Status · Pillar 4, company form
SRL/BV in Belgium 2026: director, contributions, corporate tax, IPC
The SRL (BV in Dutch) has been the go-to legal form for the self-employed in Belgium since the 2019 Companies and Associations Code. With no minimum capital, it gives access to corporate income tax at 20-25%, the IPC, optimised dividends and the liquidation reserve.
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By the Finances Indépendants editorial team
What is an SRL in Belgium?
The SRL (Société à Responsabilité Limitée), known as a BV (Besloten Vennootschap) in Dutch, is the company form introduced by the Companies and Associations Code (CSA/WVV) of 23 March 2019, replacing the former SPRL/BVBA.
Key features:
- Separate legal personality from the shareholder: the company acts in its own name.
- Liability limited to the contribution: the shareholder is not liable for the company's debts with their personal assets (except in the case of serious mismanagement).
- No minimum capital since 2019: "sufficient" starting equity is required, assessed in the financial plan attached to the deed of incorporation.
- Notarial deed of incorporation compulsory, costing ~€1,200-1,800.
- Annual accounts filed with the CBE every year (made public).
Setting up an SRL in 2026: steps and costs
Setting one up involves 6 steps:
- Financial plan drawn up by the chartered accountant (at least 3 years of forecasts), compulsory and enforceable in the event of bankruptcy in the first 3 years.
- Notarial deed of incorporation: a visit to the notary, signing the articles of association.
- Filing the extract with the CBE, by the notary, within 30 days.
- CBE number and publication in the Belgian Official Gazette.
- NISSE affiliation of the director via a business one-stop shop (Acerta, Liantis, Group S, Xerius, Partena).
- VAT registration (form 604A), 4-6 weeks.
Total set-up cost in 2026: ~€1,800-2,500. Allow 2-4 weeks between signing and being fully operational (active VAT number).
The social status of an SRL director
An SRL director is self-employed as a main occupation for NISSE purposes. This means:
- NISSE contributions are calculated on the gross remuneration the director pays themselves (and not on the company's profit).
- Sliding rate: 20.5% on band 1 up to €75,024.54, 14.16% in band 2, 0% above that.
- The quarterly minimum applies (€890.42 in 2026) even if no remuneration is paid.
- All social rights (pension, NIHDI health cover, incapacity, maternity, bridging right).
Major difference from a self-employed person working in their own name: access to the IPC (individual pension commitment, EIP/IPT), a second-pillar supplementary pension scheme reserved for company directors and subject to the 80% rule. See the IPC guide.
Corporate income tax at 20-25%: how the company is taxed
The SRL pays corporate income tax on its taxable profit, after deducting the director's remuneration and deductible expenses. The 2026 scale:
Regime
Corporate tax rate
Conditions
SME, reduced rate
SME
20%
On €100,000 of profit + director paid ≥ €50,000 + SME within the meaning of art. 1:24 CSA
Standard
Standard
25%
Above €100,000 or if the SME conditions are not met
5% contribution
Insufficient remuneration
+ 5%
If director paid < €50,000 (unless profit < €50,000)
Remuneration vs dividends: the €50,000 rule
Every year, an SRL director has to choose between two ways of taking cash out: director's remuneration (deductible from corporate income tax, subject to the director's marginal personal income tax) and dividends (not deductible, subject to withholding tax on movable income).
The golden €50,000 rule: to keep the 20% SME rate, pay the main director at least €50,000 of annual remuneration. Below that, the company loses the 20% rate and also owes an additional 5% contribution on the difference between the remuneration and the threshold. This double penalty makes going below €50,000 almost never worthwhile.
Once remuneration is set at €50,000+, the remaining profit can be distributed through 3 channels:
- Standard dividend: 30% withholding tax on movable income, the most expensive.
- VVPRbis dividend: 18% from the 3rd year (cash contributions to an SME, registered shares, fully paid up), the standard optimum.
- Liquidation reserve: 10% when the profit is placed in reserve, then 5% withholding tax on movable income on distribution if the profit has stayed in reserve for at least 3 years → total effective cost of 18%. The long-term optimum. See the SRL dividends guide.
The 4 tax levers specific to the SRL
Four schemes are only available through an SRL and form the core of the tax advantage of switching to a company:
- IPC (individual pension commitment): annual premium deductible from corporate income tax, subject to the 80% rule. For a director on €60,000 of remuneration, a typical annual premium is €8,000-15,000. See the IPC guide.
- Liquidation reserve: leaves part of the profit in a dedicated reserve at an effective exit cost of 18% (vs 30% for a standard dividend).
- Fully electric company car: still 100% deductible in 2026 (vs 0% for combustion-engine cars). Low benefit in kind (BIK). See the company car guide.
- Property investment through the company: the SRL can buy income-producing property, deduct loan interest and depreciate the building (4-5%/year). The optimum needs to be assessed case by case.
How much does an SRL cost per year?
