Belgium: Guidance on withholding tax under new capital gains tax regime
New circular letter clarifies withholding tax obligations in respect of capital gains tax.
The Belgian tax authorities issued a circular letter providing guidance on the withholding tax mechanism under the new capital gains tax regime. The guidance covers both (1) financial intermediaries established in Belgium that have a general withholding tax obligation, and (2) legal entities subject to Belgian legal entities tax that must declare and pay the tax themselves through a withholding tax return.
The new capital gains tax applies from January 1, 2026, and the withholding tax obligations became effective on June 1, 2026. The circular letter builds on the principles introduced by the Royal Decree of May 27, 2026, and primarily consolidates the existing framework from a withholding tax perspective while also clarifying some practical details.
Read an October 2026 report prepared by the KPMG member firm in Belgium