Context

As you may know, Belgian employers are obliged to report taxable remuneration to the tax authorities on individual salary slips (Form 281.10 for employees and 281.20 for key executives) and summary statements (List 325.10 or List 325.20 respectively). This reporting formality must in principle be complied with by 31 March of the year following the income year during which the remuneration was paid or attributed. Failing to comply with this reporting requirement may result in the application of the 309% “secret commission tax” for the employer, except if he demonstrates that the recipient duly and timely reported his taxable remuneration in his individual tax return.

News

The model of the salary slips to be used for remunerations paid during the income year 2002 has been published on the fiscal administrations’ web site today. The Notice to the Employers (Avis aux employeurs – Bericht aan de Werkgevers) containing the detailed instructions according to which the forms must be completed and filed will be soon published in the Official Gazette.

No changes in the salary slips have been noted except for the appearance of a box to be completed for the purpose of allowing a fair implementation of the “conditional low pay tax credit system” provided by the personal tax reform of 10 August 2001 (new point 19, letter I of the form). For completeness sake, it may be valuable to note that the maximum yearly tax credit available under this system amounts to 90 EUR (indexed) for income year 2002.

The salary slips are available on the Internet at:
French: http://news.hrconsulting.be?lk200301301
Dutch: http://news.hrconsulting.be?lk200301302