Belgium
Key entity, tax, banking, visa, and compliance guidance for foreign founders incorporating in Belgium.
Foreign Ownership Eligibility
Belgium welcomes 100% foreign-owned companies
Fully remote formation — you never need to set foot in the country.
- 100% foreign ownership allowed on all entity types (SPRL, SA, SCRL)
- No citizenship or residency requirement for founders or shareholders
- Formation can be completed 100% online; no need to visit Belgium in person
- All documentation can be prepared remotely with Belgian notary services or online platforms
- Non-resident directors permitted; must maintain Belgium registered office or appoint tax representative
Ownership
100% Foreign OK
Formation
100% Remote
Note
Third-country nationals planning to work or reside in Belgium for extended period need appropriate work/residency visa (self-employed, entrepreneur card, or other category)
Tax at a glance
Belgium Tax Overview
25%
Corporate Income Tax (CIT) standard
Fact sheet section 3
20.9% on first €100K profit
CIT reduced rate (SMEs)
Fact sheet section 3
Shipping (6.15%), Maritime (0.74%), certain activities
CIT special rates available
Fact sheet section 3
21%
VAT standard rate
Fact sheet section 3
12% (some goods), 6% (certain services/utilities), 0% (exports)
VAT reduced rates
Fact sheet section 3
50% national + regional variation (0–9%); effective top 59%
Personal income tax (top bracket)
Fact sheet section 3
25% (integrated in CIT); EU parent-subsidiary exemptions available
Dividend tax
Fact sheet section 3
0% (long-term >1 year); 25% (short-term)
Capital gains tax
Fact sheet section 3
10% (property purchase); varies by region (Walloon 10.5%, Flemish 10%, Brussels 12.5%)
Real estate transfer tax
Fact sheet section 3
~42% of wages
Employer social security contributions
Fact sheet section 3
~21% of net income + fixed quarterly amount
Self-employed social security
Fact sheet section 3
Pros & cons
Advantages & Considerations
Key Advantages
Excellent compliance & legal framework — Very strong rule of law; transparent courts; predictable tax system; low corruption; EU judicial standards
Located at EU heart — Gateway to Benelux (16M people) and greater EU (447M); proximity to London, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin via Eurostar; logistics hub
Multilingual environment — Dutch, French, German all widely spoken; Brussels English-friendly for international business; no language barrier for corporate work
Advanced infrastructure — Top-tier broadband (97%+ fiber coverage), transportation (Eurostar, airports), financial services integration
IP/patent strength — Strong intellectual property protections; EU patent registration accessible; Belgian courts enforce IP rigorously
Social enterprise support — Strong framework for SCRL (cooperatives); grants and subsidies available for social impact startups
Manufacturing/logistics base — Established supply chains, skilled labor, industrial infrastructure; good for product companies
Skilled workforce — High education level, multilingual professionals, established labor market; employer protections encourage training
Tax incentives available — SME reduced rate (20.9% on first €100K), R&D tax deductions, net capital loss carryforward (5 years)
Regulatory stability — Belgian rules consistent and enforced evenly; few surprise changes; predictable environment
Considerations
High corporate income tax: 25% — among Europe's highest; higher than Netherlands (19%), Ireland (12.5%), Cyprus (0%)
Very high employer social security burden — ~42% of payroll makes hiring expensive; one of EU's highest
Complex VAT & payroll compliance — Quarterly VAT filings required; monthly payroll tax returns; significant administrative burden
Rigid labor law — Difficult to downsize; expensive severance; strong unions; inflexible employment practices
Limited startup ecosystem — Fewer venture capitalists, accelerators than Netherlands, Germany, UK; smaller pool of angel investors
Language fragmentation — Three separate regions (Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels) = different rules for corporate matters; adds complexity
Real estate/office costs — Brussels is expensive; average office €400–€700/m² annually; not as cheap as Central Europe
Business registration fully public — All ownership/director info visible in commercial register; no privacy for company structure
Accounting standards strict — Even micro-enterprises must file detailed annual accounts; limited exemptions for very small companies
Notary fees mandatory & high — Fixed by law but €250–€400 per company formation; non-negotiable and adds to upfront cost
Incorporation Process
The process is strictly digital. Each stage builds on the previous one.
Prepare incorporation documents
Notarization
Corporate registry filing
Publication in Official Gazette
Receive Numéro d'Entreprise
What you'll pay
Cost Architecture
Government Fees
Annual Ongoing
Professional Services
Belgium has high notary fees (€250–€400, fixed by law and non-negotiable) and mandatory employer social security contributions (~42% of payroll). For self-employed (Indépendant), social security is particularly expensive (~€900–€1,200/quarter).
Still unsure about costs?
These are estimates — your actual cost depends on your structure
Every Belgium setup is different. A 15-minute call with one of our specialists will give you a personalised cost breakdown — completely free.
Fintech & Banking
Can non-residents open accounts without visiting? NO.
