If your company is subject to VAT in Belgium, you will have to deal with some new rules starting next year. From 2025, some significant changes to the VAT chain are gradually being introduced. So, what exactly is this VAT chain, what are the main changes and when do they take effect? Read on to find out.
5 min
The term 'VAT chain' is used to refer to the entire VAT procedure:
For quarterly VAT returns, the deadline for both returns and payments will be the 25th of the month following the completed quarter (instead of the 20th as before).
For monthly VAT returns, nothing changes and the deadlines will still be the 20th.
Once the statutory filing deadline has passed, it will no longer possible to file a corrective periodic VAT return. However, you will be able to make corrections in the next return.
These rules take effect from 1 January 2025.
From 2025, if the VAT administration asks you for more information in writing, you must respond within one month as standard, or within 10 days in specific cases (such as an impending time limit or bankruptcy).
If you do not file your VAT return on time, you will automatically be issued a ‘proposal for a replacement VAT return’. Please note that could be higher than the actual VAT due.
You will still be able to file a VAT return within a month, although you will still be fined. After that month, you can only lodge an objection.
From 1 January 2025, fines are being adjusted for:
From 2025, VAT credits related to your return itself can only be requested through that return. The ‘accumulated’ credit from previous returns will be credited to your provision account, which is replacing the former VAT current account, and you must reclaim it via MyMinfin.
This also means that if you file monthly returns, you will usually receive your VAT refund sooner, as monthly refunds will become the general rule.
The new rules on VAT refunds will take effect from 1 February 2025.
Your current account will remain accessibleuntil 1 May 2025, and you will still be able to access your credit there. After that, the VAT credit management will go through the provision account.
The account numbers for VAT payments are changing. From 2025, you will have to pay to account number BE41 6792 0036 4210 or BE42 6792 0000 0054, depending on the nature of the payment.
From 2026, you will also be able to pay VAT to FPS Finance by direct debit.
You can read more about all the changes in FPS Finance’s brochure ‘The renewed VAT chain’.
We have already updated the quarterly return deadlines in the Billit platform. If you use Billit for your quarterly VAT returns, you will already see the correct deadlines on the platform.
Read also: preparing your VAT return in Billit
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