Investments abroad? Don’t forget the Belgian tax authorities.

The stock exchange tax

The stock exchange tax, officially called the ‘tax on stock exchange transactions’, is a tax on transactions involving financial instruments on the stock exchange, such as the purchase and sale of shares, bonds and ETFs. The rate depends on the type of securities involved and amounts to 0.12%, 0.35% or 1.32%, depending on the classification. The applicable tax rate is determined by several factors, such as the type of fund, where it is registered and whether it distributes or reinvests dividends. The tax is levied separately on each transaction.

If you invest through a Belgian bank or broker, the stock exchange tax is withheld automatically and paid to the tax authorities. In that case, you do not need to take any action yourself.

The situation changes when you use foreign intermediaries. In that case, you are in principle personally responsible for calculating the correct tax, completing the tax return accurately and on time, and paying the tax due.

In such cases, both the payment of the tax and the submission of the tax return must be completed no later than the last working day of the second month following the transaction. For example, if you sell listed shares through a foreign bank in November 2025, the final deadline falls on Friday, 30 January 2026.
Late filings are subject to late payment interest and weekly penalties. Incorrect or incomplete filings may also result in sanctions.

The securities account tax

If you hold a securities account, you must also take into account the annual tax on securities accounts. This is a tax of 0.15% (the budget agreement states that the rate will be doubled to 0.30%) on securities accounts whose average value—calculated across four reference points—exceeds 1 million euros during a reference period running from 1 October year X to 30 September year X+1.

Again, Belgian banks apply this tax automatically. For securities accounts held with foreign intermediaries, you as the account holder are generally responsible for filing the return and paying the tax. The filing deadline coincides with that of the personal income tax return. Payment, however, must be made no later than 31 August of the year following the end of the reference period. For the period 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025, you therefore have until the end of August 2026 to calculate and pay the securities account tax.

Failure to file, late filing, incorrect or incomplete filing, as well as failure to pay or late payment, may be penalised when there is evidence of bad faith or tax evasion. Depending on the severity of the breach, penalties range from 10% to 200% of the tax due.

Our PKF BOFIDI experts are here to support you.

Investing offers opportunities but also brings tax responsibilities. Do you have questions or are you unsure about your obligations? Do you invest through foreign platforms and want support in filing the stock exchange tax and/or the securities account tax? Feel free to contact us. Our PKF BOFIDI experts are happy to assist you with clear and professional advice.

This article was written by Emma Degrande.