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Overview of Payroll in Belgium

It is aimed at those who are looking to start running a payroll in Belgium for their organisation, or those who are utilising the services of a service provider who want a better understanding of the setup requirements so they are better able to support their business and ensure compliance in their organisation.
Intermediate Level
PPD Certified
In-House Enquiries
Overview of Payroll in Belgium

About this course

Employers in Belgium have to understand the principles, mandatory formalities and legal conditions to conclude, suspend or terminate a valid Belgian employment contract and to grant salary and benefits and understand the related social security and tax obligations

Who is this course for?
It is aimed at those who are looking to start running a payroll in Belgium for their organisation, or those who are utilising the services of a service provider who want a better understanding of the setup requirements so they are better able to support their business and ensure compliance in their organisation.

What will you achieve?
Having attended this course delegates will have confidence that they understand the fundamentals of payroll processing in Belgium, are clear about employer obligations including those for Belgian residents and non-residents, know what they need to do on a periodic and annual basis, can answer employee queries and check payslips.

Even if payrolls are outsourced it is still the employer’s responsibility to ensure all obligations are met and that income tax and social security are correctly processed. This course not only gives you the information you need to be compliant but also ensures you know exactly what information should be given to a payroll provider and the various tasks they should be completing on your behalf.

What will be covered?

Introduction to Belgium
Country overview
  Business culture

Start of Employment
  General employment law principles
  Formalities for new employer in Belgium
  DIMONA / LIMOSA declarations

Employment Contract
  Language
  Types of labour agreements (blue-collar, white-collar, fixed term, part-time, students, agency workers, etc)
  Content
General obligations of both parties
Working time and rest periods
Personnel register
Payslips
Individual accounts
Work regulations

Salary and Benefit
How to determine the basic salary package?
Minimum wage
mandatory salary components at sectoral level
mandatory salary components at the national level
additional non-mandatory benefits
Overview of most common fringe benefits incl. their fiscal and social security treatment (e.g. meal vouchers, company car, cost allowances and benefits in kind)
Payroll processing

Wages paid for Annual Leave
Single holiday pay = normal wage an employee receives for taking a legal holiday considered as wage
Double holiday pay = additional holiday allowance
NOT considered as protected wage cf. Remuneration Act

Social Security
Employees contributions
Employers contributions
Exemptions and reduction
Payment of social security contributions

Source Income Tax
Scales of source income tax
Professional Withholding Tax
Tax-free sums and reductions

Types of Leave during employment
Annual holiday
Public holidays
Illness
Maternity leave and protection § Paternity leave
Short justified absences (Klein Verlet / Absence Justifiée) § Other

Termination of Employment
Termination in mutual agreement
Force majeure
Formalities
Notice Period
Indemnity in lieu of notice
Dismissal for serious cause
Protected employees
Statutory termination entitlements
unreasonable dismissal