Is working remotely taxable?

3POSTS

6 years ago

Hi everyone,

I鈥檓 Rose and I鈥檓 already staying here in Belgium for more than 1 year. Since I moved here, I started to work remotely (thru Upwork) which is basically from abroad. So as a resident of Belgium with 5years resident card, I鈥檓 quite confused if I still need to declare my income even if I work in non-Belgian company. I receive my monthly payment thru my belgian bank account.

Shall I get a VAT number and start declaring it?

Anyone knows what to do?

Thank you.

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AlexFromBelgium Animateur Belgique EN/FR

1739POSTS

6 years ago

Hum... strange question, as you should know what you're currently doing...

It depends on your current status:
Are you an employee of that company or a self-employee or... nothing yet?

If you're an employee, then you got payslips, salary in a Belgium bank account, your company will/should declare everything to our government, you've nearly nothing to do. (I simplify a lot...)
If you're a self-employee, then you've to check with your accountant. (then yeah you should get a vat number and have your own company already...)
If you're "nothing" yet or if you don't know... then I strongly suggest that you start reading your contract and explain a bit further in order to help you correctly.

Working in a foreigner company isn't a problem at all.
What matter is that you do receive your salary/working in Belgium, so you've to follow the Belgian tax laws. And it depends on your current status.

missrosaly New member

3POSTS

6 years ago

Hi Alex,

I鈥檓 not an employee from abroad. It鈥檚 kinda like a freelancer thru an online platform. So do I need to consider myself a self-employed even if it鈥檚 not a permanent job with fixed income?

I plan to get a vat number though. I鈥檓 just quite scared that BE government will give me a penalty for those undeclared income I had last year since I started to work remotely.

By the way, I appreciate your response. Thanks a lot!

AlexFromBelgium Animateur Belgique EN/FR

1739POSTS

6 years ago

Sorry to ask, but what kind of incomes and job are you talking about?
That would simplify things...

And please, tell me you do not need a work permit in Belgium... and you can work legally from Belgium (work permit, married/cohabitation with an EU, you have dual nationality with an EU passport, ...)

phipiemar VIP Member

4733POSTS

6 years ago

missrosaly wrote:
Hi Alex,

I鈥檓 not an employee from abroad. It鈥檚 kinda like a freelancer thru an online platform. So do I need to consider myself a self-employed even if it鈥檚 not a permanent job with fixed income?

I plan to get a vat number though. I鈥檓 just quite scared that BE government will give me a penalty for those undeclared income I had last year since I started to work remotely.

By the way, I appreciate your response. Thanks a lot!

Hi,

The answer is easy and logical. You telework for which you receive a certain amount of money.

Belgian legislation is clear. For Belgian tax residents, all Belgian / non-Belgian income must be declared. Even for freelancers, I know something about it since I have been freelance for many years.

2 members reacted to this post

missrosaly New member

3POSTS

6 years ago

This makes sense. I was really waiting for a freelancer to reply.

Me and my husband got the tax declaration last week and I didn鈥檛 declare it because I thought that I don鈥檛 need to since I鈥檓 not a Belgian and I work as a freelancer for non-belgian companies. I hope they won鈥檛 find it out.

So as a freelancer before, did you get your VAT number?