Parliament gives green light to capital gains tax
The Chamber of Representatives has approved the introduction of the capital gains tax. The draft bill by Finance minister Jan Jambon of N-VA received the support of the majority parties as well as opposition parties PS and PVDA on Thursday night. Vlaams Belang, Anders and DéFI voted against, whilst Ecolo-Groen abstained.
For Flemish socialists Vooruit, the tax was a condition for joining the governing coalition. It is expected to generate 500 million euros once fully operational. Although the law has only just been passed, the tax has been in force since 1 January, after the government devised a transitional arrangement.
Broadly speaking, the tax amounts to 10 per cent of the capital gain on the sale of financial instruments. There is an annually indexed exemption of 10,000 euros per person, or 20,000 euros for married couples under the community of property regime.
An additional 1,000 euros may be added to that amount each year if investors do not realise a gain through sale, subject to a ceiling of 15,000 euros, or 30,000 euros for couples.
Investors holding at least 20 per cent of a company are entitled to an exemption. This applies to the first tranche of 1 million euros per five-year period. Above that amount, a progressive rate applies, rising to a 10 per cent withholding tax on capital gains exceeding 10 million euros.
Vincent Van Quickenborne and Alexia Bertrand during a plenary session of the Chamber in Brussels, 2 April 2026 © BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS
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