5 Major Developments in Belgium

5 Major Developments in Belgium:

• Extension of investigation, assessment and retention periods
  • Draft Law
  • The VAT statutes of limitation would be amended as follows as of Jan 1, 2023
    • the three-year period is extended to four years for late or non-filing of the tax return;
    • a ten-year period will equally apply for fraud in relation to VAT matters
• Implementation of E-Invoicing in Belgium
  • No draft law available yet
  • EU approval pending
  • Timeline
    • Voluntary phase will start in January 2024 for businesses who want to receive structured e-Invoices.
    • First step will begin on 1 July 2024 for businesses who have an annual turnover more than 9,000,000 euros -excluding VAT.
    • Second step will begin on 1 January 2025 for businesses who have  an annual turnover more than 700,000 euros and less than 9,000,000 euros -excluding VAT.
    • Third and last  step will start in July 2025 and will cover all resident and non-resident taxpayers
• New procedure for Belgian VAT refund request by taxable persons established outside the EU as from 1 July 2022
• Circular 2022/C/72: Amended scope VAT exemption for transport linked to exports/suspended until further notice
  • The authorities have decided to suspend the entry into force of the new viewpoint (Circular 2022/C/72). The aim is to start a consultation on EU level in order to ensure a uniform application between the Member States.
• Temporary VAT reduction on natural gas and heat – new measure and extension until 31 December 2022
  • For residential contracts , the application of the reduced VAT rate of 6 % for supplies of natural gas and heat to natural persons is extended until 31 December 2022
  • For professional contracts , the VAT rate for supplies of natural gas and heat will also be 6 % between 1 August 2022 and 31 December 2022
  • Circular 2022/C/67 on the temporarily reduced VAT rate for the supply of electricity and for the supply of natural gas and heat via heat networks

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