Bedrag/Montant, Saldo/Solde. KBC uses structured export; Belfius and BNP Paribas Fortis use similar formats.

Bilingual descriptions. Belgium has three official languages (Dutch, French, German). Bank statements may use: loyer/huur (rent), salaire/loon (salary), intérêts/rente (interest), virement/overschrijving (transfer), cotisations/bijdragen (contributions).

Internal transfers. "Virement interne", "interne overboeking". Exclude.

SPF Finances payments. Tax payments appear as "SPF FINANCES", "FOD FINANCIEN", or with structured communications (+++XXX/XXXX/XXXXX+++). Always exclude.

Structured communication. Belgian payments often use structured communication (+++XXX/XXXX/XXXXX+++). This is a reference number, not a classification indicator.

Foreign currency. Convert to EUR at ECB rate.

IBAN prefix. BE = Belgium. NL, FR, DE, LU = EU. US, GB = non-EU.


Section 9 — Onboarding fallback

9.1 Entity type

Inference rule: SPRL/BVBA = old company form; SRL/BV = new company form; personne physique/eenmanszaak = sole trader. Fallback: "SRL/BV, SA/NV, or sole trader (indépendant/zelfstandige)?"

9.2 VAT regime

Fallback: "Standard regime, franchise (small enterprise exemption), or forfaitaire?"

9.3 TVA/BTW number

Fallback: "Your Belgian TVA/BTW number? (BE + 10 digits)"

9.4 Filing period

Fallback: "Which month or quarter?"

9.5 Industry

Fallback: "What does the business do?"

9.6 Employees

Inference rule: ONSS/RSZ outgoing. Fallback: "Employees?"

9.7 Exempt supplies

Fallback: "Any exempt sales?" If yes → R-BE-3.

9.8 Credit carried forward

Always ask. "TVA/BTW credit from prior period? (Grille 72)"

9.9 Cross-border customers

Fallback: "Customers outside Belgium? EU/non-EU? B2B/B2C?"

9.10 Construction sector

Conditional: "Are you in construction? (Co-contractor reverse charge may apply.)"


Section 10 — Reference material

Sources

  1. Code de la TVA (CTVA) / BTW-Wetboek — https://finances.belgium.be
  2. Arrêtés royaux d'exécution (AR no. 1, no. 20, etc.)
  3. Table A (6%) and Table B (12%) — Annexes to AR no. 20
  4. SPF Finances / FOD Financiën guidance on periodic returns
  5. Council Directive 2006/112/EC — via eu-vat-directive companion
  6. VIES — https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/

Known gaps

  1. Bilingual descriptions not exhaustively mapped.
  2. Co-contractor construction reverse charge flagged T2 only.
  3. ET 14 import licence details not covered.
  4. Vehicle deduction percentage formula simplified to 50% cap.
  5. Temporary reduced rates (energy measures) require annual verification.

Change log

  • v2.0 (April 2026): Full rewrite to Malta v2.0 structure.
  • v1.0/1.1: Initial skill.

Self-check (v2.0)

  1. Quick reference: yes. 2. Supplier library (15): yes. 3. Worked examples (6): yes. 4. Tier 1 (15): yes. 5. Tier 2 (15): yes. 6. Excel template: yes. 7. Onboarding (10): yes. 8. 8 refusals: yes. 9. Reference material: yes. 10. Vehicle 50% cap: yes. 11. Co-contractor reverse charge: yes. 12. Restaurant 12% rate: yes. 13. Grille system: yes. 14. Bilingual considerations: yes. 15. Non-EU SaaS 87/56: yes.

End of Belgium VAT Return Skill v2.0

This skill is incomplete without BOTH companion files: vat-workflow-base v0.1+ AND eu-vat-directive v0.1+.


Disclaimer

This skill and its outputs are provided for informational and computational purposes only and do not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice. Open Accountants and its contributors accept no liability for any errors, omissions, or outcomes arising from the use of this skill. All outputs must be reviewed and signed off by a qualified professional (such as a comptable-fiscaliste, bedrijfsrevisor, or equivalent licensed practitioner) before filing or acting upon.

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