News Archive

Enterprises that were forced to put one or more employees fully on furlough during the coronavirus crisis can now make use of a temporary partial withholding tax exemption. The Chamber approved this legislative proposal on 9 July 2020.

The coronavirus pandemic has greatly affected this country’s labour market. The easing of the rules on temporary unemployment due to force majeure is intended to give companies the breathing room they need until the summer and to prevent dismissals. What if these dismissals prove unavoidable, however?

For many businesses, the repercussions of the corona crisis may be felt for a long time to come. The House has consequently approved a bill that permits the early deduction of corona losses from taxation. Indeed, companies can now advance the deduction of such estimated corona losses by offsetting them against the taxes liable in the previous financial year. An overview of this carryback scheme is provided below.

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the authorities introduced a system of temporary unemployment due to coronavirus force majeure. This easing of the rules was intended to offer companies some financial breathing room and prevent dismissals. Though initially, an employee’s notice period continued while on furlough as usual, the legislators have now decided to suspend this period until the employee has resumed work. Who will be affected by this new law?

Vandelanotte France is regularly contacted by companies that are conducting operations in France for the first time and consequently exploring the French VAT implications. It would appear that many companies are wrestling with the same questions. We would therefore like to provide answers to our five most Frequently Asked Questions via a short news series.

Last week the Belgian federal cabinet’s ‘Superkern’ again approved a series of additional measures from the third phase of the Federal Plan for Social and Economic Protection. There are two sets of measures, focusing on stimulating investment on the one hand and the organisation of work on the other. In the first phase on 6 June, the ‘Superkern’ already agreed to a previous series of additional measures.

This week, the Flemish Government decided to extend the duration of the corona nuisance premium for entrepreneurs who have been obliged to keep their business closed for a while longer. An additional compensation premium will also be paid to entrepreneurs who have suffered a large loss of turnover.

Last week the Belgian federal cabinet’s ‘Superkern’ agreed to a series of additional measures from the third phase of the Federal Plan for Social and Economic Protection. These measures are intended to shore up the purchasing power of vulnerable groups and help boost the economy.

The coronavirus is having a huge impact on the workplace, both in the short and long term. From the very beginning of the lockdown, companies were forced to organise their operations in a more flexible way. For many employers, this was also the impetus for adopting more structured and sustainable flexible working practices for the future. What can your company do to facilitate a flexible workforce both during and after corona? And which operational and personal requirements must you consider? We provide an overview below.

The coronavirus crisis has shaken up our work and HR landscape badly. Furthermore, many of the new challenges we have had to face are likely to become permanent elements of a so-called ‘new normal’. This requires a deliberate, targeted approach to gradually recruiting – and at a later stage, retaining – employees. Time for a good action plan!

Under certain conditions, companies may qualify for a subsidy to help with costs for business-related travel abroad or participation in foreign trade fairs that cannot be recuperated due to the coronavirus.

The Walloon Region has established a compensation premium for Walloon enterprises that do not qualify for the coronavirus premium. This compensation premium amounts to EUR 2,500. Applicants are subject to the following conditions:

One-time online registration with FPS Finances is compulsory for non-residents who collected their first Belgian-sourced income in the 2019 fiscal year. They will receive a tax return form after this registration. The Court of Cassation recently ruled that non-residents must have registered before 1 June 2020.

It took a while, but on 14 May the Brussels Capital government finally announced the application conditions for its EUR 2,000 support premium. It should be possible to apply for this compensation in early June.

Many Belgian employees, who normally work full or part-time in the Netherlands, must presently work from home. Working from home can have negative repercussions in terms of pay, which is currently taxable in Belgium. Belgium has consequently concluded an agreement with the Netherlands to address this issue.

The coronavirus epidemic is seriously affecting the turnover of many companies and sole traders. Unfortunately, there is no insurance coverage available to compensate for such loss at this time. As an entrepreneur, however, it is possible to insure yourself against loss of turnover due to your own absence as a business manager.

An increasing number of construction companies realise projects abroad. Even though these concern Belgian companies executing projects using a Belgian workforce, it can have significant repercussions abroad. The implications of the ongoing corona crisis should also not be overlooked.

Working from home is not so straightforward for today’s employees. Combining work and family life is not an easy exercise. To support families, the Cabinet approved a corona parental leave policy last weekend. But what exactly does this entail? And how can you apply for corona parental leave? We list the key principles for your convenience.