Latest news & developments
Tax bites podcast – The importance of data readiness for tax audits
As announced in episode 58, we’re launching a series of podcasts on tax audits. In this episode Pieter invited Stefaan Dewachter, Gill Van Damme and Véronique De Brabanter to talk about practical data readiness for tax audits, particularly in the Belgian jurisdiction but applicable globally. They will provide guidelines to CFOs, tax directors, and controllers
Council position on proposed CBAM expansion: what businesses need to know
On 12 June 2026, the Council agreed its position on proposed changes to the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (“CBAM”). If adopted, the changes would make CBAM relevant to a much wider group of businesses. In particular, CBAM would no longer be focused mainly on basic materials such as steel and aluminium, but would also apply to selected finished and semi-finished
Tax bites podcast – CBAM Business impact
In this second episode of our CBAM mini-series, Pieter is joined again by Helena Caluwé and Aurélien Denis to go one level deeper: what does CBAM actually mean for businesses? Beyond the compliance filings, CBAM is fundamentally a governance and financial management challenge. Our experts take listeners under the hood of the CBAM cost calculation
Belgium Pillar 2 update: GIR notification deadline extended and final QDMTT and IIR Top-up tax return forms published
Several important Belgian Pillar 2 compliance developments have been announced in recent days. Most notably, Royal Decrees published in the Belgian Official Gazette confirm the final return forms for the Belgian Qualified Domestic Minimum Top-up Tax (QDMTT) for assessment year 2025 and the Income Inclusion Rule (IIR) top-up tax for assessment years 2024 and 2025.
Rewrite of OECD TP Guidelines chapter on intra-group services
The OECD just opened a public consultation on a revised Chapter VII of the Transfer Pricing Guidelines covering intragroup services, with comments due 22 July and a public consultation in November. Whereas the objective is to align Chapter VII with Chapters I–III and add practical illustrations without changing underlying principles, the draft is actually a substantial rewrite of the existing Chapter VII. In this podcast, Gilles Franssens
2026 Belgian statutory and tax compliance deadlines: Key filing reminders
As the 2026 Belgian compliance season progresses, companies should closely monitor the upcoming statutory, tax and transfer pricing filing deadlines. Timely preparation and filing remain essential to avoid penalties, additional costs and unnecessary scrutiny from the Belgian authorities. Statutory financial statements Belgian companies must annually file their statutory financial statements with the National Bank of Belgium. Filing must take place
Tax Bites Podcast – European Tax Omnibus proposal
The European Commission’s proposal for a Tax Omnibus Directive has been leaked ahead of its official publication later this month. The Tax Omnibus Directive aims to simplify the EU direct tax framework, reduce compliance costs for businesses and, ultimately, improve the EU’s competitiveness. To that end, it proposes to amend six existing direct tax directives in
New Program Law introduces cap on wage withholding tax exemptions and tightens night and shift work definitions
The federal government’s new Program Law, voted on 28/05/2026, introduces significant changes to the wage withholding tax (WHT) exemption regime. As the government seeks to close the budgetary gap and consolidate public finances, the WHT exemptions — long regarded as a cornerstone of Belgian employer incentives — are being curtailed. Two measures stand out: a
