In our Tax Insight of 30 December 2022 (VAT procedure: changes as from 2023 and 2024 – Please see here) we already reported on the draft bill aimed at modernizing the Belgian VAT chain by changing VAT procedural rules. In the meantime, this legislation has been effectively adopted and the changes will enter into force as from 1 January 2024.

RSM Belgium informs you

The amendments to the Belgian VAT Code include the following key measures:

• The VAT current account will be abolished: the VAT current account will be replaced by the VAT provision account from which it will be possible to reclaim all or part of your VAT credit or to reallocate the remaining balance to another type of debt (i.e. via MyMinfin). A refund request via the VAT return will only be possible for the reporting period concerned.
• New declaration period: the deadline for the submission of quarterly VAT returns will be extended to the 25th of the month. For monthly VAT returns, the deadline for submission remains unchanged (i.e. the 20^th of the month) and both will be applied strictly.
• Late submission: in case of late submission of the VAT return, the taxable person will receive an automatic VAT return proposal at the end of a period of 3 months following the relevant return period. This proposition will be based on the highest VAT due position of the previous twelve months with a minimum amount of VAT due of €2.100.
• Response delay for requests for information: taxable persons will have a delay of one month to answer in writing to the requests for information from the VAT authorities.  This shall be reduced to 10 days if the rights of the Belgian Treasury are compromised and/or when the taxable person asks for a VAT refund.

If you have any questions or want some help regarding the above, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].