Banking options for non-resident founders in Belgium. Remote account opening availability varies by institution.
| Institution | Type | Ease for Non-Residents | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBC Bank | Traditional bank | Low (Visit Required) | 2–5 days (KYC verification required); often requires proof of company registration • €10–€30/month (some banks free with minimum activity; varies by bank) • €0 (most business accounts have no minimum; premium accounts €10K+) • All major banks offer; competitive rates; no restrictions on currency conversion • High penetration — most banks offer online/mobile services; fintech presence growing (N26, Wise) |
| ING Belgium | Traditional bank | Low (Visit Required) | 2–5 days (KYC verification required); often requires proof of company registration • €10–€30/month (some banks free with minimum activity; varies by bank) • €0 (most business accounts have no minimum; premium accounts €10K+) • All major banks offer; competitive rates; no restrictions on currency conversion • High penetration — most banks offer online/mobile services; fintech presence growing (N26, Wise) |
| Belfius | Traditional bank | Low (Visit Required) | 2–5 days (KYC verification required); often requires proof of company registration • €10–€30/month (some banks free with minimum activity; varies by bank) • €0 (most business accounts have no minimum; premium accounts €10K+) • All major banks offer; competitive rates; no restrictions on currency conversion • High penetration — most banks offer online/mobile services; fintech presence growing (N26, Wise) |
| Argenta | Traditional bank | Low (Visit Required) | 2–5 days (KYC verification required); often requires proof of company registration • €10–€30/month (some banks free with minimum activity; varies by bank) • €0 (most business accounts have no minimum; premium accounts €10K+) • All major banks offer; competitive rates; no restrictions on currency conversion • High penetration — most banks offer online/mobile services; fintech presence growing (N26, Wise) |
| Bank van Breda | Traditional bank | Low (Visit Required) | 2–5 days (KYC verification required); often requires proof of company registration • €10–€30/month (some banks free with minimum activity; varies by bank) • €0 (most business accounts have no minimum; premium accounts €10K+) • All major banks offer; competitive rates; no restrictions on currency conversion • High penetration — most banks offer online/mobile services; fintech presence growing (N26, Wise) |
| Deutsche Bank | Traditional bank | Low (Visit Required) | 2–5 days (KYC verification required); often requires proof of company registration • €10–€30/month (some banks free with minimum activity; varies by bank) • €0 (most business accounts have no minimum; premium accounts €10K+) • All major banks offer; competitive rates; no restrictions on currency conversion • High penetration — most banks offer online/mobile services; fintech presence growing (N26, Wise) |
| Rabobank | Traditional bank | Low (Visit Required) | 2–5 days (KYC verification required); often requires proof of company registration • €10–€30/month (some banks free with minimum activity; varies by bank) • €0 (most business accounts have no minimum; premium accounts €10K+) • All major banks offer; competitive rates; no restrictions on currency conversion • High penetration — most banks offer online/mobile services; fintech presence growing (N26, Wise) |
| Santander | Traditional bank | Low (Visit Required) | 2–5 days (KYC verification required); often requires proof of company registration • €10–€30/month (some banks free with minimum activity; varies by bank) • €0 (most business accounts have no minimum; premium accounts €10K+) • All major banks offer; competitive rates; no restrictions on currency conversion • High penetration — most banks offer online/mobile services; fintech presence growing (N26, Wise) |
| Société Générale | Traditional bank | Low (Visit Required) | 2–5 days (KYC verification required); often requires proof of company registration • €10–€30/month (some banks free with minimum activity; varies by bank) • €0 (most business accounts have no minimum; premium accounts €10K+) • All major banks offer; competitive rates; no restrictions on currency conversion • High penetration — most banks offer online/mobile services; fintech presence growing (N26, Wise) |
| Crédit Suisse | Traditional bank | Low (Visit Required) | 2–5 days (KYC verification required); often requires proof of company registration • €10–€30/month (some banks free with minimum activity; varies by bank) • €0 (most business accounts have no minimum; premium accounts €10K+) • All major banks offer; competitive rates; no restrictions on currency conversion • High penetration — most banks offer online/mobile services; fintech presence growing (N26, Wise) |
Regulatory requirements
Annual Compliance Matrix
| Requirement | Deadline | Details |
|---|---|---|
Annual financial statements (Comptes annuels) | Ongoing | Within 7 months of year-end; must be deposited with National Bank of Belgium (NBB); PDF format required |
Corporate income tax return (Déclaration d'Impôts des Sociétés) | Ongoing | By July 7 following tax year; electronic filing (eKvit system); detailed financial data required |
VAT returns | Ongoing | Monthly, quarterly, or annually (depends on turnover); electronic filing (eKvit); high compliance burden |
Payroll tax returns (Déclaration de Cotisations Sociales) | Ongoing | Monthly (by 20th of following month); required if employees; electronic filing mandatory |
Annual shareholders' meeting | Ongoing | Within 6 months of year-end; documentation required (especially for SA) |
Corporate registry updates (SPF Économie) | Ongoing | Within 1 month of any change (directors, shareholders, address); €50–€100 fee per change |
Audit threshold | Ongoing | Mandatory if: revenue > €7.3M, balance sheet total > €3.65M, or employees > 50 FTE; smaller SPRLs use simplified accounting |
Data retention | Ongoing | Accounting records, invoices, contracts must be maintained 7 years |
Frequently Asked
Speak with a Belgium specialist
Get personalised guidance on entity types, costs, timelines and banking — free, no commitment needed.