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Accounting Services in Belgium

Full-service accounting, bookkeeping, tax advisory, audit support, and payroll management for international businesses operating in Belgium. Compliance-first approach with proactive tax optimization.

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Professional accounting workspace with financial reports — Accounting Services Belgium

Managing the financial side of a Belgian business requires navigating a complex regulatory landscape — from SPF Finances reporting requirements to strict National Bank of Belgium annual account filing rules. Whether you are launching a new Belgian company or managing an established operation, LawSupport provides comprehensive accounting services in Belgium tailored to international businesses. Our team handles everything from day-to-day bookkeeping to strategic tax advisory — ensuring full compliance while maximizing available incentives.

Our Accounting & Tax Services

Bookkeeping

Monthly recording, VAT returns, journal management

Audit Services

Statutory audit, internal audit, compliance review

Corporate Tax

25% standard rate, SME reduced rate, incentives

Payroll Services

Salary calculation, social security, payslips

Tax Advisory

Tax planning, optimization, cross-border structuring

Annual Accounts

Preparation, NBB filing, shareholders' meeting

Why International Businesses Need a Belgian Accountant

Belgium's accounting and tax framework has several unique features that make professional guidance essential:

  • Mandatory chart of accounts: Belgian companies must follow the MAR/PCN (Minimum Genormaliseerd Rekeningstelsel / Plan Comptable Minimum Normalisé) — a standardized chart of accounts prescribed by Belgian accounting law
  • Complex VAT rules: Belgium applies three VAT rates (21%, 12%, 6%) with specific rules for B2B intra-EU transactions, reverse charges, and digital services
  • Annual accounts filing: All Belgian companies must file annual accounts with the National Bank of Belgium (NBB) in a prescribed format (full or abbreviated model)
  • Extensive tax incentives: The innovation income deduction, notional interest deduction, investment deductions, and patent box regime require careful structuring to maximize benefits
  • Social security complexity: Employer contributions of ~25% plus sector-specific charges, holiday pay provisions, and 13th month salary obligations
  • Transfer pricing: Companies with cross-border intercompany transactions must comply with Belgian and OECD transfer pricing rules

Belgian Corporate Tax Overview

Belgium offers a competitive tax regime with significant benefits for small and medium enterprises. Here is a summary of the key corporate tax rates and incentives:

Tax ElementRate / Threshold
Standard corporate tax rate25%
SME reduced rate (first €100,000)20%
Innovation income deductionUp to 85% deduction (effective rate ~3.75%)
Notional interest deductionBased on adjusted equity × reference rate
Investment deduction (digital/energy)13.5% (standard) or higher for green investments
Dividend withholding tax30% (reduced to 15% under VVPRbis regime)
VAT standard rate21%

For interactive tax calculations, use our Belgium tax calculator or salary calculator.

The Annual Accounting Cycle in Belgium

Understanding the Belgian financial calendar is critical for compliance. Here are the key milestones for a company with a standard December 31 year-end:

PeriodActionDeadline
Monthly/QuarterlyVAT returns (Intervat)20th of following month
MonthlyPayroll processing, social security declarations (DMFA)End of following month
AnnualFinancial statements preparationWithin 6 months of year-end
AnnualShareholders' meeting & approvalWithin 6 months of year-end
AnnualAnnual accounts filing (NBB)30 days after shareholders' approval
AnnualCorporate tax return (Biztax)~7 months after year-end (Sep 30)

How LawSupport Accounting Works

  1. Onboarding & assessment: We review your current financial setup, chart of accounts, and compliance status
  2. Monthly bookkeeping: Recording all transactions, bank reconciliation, VAT returns, intrastat declarations
  3. Quarterly review: Management reporting, budget vs. actual analysis, cash flow forecasting
  4. Annual closing: Financial statements, annual accounts preparation, NBB filing, tax return
  5. Ongoing advisory: Tax optimization, regulatory updates, corporate tax planning, audit support

Accounting Costs in Belgium

Fees depend on company size, transaction volume, and service scope:

ServiceSmall BV/SRLMedium Company
Monthly bookkeeping€150 – €400/month€500 – €1,500/month
VAT returns (quarterly)IncludedIncluded
Annual accounts + NBB filing€500 – €1,000€1,000 – €3,000
Corporate tax return€300 – €800€800 – €2,000
Payroll per employee€30 – €50/month€25 – €40/month
Tax advisory (ad hoc)€150 – €250/hour€150 – €250/hour

For detailed pricing, visit our pricing page or request a custom quote.

