General Rules
The Belgian fiscal system is based upon the principle of an annual declaration of income.
Generally speaking, all those liable to the three classes of professional tax have to submit, during the first three months of the year, the return required under Article 53 of the law to the Tax Controller within whose jurisdiction they have their principal establishment or are domiciled or resident.
But taxpayers whose accounts do not cover the calendar year, and also all share companies, have to forward to the Controller of Taxes, within a fortnight of the approval of the balance-sheet and profit-and-loss account and, at the latest, within six months of the close of the trading year, a return containing, according to categories, the total income liable to the tax on income from personal property and professional tax. This return must be accompanied by a copy of the balance-sheet and profit-and-loss account, of the resolutions approving them and the Minutes or reports $$$relaing thereto; further, by a list showing the number and amount of shares and bonds issued and of securities of one kind or another bought or sold during the past financial period, and by a copy of the separate balance-sheets and profit-and-loss accounts of any separate foreign or colonial establishments.
Failing documentary evidence furnished either by the taxpayer or by the Administration, taxable profits are determined for each taxpayer by comparison with the normal profits of persons similarly placed and with due regard, according to the circumstances, for capital invested, turnover, number of workmen, motor-power used, rental value of exploited land and any other useful information. The Administration may, for this purpose, agree upon empirical bases of taxation with the professional associations concerned.
No division of profits from joint operations is allowed between members of the same family living together or between the members of any company, association or community. However, the emoluments of members of the family of an entrepreneur working with him are included among general costs, provided they do not exceed a normal wage or salary and provided they have been assessed as such to professional tax (Article 27, paragraph 3).
The tax is payable by the head of the family or by the director of the company, association or community.
Professional tax, in the case of share companies, is levied upon their profits less income distributed or liable to personal property tax as income from invested capital (Article 35, paragraph 2).
In order that the same income may not be taxed twice, Article 52 of the co-ordinated laws provides for the deduction from schedular taxes of all direct or additional taxes which the taxpayer may already have paid in Belgium on taxed income, or which share companies with their head office or principal establishment in Belgium may have already paid there on sums distributed as shares.
As regards companies other than share companies, including partnerships, having a legal entity, each member is liable separately, in respect of sums allotted or distributed to him, to professional tax if he is an active partner, or to personal property tax in other cases.
The company or partnership is liable to professional tax in respect of profits placed to reserve, the provisions of Article 52 being applicable to this case also.
The professional tax is on income, actually determined or presumed, either for the previous year, in the case of taxpayers whose accounts coincide with the calendar year, or, in the case of other taxpayers, for the twelve months covered by the accounts of the current year.
The income for the year or taxable period, as the case may be, is subject to deduction of any professional losses incurred during the two preceding years or financial periods. Thus a taxpayer, whether an individual, a partnership or a company, who keeps regular accounts and suffers professional losses during the past two years or financial periods may deduct these losses from the profits of the year following.