Belgian residents will be able to file their tax returns using the online tax portal Tax-on-Web (via MyMinfin) from Monday 28 April.
Dreaded by many in Belgium, the country's tax return season starts on Monday 28 April this year, when the Tax-on-Web portal opens. In principle, every taxpayer must complete their tax return annually, but the process depends on their tax situation.
"If your tax situation is simple, requiring you to declare only certain income and elements, we will make it easy for you: you will probably receive a 'proposal of simplified declaration'," said the Finance Ministry on its website.
Almost four million people in Belgium receive a simplified declaration each year, sent to taxpayers whose financial situation is stable, and whose tax data are known to the Ministry of Finance. These are people who are employed, or receive a pension, unemployment benefits, or sickness or disability benefits and have no other income.
This form is already available online on MyMinfin or will be sent to people in paper versions in the notorious brown envelopes throughout the month of May. Here, taxpayers will find a simulation of the calculation of their taxes based on the known tax data, as well as the amount to be paid or refunded.
Credit: Belga / Hatim Kaghat
People who have received a 'proposal of simplified declaration' in principle no longer have to file a tax return. However, they must check carefully if the data in their proposed declaration is complete and correct. If so, they don't have to do anything.
If the details of this proposal are incorrect or incomplete, they will need to amend the proposal. These changes can be made right up until the deadline.
People who do not receive a simplified declaration proposal must file their own declaration – also via Tax-on-Web.
People who return the documents by post (paper declaration or paper form for amending the proposal of simplified declaration) must do so by Monday 30 June. Those who submit their declaration online have until Tuesday 15 July.
People with specific incomes – self-employed people or those with foreign professional incomes – have until Thursday 16 October to file their taxes. The deadlines are the same for people who file their tax returns with an accountant.
Need assistance?
People can ask someone close to them (such as a family member or friend) to complete their tax return online on their behalf through a secure mandate system.
However, taxpayers can also ask for help from an employee at the Finance Ministry when filling out the forms. For that, they need to make an appointment (the information is on the envelope of the tax return or in the letter from the Finance Ministry explaining how to file your tax return sent in April or May).
People whose tax return was completed by the Finance Ministry's staff last year may be contacted by SMS or phone in April with the proposal to make an appointment.
