Registration of Company in Belgium

Belgium or the Kingdom of Belgium is a Western European country bordered by Germany (east), France (south-west), the Netherlands (north), Luxembourg (south-east) and the North Sea (north-west). It is home to a population of over 11 million people with Brussels (multilingual city) as the capital and largest city in the nation.

Belgium has two diverse cultural regions, the Flanders (Dutch speakers) and Wallonia (French speakers), there is also a small German-speaking community. The official languages of Belgium are French, Dutch or German. The official currency of Belgium is the Euro.

Belgium is a federal constitutional parliamentary monarchy. It is the seat of the European Union and the European Council and European Commission. It is also a member of the United Nations, NATO, OECD, WTO and a signed treaty to trilateral Benelux Union and Schengen area. The authority responsible for company formation and registration related activities in Belgium is the Belgian Trade Registry.

Benefits of Company Formation in Belgium

• Easier incorporation process for this jurisdiction;
• Attractive location and strategic central access to Europe;
• Complete foreign ownership;
• Favourable tax regime;
• Low minimum share capital;
• Developed an infrastructural system;
• No foreign exchange restrictions;
• Double taxation treaties signed with 80 plus countries;
• Recognized as the official capital of Europe.

Business in Belgium: Taxes

• Corporate tax rate - 29.58% from 2018-2020
• 25% from the 2020 year;
• Personal income tax (25%-50% taxed progressively according to income size);
• VAT rate - 21%.

Note that it is possible for a company to receive a reduced tax rate (of up to 20%) but only if they meet the following requirements, they include:

• Legal person(s) is (are) holder(s) of greater proportion (over 50%) of shares;
• A minimum of one director (citizen) receives wages upwards of € 27 000 in the company;
• The company fails to pay dividends, a substantial amount exceeding 13% of the authorized capital;
• The company is not included in the group of enterprises whose activities are regulated by the authorities;
• There are no shareholders in the company that owns more than 50% of the amount paid authorized capital, including the amount of the taxable reserves formed on the basis of retained earnings.

Business in Belgium: Types of Companies

• Private Limited Liability Company (Besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid /Société Prive à Responsabilité Limitée) - BVBA/SPRL;
•  Public Limited Company (Naamloze Vennootschap / Société Anonime) - SA/NV;
•  Limited Cooperative (Société Cooperative a Responsabilite Limitee);
• Partnership (Belgian General Partnership (Société en nom collectif ), Belgian Limited Partnerships (Société en commandite simple) and Partnerships Limited by Shares (Société en commandite par actions) in Belgium);
• Foreign entity (Branch or Representative office).

Bookkeeping in Belgium

• Annual tax returns - YES.
• Annual financial returns - YES.
• Statutory audit- YES.

Company Formation Requirements

• Certificate of incorporation;
• Memorandum and Articles of Association;
• Minimum of one shareholder and director ( A legal entity or individual an be the shareholder);
• A Legal registered office address;
• Financial statements;
• Extract and search reports of the company;
• Minimum required share capital
• The minimum authorized capital for a Limited Liability Company is € 18,550,  €12,400 should be paid immediately (for a shareholder) or € 6,200 per shareholder (for more than one shareholder) while;
• Specimen signature.

How to Register a Company in Belgium: The Registration Process

Step 1. Law and Trust works with the client to get the company’s name and activity approval from the Belgian Trade Registry;

Step 2. Law and Trust works with the client to secure the Memorandum of Association (MOA);

Step 3. Law and Trust collects, prepares and files the necessary incorporation documents on behalf of the client to the relevant authorities for approval;

Step 4. Law and Trust works with the client to open a corporate bank account in Belgium;

Step 5. Law and Trust deliver the certificate of incorporation personally to the client or via courier service.

Belgium Company Formation FAQs

How much does it cost to register a company in Belgium?

The cost of registering a company is EUR3280. the total cost includes the preparation of legal documents, company registration, payment of all taxes and fees at the time of registration and legal address for the company (a year).

How long does it take to register a company in Belgium?

It takes from 10 days to complete the company registration process in Belgium.

Is it compulsory to file annual accounts as an entity in Belgium?

It is mandated of a Belgian company to comply with the accountancy law in this jurisdiction by having the record and filing the necessary account records annually.

Do I need a local registered agent to register a company in Belgium?

No, a local registered agent is not needed to complete the company registration process in this jurisdiction.

Do I require a license to run a business or company in Belgium?

Yes, a license is required to run a business in Belgium but it comes down to what type of business is run in this jurisdiction.

Why Incorporate with Law&Trust International?

Benefits of company registration, formation, and incorporation services with Law&Trust International in Belgium include:

Full range of related services: Provision of a full range of legal, corporate, government, and business intelligence related services in Belgium. A detailed overview of our services includes full legal support of the company registration procedure, obtaining a legal address, interaction with the official government authorities of the jurisdiction, state fees, legal address of the company for a year, production and registration of company stamps and advising the client as part of the registration process. Opening a bank account and the cost of these services are discussed during the consultation.

Professionals and expertise of Law: Worldwide registration and legal maintenance of companies, accounting services, and audit, tax planning and optimization, trademark and patent registration. Law and Trust provide clients with the best company incorporation services.

Domestic service: Law&Trust ensure our services cover every region, area or state in Belgium. Be rest assured that no matter where the new company intends to incorporate in Belgium, we’ve got the location covered.

Free initial advice: Free consultation from the lawyers of Law&Trust International regarding strategies or the provision of services for analyzing and developing a legal position on an issue the client raises in Belgium.

Confidentiality: Law&Trust makes use of modern technological features to keep the records and details of every client safe.

Efficiency and productivity: Strategically providing up to date personalized services to help your business succeed.

Ready for Company Incorporation?

If you are interested in registering and incorporating a company in Belgium, contact Law & Trust International by simply sending an email or call now to take your business to the next level!