A VAT Refund Guide to 

Belgium

How to get VAT Refunds from Belgium for your business

Businesses registered in countries outside of Belgium can claim VAT refunds on any costs incurred in Belgium.
The below information details the requirements needed to be eligible for a VAT refund. This includes claimable expense types, Belgium VAT rates, deadlines and claiming periods.
belgium | Circular Flag visual device

Where is your company based?

EU

based businesses

VAT-registered businesses in an EU member state are eligible to recover VAT on business costs from Belgium under the EU VAT Refund Directive.

NON-EU

based businesses

VAT-registered businesses outside of the European Union are eligible to recover VAT on business costs from Belgium under the 13th Directive.

Which countries have reciprocity with Belgium?

All countries can claim.

For a more detailed explanation on what reciprocity means within the scope of VAT, click here:

What expenses are claimable in Belgium?

ENTERTAINMENT & HOSPITALITY

Entertainment

0%

Hotels & Accommodation

6%
Only in particular circumstances

Restaurants

0%

EVENTS

Conferences, Trade Shows & Exhibitions

21%

Training Courses & Seminars

21%

GENERAL EXPENSES

Goods

21%

Inter-company charges

21%

Office Expenses

21%

Marketing Costs

21%

Professional Fees & AP invoices

21%

TRAVEL RELATED

Car Rental

21%

Fuel

0%

Public Transport

6%

Taxis

6%
Shuttle services not claimable

Additional Information

How far back can your business claim VAT from Belgium?
January to December of the previous year
What’s the foreign VAT deadline in Belgium?
30 September of the year following the claim year date
How long does it take to receive a VAT refund from Belgium?
Depending on the complexity of your application and the capacity at the VAT authority, it can take up to 5 months to receive a VAT refund from Belgium

Need help with your VAT refund from Belgium?

You don’t have to do this alone. We’ve been helping companies reclaim foreign VAT refunds for over 20 years. We have the knowledge and technology to process your refunds quicker as well as attend to any unforeseen VAT authority queries that may arise.

Download a full international VAT guide and never miss a deadline