How do I apply for a VAT number?
One of the first formalities to be completed when starting up a business is to register your company with the ‘Crossroads Bank for Enterprises’ (CBE) database. When you register, you will be assigned a company number that you also have to activate as your VAT number.
Do I have to pay VAT?
You usually have to pay VAT when you’re self-employed, although there are exceptions (i.e. certain liberal professions and professions with a social objective are exempt). If your annual turnover is less than 25 000 euros, you will need to activate a VAT number, but you are also eligible for an exemption scheme (in that case, you are not allowed to charge for or deduct VAT). Find out more about VAT liability (in Dutch).
How do you go about activating a VAT number and where?
You can register your company with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises database by filling in a form from the Federal Public Service (FPS) Finance department. However, most businesspeople engage the services of an approved business one-stop shop to take care of this and the other formalities for them.
The easiest option is to have your VAT number activated for free.
If you open a business account, you’ll receive all kinds of Boostpack benefits to help get your business off to a flying start:
- Free activation of your VAT number*
- Use of a handy e-invoicing tool**
- And numerous other benefits that could save you up to 1 000 euros
We give starter businesses a financial boost thanks to the Boostpack. If your company number has been activated for more than 12 months, we will no longer consider you a ‘start-up’ and you will no longer be eligible for our business starter benefits.
When is the best time to activate a VAT number?
The VAT number should be activated before starting your business activities and definitely before issuing your first invoice. However, you might have applied for the number but have to wait until you receive it. In that case, you shouldn’t wait until then to send out your start-up’s first invoices if you need to bill for something. Instead, you can state ‘VAT number pending’ on the invoice instead of a VAT number. When you do that, you are complying with the law and can legitimately start your business activities.
Do the self-employed in a secondary occupation also have to activate a VAT number?
You can also charge for VAT and deduct it when you’re self-employed in a secondary occupation, except when your annual turnover is less than 25 000 euros (excluding VAT) in which case you can apply for the exemption scheme. Even then, however, you still need to have a VAT number. It’s best to work on the assumption that you have to activate a VAT number as soon as you start a self-employed activity. If you’re not quite sure what you should do, your accountant or your KBC adviser will be able to point you in the right direction.
Already thought about opening your business account?
Starting your business also involves spending money on things like accounting, rent, purchasing equipment and so on. A business account makes it easier to manage your income and expenditure, and to keep personal spending separate.
Open the account quickly and easily online and deduct the costs from your tax return. Get our starter business benefits package for free and save yourself a lot of money!
* Get your VAT number activated for free
Your benefit
Arrange the administrative formalities to get your business started through Acerta’s or Liantis’ business counter at the special price of 109 euros and save on the cost of activating your VAT number (save 67 euros excl. VAT).
For 109 euros, they will do the following (in addition to the free activation of your VAT number):
- Register your business with the ‘Crossroads Bank for Enterprises’ (CBE) database (required)
- Get your company number
- Register you with a social insurance fund for your social status and social security contributions
How do you get these benefits?
Contact Acerta
Contact Liantis
What are the terms and conditions?
You can benefit from this if you:
- Register now with the social insurance fund at one of the above business counters in order to arrange your social security status and contributions, as well as arrange your registration with the CBE through that counter
- Have a business account with KBC
Additional terms and conditions
Limited to customers who have a business account with KBC, aren’t existing members of a social insurance fund and don’t already have a company number.
Learn more
Check out the Acerta website
Check out the Liantis website
** Use the handy Billit e-invoicing tool for one year free of charge
This discount is not valid for existing contracts. After the 12-month period, this benefit will expire and the prevailing subscription fee for the module you select must be paid. If a customer switches to another module during the first year, the benefit will expire and Billit will invoice the corresponding price in full. The 100 invoices referred to above relate to documents, purchase and sales invoices (including receipts and credit notes). Use outside the licence will be invoiced at the end of the selected licence period.
