The meal voucher is the Belgian’s favourite extra-legal benefit. 73% of working Belgians receive a meal voucher per day worked. They are tax-efficient for employees and employers alike. This is because you do not pay social security contributions or personal income tax and can deduct up to 440 euros annually for tax purposes. But did you know that you too, as a self-employed person with a company, can also give out attractively priced meal vouchers? It is very easy to enter the meal voucher system.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"2. Hospitalisation insurance"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Hospitalisation insurance as an extra-legal benefit is by no means an unnecessary luxury. As a starter too, it can be attractive to take out hospitalisation insurance for the costs of a hospital admittance which your health insurance fund does not cover. In this way, you insure your employees or yourself as a self-employed person. You or your employees can also have your/their partner and children included in the same insurance policy by paying an attractively priced premium.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"3. Eco vouchers"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Just like meal vouchers, eco vouchers are also an extra-legal benefit that is currently very popular. With these vouchers, you buy sustainable products and services, and by so doing contribute to a greener world. From an electric bicycle to natural terrace tiles and solar panels, the range has become extensive. The system enables self-employed persons as well to finance sustainable purchases.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"4. Mobile phone and subscription"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"For employees, a mobile phone subscription is a very attractive benefit now that they have to work from home more often. It’s also attractive for the self-employed. As a self-employed person, you can have your business bear costs that you would otherwise incur as a private person. For example, your company can cover all or part of the costs of telephony or the internet connection.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"5. Group insurance"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Group insurance is a way of supplementing the statutory pension during the years of professional activity. Almost half of Belgian employees already make use of this extra-legal benefit. You as a self-employed person can too; in this case we talk about a PSPS or Private Supplementary Pension for the Self-Employed. Self-employed persons with a company can also start an IPC or Individual Pension Commitment to build up a supplementary pension.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"6. Reimbursement of travel"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"The costs for the travelling you do with your company car are also a possible additional benefit. Anyone who has a sole proprietorship can deduct travel to and for work, but will have to be able to substantiate the actual costs. In a company, the private travel will be calculated as a benefit in kind (BIK). Your vehicle expenses are deductible according to a certain percentage.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"7. Company car"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"As a starting self-employed person, you can finance the purchase of a car using the funds of your company. Via systems such as leasing or renting, you provide a structural deduction in the first four or five years and an attractive addition to your remuneration.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"8. Property"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"As a self-employed person, you can realise a split purchase of real estate, for example via the company. If this is still a bridge too far as a starter, you can, for example, rent the space that you use as an office in your home. This allows you to pay yourself a monthly rent.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"9. Expense allowance"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"As a self-employed manager, you can cover the costs you incur in carrying out your activity with a fixed expense allowance. You will then be reimbursed a fixed monthly amount for the costs specific to the company. In the case of an audit, you will of course have to prove that these are actually professional expenses.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"10. Laptop"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"In the same way, you can also pay for a laptop, printer or other professional equipment. Just as with a mobile phone (or mobile phone subscription), there is a tax element to this system. As a self-employed person, you pay personal income tax on your net income. You can deduct professional expenses from your gross salary in order to arrive at a lower taxable amount.
"}},{"componentType":"highlight","richBody":{"value":"Do you have any questions or are you looking for additional information?
Dive into ING’s start-up facts and discover the step-by-step plan.
"}},{"componentType":"cta","textLink":{"url":"/en/business/starters/starterspackage-current-account","text":"Set your business up for success"}}]},"complementaryZone":{"flexComponents":[{"componentType":"cards","cards":[{"componentType":"productCard","cardType":"product","cardSize":"small","title":"Which grants and subsidies are attractive for your business?","intro":"Discover the different forms of government support","image":{"transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/766efa31-e56f-4b15-947f-92a23b12917a/Man-feeding-birds-on-city","type":"image","width":6000,"original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/1775a0594a67eb28/original/Man-feeding-birds-on-city.jpg","extension":"jpg"},"link":{"url":"/en/business/starters/subsidies-public"}},{"componentType":"serviceCard","cardType":"service","cardSize":"small","title":"Insurances","intro":"Report damage, change or download insurance","image":{"transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/2d4e4d8d-936e-4347-92f1-9d4e4c001936/umbrella","type":"image","width":160,"original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/34fab1afc809844b/original/umbrella.svg","extension":"svg"},"link":{"url":"/en/business/services/my-business-insurances"}}]}]},"legalZone":{"flexComponents":[{"componentType":"paragraph","title":"Disclaimer","richBody":{"value":"
This article is for information purposes only and the information can change over time. Always consult the latest rules and requirements with the competent authorities. Additionally, seek professional advice before making any decisions. ING Belgium NV cannot be held liable for decisions based on the information provided.
*ING Belgium revised an article by Acerta, in cooperation with Pluxee, for commercial purposes.
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