The VAT chain: what changes for your return, payment and refund?

Author: Kim Van den Broeck, certified tax accountant (ITAA) at by Watson

The Belgian VAT administration carried out a thorough update with the introduction of the VAT chain. This reform changes quite a lot about your VAT return, payment and refund. The first rules have applied since 1 January 2025, and the final component followed on 1 May 2026 with the VAT provision account. Do you file your returns on time and pay correctly? Then not much actually changes for you. We explain the main changes in plain language.

Your return: watch the new deadlines

Are you a quarterly filer? You now file your return no later than the 25th of the month following the quarter. If that day falls on a weekend or public holiday, you don’t get any extra time.

Monthly filers submit their return by the 20th at the latest. If that day falls on a non-working day, the deadline does shift to the next working day.

Since 10 January 2026, the same turnover threshold of €2,500,000 applies to all sectors to remain a quarterly filer. Do you supply more than €50,000 per quarter to businesses in other EU countries? Then you are required to switch to monthly returns. This also applies if your annual turnover stays below €2,500,000.

Errors in a filed return are now corrected via your next return; a separate corrective return is no longer possible. If you do not file a return at all, the tax authorities will draw up a substitute return after three months, based on your highest VAT amount of the past 12 months and with a minimum of €2,100. You then have one more month to file your actual return.

For 2026, a transitional measure still applies to the abolished holiday arrangement: if you file your return within the former holiday deadline, no fine follows. If you are counting on a refund, you do need to file within the legal deadline.

Your payment: new account number

Since 1 May 2026 you pay your VAT into account BE41 6792 0036 4210. So check your saved transfer templates and standing orders. Until the end of 2026, payments to the old account number will still be forwarded automatically.

The former current account has been replaced by the VAT provision account. Think of it as a current account with the tax authorities that holds only credits and advance payments. You manage everything via MyMinfin, the online portal of the Belgian tax administration, and can also work with a direct debit.

Your refund

Requesting a VAT refund? Via your periodic return you can now only reclaim the amount in grid 72, the box of your return that shows your VAT credit. You request the full balance of your provision account via MyMinfin.

Monthly filers are automatically entitled to a monthly refund if they have a credit of at least €50, have provided a valid account number and have filed their returns on time over the past six months.

Fines remain possible

A late return costs €100 per month, up to a maximum of €500. If you file nothing at all, fines can rise to €5,000. Anyone who pays late also risks a fine plus 8% late payment interest per year.

There is one exception: if you pay late for the first time, but before the 10th of the second month after the return period, you won’t receive a fine. This tolerance applies only once.

Questions about your VAT?

Unsure whether your administration, payment details or returns are fully in order? Get in touch with your personal point of contact at by Watson. We’ll gladly go through everything with you to make sure it is properly arranged.