Belgium revises the VAT adjustment period following Drebers: 15 years for durable renovation works from 2026

Introduction of 15-Year VAT Adjustment Period: Belgium’s draft law amends the VAT Code to establish a fifteen-year adjustment period for VAT deductions on certain durable renovation works, aligning with the European Court of Justice’s Drebers judgment, which emphasized the need for fiscal neutrality in tax regulations.
Focus on Economic Life of Renovations: The new legislation shifts the criteria from a strict definition of “renovation” versus “reconstruction” to an economic assessment, where the adjustment period applies based on the renovation’s characteristics and its economic life, rather than the formal label of the work.
Implementation and Guidance: The law will take effect upon publication in the Belgian Official Gazette, with administrative guidance to follow. This change aims to bring Belgium’s VAT rules in line with EU standards, although it introduces potential uncertainty due to the open-ended nature of the criteria, necessitating further clarification on the distinction between typical renovations and those qualifying for the extended adjustment period.

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