Thomas Claes — Senior Legal Advisor, Tax & Accounting at LawSupport

Thomas Claes

Senior Legal Advisor — Tax & Accounting (UGent, ex-PwC Belgium)

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Related Services

Bookkeeping Services

Daily transaction recording, bank reconciliation, VAT returns.

Corporate Tax Guide

Belgian tax rates, incentives, SME benefits explained.

Payroll Services

Salary calculation, social security, payslips, compliance.

Tax Advisory

Strategic tax planning and cross-border structuring.

Audit Services

Statutory audit, compliance review, internal audit.

Company Registration

Register your BV/SRL or NV/SA in Belgium.

Frequently Asked Questions

Accounting fees in Belgium vary based on company size and complexity. Small BV/SRL companies can expect annual bookkeeping costs of €1,500–€4,000. This typically includes monthly bookkeeping, VAT returns, and annual accounts preparation. Audit services, payroll management, and tax advisory are billed separately.
Belgian law does not require companies to use an external accountant for bookkeeping. However, certain tasks — such as filing annual accounts with the National Bank and preparing statutory audit reports — must be performed by certified professionals (certified accountant or statutory auditor respectively). In practice, most companies engage a professional accountant.
Belgian companies must file annual accounts with the National Bank of Belgium (NBB) within 30 days of the shareholders' approval of the financial statements. The shareholders must approve the accounts within 6 months of the financial year-end. For a standard December year-end, the filing deadline is typically by the end of July.
The standard corporate income tax rate in Belgium is 25%. Qualifying SMEs benefit from a reduced rate of 20% on the first €100,000 of taxable income. Belgium also offers attractive incentives including the innovation income deduction (up to 85%), notional interest deduction, and investment deductions.
A statutory auditor (commissaire/commissaris) is required if your company exceeds two of three thresholds: annual turnover of €9 million, balance sheet total of €4.5 million, or 50 full-time employees. All NV/SA companies must appoint a statutory auditor regardless of size. BV/SRL companies below the thresholds are exempt.
Most Belgian companies file VAT returns quarterly. Companies with an annual turnover exceeding €2.5 million must file monthly. The filing deadline is the 20th of the month following the reporting period. All VAT returns are filed electronically through the Intervat platform operated by the SPF Finances.
Belgian companies must maintain a purchase journal, sales journal, general journal, and general ledger. All transactions must be recorded chronologically and supported by original documents. Records must be retained for 7 years. Companies must follow the Belgian Chart of Accounts (MAR/PCN) and comply with Belgian GAAP or IFRS for listed companies.
Technically yes, but Belgian payroll is exceptionally complex due to extensive social security obligations, regional tax differences, and frequent regulatory changes. Most companies outsource payroll to a licensed social secretariat (sociaal secretariaat/secrétariat social) or a professional payroll provider. LawSupport partners with licensed payroll providers to ensure compliance.
The innovation income deduction (IID) allows Belgian companies to deduct up to 85% of net income derived from qualifying intellectual property (patents, supplementary protection certificates, plant variety rights, orphan drug designations, and copyrighted software). This effectively reduces the tax rate on qualifying innovation income to approximately 3.75%.
The corporate tax return (Biztax/VenB/ISoc) must be filed electronically within the deadline set by the SPF Finances, typically 7 months after the financial year-end. For companies with a December year-end, the standard deadline is around September 30. Extensions may be granted through a mandated accountant or tax advisor.
Employer social security contributions in Belgium are approximately 25% of gross salary (reduced from ~32% through the tax shift). This covers healthcare, pensions, unemployment insurance, and other social benefits. Additional contributions may apply for specific sectors or categories. Employee contributions are approximately 13.07% of gross salary.
Yes. Our tax advisory team helps Belgian companies leverage available incentives including the SME reduced rate (20% on first €100,000), innovation income deduction, notional interest deduction, investment deductions, and double tax treaty benefits. All optimization strategies are fully compliant with Belgian tax law and regulations.

Professional Accounting for Your Belgian Business

From bookkeeping to tax returns — our team handles it all. Schedule a free consultation today.

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