How do US expats live with high income taxes in Belgium?
I have been presented with an opportunity by my company (based in the US) to move to their Brussels office. I have read on several websites that the income tax is insanely high in Belgium and was wondering if I can do anything to offset it. Are there any tax breaks associated with being an expat? If so, how do I exercise them? If not, how do people normally live when more than 50% of their income goes to the government? I currently live in CT, where cost of living is relatively inexpensive, and I am only taxed 25%.
Public Comments
- Taxes are so high because they have a large immigrant population that comes from 3rd world nations, they don't work but instead survive off government programs such as wlelfare and free housing. So the Natives and Westerners working in Belgium are stuck working there asses off just to have there money given to lazy people who hate Belgium. So basically the only US expats that survive are those who are rich or married to a Belgian so have to suck it up
- Check with the belgian embassy. I just read in a belgian newspaper that, contrary to what many Belgians believe, Belgium is not in th etop countries for high taxes. In a survey, published by KPMG, it ranks 20 on 72. The 50% is another typical myth. 50% applies only to the to slice of your income. The first slice will be taxed at 0% etc. If you are used to an income tax of 25%, Belgium might be more expensive. Cost of living is also relatively high. But you will benefit of one of the best systems for health care in the world. Try to know instead of to believe. have a nice day.
- Let me explain how the system works in Belgium... First off all, this explanation is only applicable for workers (employees) and not for independents...so you have to work for a boss... Now say that you get a salary off 2000 a month BRUTO. You'll take home about 1000 NETTO. The 1000 that's been taking off you is for payment to the pension fond, unemployment fond, the health care fond and a part is for taxes... This means that every worker in Belgium pays a part to social security to be sure that, if he should become ill, lose his job or go on pension, he'd still have an income... Now, since you aren't a Belgian citizen, I believe things are a bit different... I wanted to give you the link to the site off the social security department but at the moment it doesn't work... (I placed it below so you can try later...) Now about taxes, they aren't that high and it depends really on your income... To get more information you can always try to contact the department off finances... And then there are the regional taxes...depending on where you live (Flanders, Brussels or Wallonië) they differ... Maybe you can contact one off the people who already work in Belgium and ask information from them...
- Wow wow wow hold it mate. As an expat in Belgium you would be taxed 50% if your name (and income) was Gates or Trump. As a "normal" senior executive you will be taxed 34 to 37.5 %. But consider the fringe benefits an average expat gets in comparison to the "poor" Belgians: free housing, (and not exactly in the poverty belt) in Tervueren, Kraainem or Genval (what you call POSH). free school tuition for the kids, free medicare, from the Belgian government, free extra medicare , from your company, (covering what the gov. medicare does not cover) , company car and gas, sometimes company car for ther missus, free membership to the country/golf club (Tervueren) , free return trip to the states every X months (Years) and by Belgian law: vacation bonus (about 75% of a months salary) and an end of the year bonus of one months salary. And if God forbid you would be fired , you would be protected by a very effective system too complicated to explain here. One little drawback: you will be subject to the double taxation system, meaning that you will have to pay a small amount of taxes in the states. But I am sure Deloit and Touche or Coopers and Lybrandt can sort this out for you. Believe me it is not a bad deal. I've been there. And if the deal is not sweet enough I've a nice freshly painted bridge in Manhattan which I could sell you. All the best.
