Contracting in Belgium for 1 year

[Skag]

Stupid question have you read this Sticky yet http://forums.contractoruk.com/accou...-security.html

Trust me you really don't want to work abroad via a UK company and then have the Belgium / Germany tax authorities chasing you for money - you will end up paying twice - HMRC first and then the Belgium tax authorities and you won't be able to use dual tax legislation to escape the Belgium bills nor would HMRC give you a refund...

Yes I read some of it. Not that it makes 100% sense (that's why I need an accountant after all!). Also the thread is from 2009 and it's got some 50+ pages making it very hard to follow till the end! But the first part I read twice.

Also, it is the case that it will be B2B services which I read elsewhere...

[Skag]

I have been looking into it, and what's worse that scarce knowledge on the web,is that there don't seem to be accountants who know what's what.
I'll try to ask the recruitment agency what do the other people do in similar occasions..

[eek]

I have been looking into it, and what's worse that scarce knowledge on the web, there don't seem to be accountants who know what's what.
I'll try to ask the recruitment agency what do the other people do in similar occasions..

The simple fact is that your typical accountant in London isn't qualified to give you tax advice about working in Belgium. it really requires an accountant in Belgium or a firm that specialises in cross frontier employment (iPaye) to give you the advice you need.

Oh and don't expect it to be cheap but I still don't trust your accountant....

[stek]

Have done four EU countries without doubt the one I wouldn’t touch with the proverbial is Belgium.

And France

[eek]

Have done four EU countries without doubt the one I wouldn’t touch with the proverbial is Belgium.

And France

Everything I’ve read says the social will destroy any profit.

As I sit in Copenhagen I have to admit this client has been good for providing possible escape options from the uk if I need one. Austria would probably be my favorite. The mountain pass from the end client who would give me a job tomorrow to Italy is however blooming scary

[Skag]

Have done four EU countries without doubt the one I wouldn’t touch with the proverbial is Belgium.

And France

I've read your previous comments in other threads about staying away from Brussels and instant no on such job offers
No reason to doubt you, plus I read elsewhere that contracting in Belgium is cumbersome. And I'm still to read anywhere "oh go to Belgium, it's heavenly!". So I am more inclined to believe you.

I think at the end, it's extremely difficult to find someone in the UK who understand Belgian taxation law..

[Sue B]

Working abroad is simple.

You assume you are there all week and pay tax there on the income you earn there. My advice would be to speak to sue @ipaye (she does post here at times).

We really need an faq regarding working aboard - it’s not difficult once you understand the rule above.

Thanks Eek.

I would be happy to put together an FAQ, it doesn't have to be country specific as all EU countries are the same from a tax law point of view. Would the Mods be ok with this?

[Sue B]

Ive been meaning to ask for a while.
If I do 3 days in Ireland, once a month and the rest in uk or at home I assume I’m normal uk Ltd rules.

Is there a definitive cutoff where you become liable for tax in another country? I assume again there is and that you need to check on a country by country basis.

And for the OP could that mean 1 week a month in Belgium and all is as he wishes?

There are circumstances when the 183 day rule could be deemed to apply, but really for PSC's its only for business trips. Understanding business trips vs assignments is important.

The length of business trips are not enshrined in generic tax law but generally are considered to be a few days to a maximum of 30. They must be ad hoc, and ancillary to your UK project. They cannot be contractual, and not to deliver services to an Irish client but rather in furtherance of the UK contract.

As soon as there is a contractual requirement to spend time in Ireland, or, even without a contract, the trips are expected and part and parcel of what you have to do, this is an assignment. If at any point you are working on behalf on an Irish client and not a UK client, then this is also an assignment.

Assignments, even just for a few days, are never business trips.


HTH.

[MBA]

This graph shows why you might not want to work/contract in Belgium

[Boo]

This graph shows why you might not want to work/contract in Belgium

Linky ?

Thanks,

Boo