Typical recurring costs in 2026:
- Chartered accountant's fees: €1,800-3,500/year depending on volume and complexity (VAT, payroll, fixed assets).
- Filing annual accounts with the CBE: ~€150/year (abridged SME format).
- Annual company tax: €871 (2026 rate), sometimes waived in the first year.
- Professional liability insurance: varies by occupation (~€300-1,200/year for consultancy, more for high-risk occupations).
- Registered address, business bank account, sundry costs: €200-500/year.
Total: at least €2,500-4,500/year, excluding the IPC and director's premiums. This recurring cost should be weighed against the corporate tax vs personal income tax gain when deciding whether to switch to a company. See the method for switching to a company.
Common mistakes made by new directors
Three recurring mistakes, often costly:
- Insufficient director's remuneration: below €50,000, you lose the 20% SME rate on the whole first band. Typical extra cost: €3,000 to €5,000/year.
- No IPC in the first year: every year without a signed IPC means €5,000-15,000 of lost corporate tax deductions. An IPC can be backdated through back-service, but catching up is costly.
- Mixing business and personal assets: the SRL is a separate legal person. Any unjustified cash withdrawal = reclassified as a benefit in kind (BIK) and taxed. An accountant is essential to keep this separation in order.
Sources
- Companies and Associations Code (CSA/WVV), Law of 23 March 2019, SRL/BV reform. View (new tab)(Official source, 2019-03-23)
- Income Tax Code 1992, Article 215 ITC, corporate income tax rates and SME conditions. View (new tab)(Official source, 2025)
- NISSE (INASTI / RSVZ), Social status of company directors 2026. View (new tab)(Official source, 2025-12)
- FPS Economy, CBE, Crossroads Bank for Enterprises, setting up a company. View (new tab)(Official source, 2026-01)
Key SRL figures 2026
The Belgian SRL in a few numbers
- 20%
SME corporate tax rate (on €100,000 · subject to conditions)
Article 215 ITC · 2026
- €50,000
Minimum director's remuneration for the SME rate
Article 215 ITC · 2026
- ≈ 18%
Effective exit cost via the liquidation reserve
FPS Finance · 2026
SRL FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the SRL
Since the Companies and Associations Code (CSA) of 23 March 2019, there has been no statutory minimum capital to set up an SRL in Belgium. You must, however, have "sufficient" starting equity in view of the planned activity, typically 3 months of costs. The notary and the chartered accountant assess whether it is sufficient in the compulsory financial plan attached to the deed of incorporation.
The standard corporate income tax rate is 25%. SMEs benefit from a reduced rate of 20% on the first €100,000 of taxable profit, subject to three cumulative conditions: being an SME within the meaning of article 1:24 of the CSA, paying at least one director a minimum of €50,000/year (or the whole profit if lower), and not being a financial company more than 50% owned by another company. The former condition of a 13% dividend on paid-up capital was abolished by the corporate income tax reform.
An SRL director is self-employed as a main occupation for NISSE purposes. Their social security contributions are calculated on the gross remuneration they pay themselves as director, at the same rate as any self-employed person in a main occupation: 20.5% on band 1 up to €75,024.54. If the director pays themselves no remuneration, the NISSE quarterly minimum still applies (€890.42/quarter in 2026).
To benefit from the 20% SME corporate tax rate on the first €100,000 of profit, the SRL must pay at least one director a gross annual remuneration of at least €50,000 (article 215 ITC). If the profit before this remuneration is below €50,000, the whole profit must be paid out as remuneration. If this threshold is not reached, the standard 25% rate applies again to the whole profit. No separate contribution penalises insufficient remuneration: the 5% contribution voted in 2017 was withdrawn in 2019 and was never applied. What is new, however, is that benefits in kind valued on a flat-rate basis can no longer count for more than 20% of this remuneration, and the portion above this cap bears a separate non-deductible contribution of 7.5%.
Four main channels: director's remuneration (deductible from corporate income tax, subject to the director's personal income tax), the standard dividend (30% withholding tax on movable income), the VVPRbis dividend (18%, if the conditions are met, from the 3rd year), and the liquidation reserve (10% when set up + 9.8% withholding tax on movable income after 3 years, i.e. 18% total cost). The right mix depends on the director's marginal personal income tax rate and the holding period.
There is none in substance. SRL is the French name (Société à Responsabilité Limitée), BV is the Dutch name (Besloten Vennootschap). It is the same legal form introduced by the 2019 CSA, which replaced the former SPRL/BVBA. The name used in notarial deeds depends on the language of the deed (French in Wallonia/French-speaking Brussels, Dutch in Flanders).
Typical incorporation costs in 2026: €1,200-1,800 for the notary (compulsory authentic deed), €100-200 for the CBE (registration), €100-200 for VAT (number), €200-500 for the chartered accountant (financial plan + first formalities). Total: ~€1,800-2,500, with no minimum capital to pay up. Allow 2-4 weeks between signing and an active CBE number.
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