Access to Intervat using "Isabel" and "GlobalSign" commercial certificates to end from 31.01.24

Earlier this quarter, an important change was announced regarding the access to the e-services of the Belgian Federal Public Service Finance. That includes the online Intervat application which is used for the filing of the Belgian VAT returns and listings. As from 31 January 2024, it will no longer be possible to use the “Isabel” and “GlobalSign” commercial certificates to log in to Intervat.

There are, however, several alternatives available:

• You can log in by using a Belgian electronic identity card (eID) or an electronic card for foreigners.
• You can log in by using the Itsme-app (to activate Itsme, you will need a Belgian electronic identity card).

If you do not have a Belgian eID or electronic card for foreigners, the following options are available:

• You can log in via eIDAS using your own national (non-Belgian) electronic identification means, recognized at the European level (available for the following countries: CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, HR, IT, LT, LU, LV, MT, NL, PL, PT, SE, SI, SK). For further guidance see: eIDAS | Help Centre (belgium.be).
• You can register by presenting yourself at a 'registration office'. You can make an appointment with the Federal Public Service Policy & Support (in Brussels) or with the citizen affairs department of a municipality with a local registration office. After registration, you will receive a username and password for login, along with a 'digital key' via email, SMS, or a mobile app.
• In the future, you will be able to register through an online registration module, eliminating the need for physical presence in Belgium. However, please note that this module is still under development, and for the time being, physical presence in Belgium is still required to get your login details.

Additionally, please be aware that in a few months, you will have the option to submit declarations from your own (accounting) software via an API (Application Programming Interface). This will eliminate the need to log in to the e-service. However, this functionality is still in development.

Lastly, it is important to note that if you submit the intrastat declarations yourself and you do not have e-ID capabilities, you will still require a commercial certificate as from 1 January 2024 in order to submit your intrastat declarations on the web site of the National Bank of Belgium, i.e. through the OneGate application. Indeed, until now, one of the methods to access this OneGate platform, is through the combination of a username and password. The “username and password”-method will cease to exist and users without a Belgian identity card will need to log in with an electronic certificate as from 2024. A list of providers for such certificates can be found on the web site of the National Bank of Belgium: FAQ Onegate | nbb.be

It is important to plan ahead and to make sure that access is arranged to the new login methods.