Tax Return: Checklist

Hopefully, you have put all the documents you received in one envelope or box: your salary or pension statement for last year, certificates for donations to charity etc ….

Which documents and certificates do you need to prepare your income tax return:

Earnings:

• salary statement;
• holiday pay statement (if not paid by your employer);
• unemployment benefit statement;
• illness or occupational injury benefit statement
• pension statement;
• all documents evidencing tax deductible expenses relating to your job;
  e.g. for self-employed: certificates confirming social security paid, private pension (VAPZ/PLCI) contributions, reimbursement of professional loans;
• your personal contribution to the mutuelle/ziekenfonds;

If you have real property

• the annual bill(s) for the property tax (précompte immobilier/onroerende voorheffing);
• if your tenant is a company or a professional: a summary of the rent received and the identity of the tenant(s);
• if you have taken out a new mortgage: the certificate delivered by the bank with details of the mortgage;
• mortgage payment certificate(s);
• mortgage insurance premium certificate;

If you have income from savings and investments:

• bank statements showing interest and dividends received;

Certificates justifying deductible expenses:

• premium(s) paid for ordinary life insurance by way of long-term saving;
• contributions paid for pension saving;
• titres-service /dienstencheques;
• payments for childcare ;
• premiums for legal expenses insurance ;
• personal contribution to public transport season ticket;
• tax-deductible gifts ;

Other documents:

• proof of maintenance paid (+ identity of the beneficiary);
• summary of maintenance received (+ identity of the payer);
• certificates relating to energy saving expenses and expenses (with invoices and proof of payment);
• certificates for expenditure to protect homes against burglary and fire (with invoices and proof of payment);
• certificate of co-parenting arrangement;
• advance tax payments;
• self-employed : income, social security paid in 2020 and list of expenses.

Other useful information:

• changes in the family situation (marriage, divorce, …);
• name and date of birth of dependent children;
• identity of other dependents;

It is always a good idea to start with last year’s tax bill to see which codes you used then.

Your tax return:

• the Guide
• Tax filing in Corona Times
• Is this your first time?
• Couples and Children
• When do I need to file?
• on Paper or Online?
• Filing Online
• Filing on Paper
• The Taxman sends a Tax Proposal
• Help!?
• Checklist
• Box I – Contact Details and Bank Account
• Box II – Your Family Situation
• Box III – Real Estate
• Box IV – Earnings
• Box V – Pensions
• Cross Border Taxation
• Box VI – Maintenance Received
• Box VII – Investment Income
• Box VIII – Maintenance Paid and Losses from Previous Years
• Box IX – Mortgage Payments
• Box X – Other Tax Deductions
• Box XII – Paying your Taxes in Advance
• Capital Gains
• Box XIII – Overseas Accounts and Insurance Policies
• Box XIII – Trusts
• Stock Exchange Tax
• Tax on Securities Accounts
• Nowhere to hide
• The Tax Bill
• Appealing the Tax Bill