NIS2 Directive

For Belgian companies, the NIS2 Directive will have a significant impact on how they manage cybersecurity and critical infrastructure. Here’s how NIS2 applies to businesses in Belgium:

1. Broadened Scope:

Belgian companies across various sectors, such as energy, healthcare, finance, transport, digital infrastructure, and public administration, will be affected by NIS2. Smaller businesses in these critical sectors, which were previously not covered under the original NIS Directive, may now be included under NIS2. This means that a larger number of companies in Belgium will be required to adopt stricter cybersecurity measures.

2. Stricter Security Requirements:

Belgian companies will need to implement:

    • Risk management protocols: Businesses must adopt risk-based cybersecurity measures to protect their networks and systems.
    • Incident reporting: Any major cybersecurity incidents must be reported within 24 hours to the relevant authorities.
    • Cyber resilience: Companies are required to have robust plans in place to ensure they can recover from cyberattacks with minimal disruption to services.

3. Improved Cooperation:

Belgium, through its National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Centre for Cybersecurity Belgium (CCB), will work more closely with other EU member states. This enhanced cooperation will require Belgian companies to engage in cross-border information sharing and collaboration to respond to cyber threats more effectively.

4. Stricter Enforcement and Penalties:

Under NIS2, Belgian companies face stricter accountability and potential fines for non-compliance. Failure to implement the required cybersecurity measures or to report incidents on time can result in significant financial penalties, depending on the severity of the breach.

Implications for Belgian Companies:

    • Companies in regulated sectors will need to update their cybersecurity practices and regularly audit their systems.
    • They will have to train employees on cyber risks and incident response plans.
    • Investment in cybersecurity tools and technologies will likely increase as companies ensure compliance with NIS2 requirements.

In Belgium, the implementation of NIS2 is overseen by the CCB, ensuring that Belgian businesses stay aligned with EU regulations. For more information you can visit the following link.

Help !!! I’m a client of a digital office.

Simplify your bookkeeping with Billtobox

 As an entrepreneur, organised and efficient bookkeeping is crucial to the success of your business. Fortunately, Billtobox is a simple solution that helps you keep your finances in order. In this guide, we share step-by-step how you, as a client, can most easily work with Billtobox and show how this tool helps you streamline your administrative processes. By following these guidelines, you will find that your bookkeeping takes less time and gives you more control over your finances.

Step 1: Set up Billtobox account

To get started, you need to create a Billtobox account. You can arrange this with Isabel Claes, which is also more cost-effective for you. In addition, it is important to download the Billtobox app on your smartphone, which is free and allows you to always have the tool on hand.

Step 2: Download these guidelines to carry out the daily and weekly processes in Billtobox. To get the most out of Billtobox, it is important to perform certain steps on a daily or weekly basis.

Good luck

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Making global business personal, and taking personal business global.

With this vision, INAA wants to promote cross-border trade and services.

INAA stands for “International Association of Independent Accounting firms”. Its members are all independent firms of accountants, tax consultants and/or auditors.  An important requirement for membership is the guarantee to provide quality, professional services.

Currently, 680 professionals from more than 140 offices with more than 3900 employees are part of this network, spread over more than 50 countries on 5 continents.   Since the beginning of 2019 @TheOffice has been part of this network and last week we participated for the first time in the interim INAA member conference in Barcelona.  There we have already had the opportunity to meet colleagues from 27 countries.

Through this network, we can help our customers with their foreign activities and with setting up branches abroad.  In almost every European country, we can consult a consultant on company law, taxation, payroll and accountancy.   In the opposite direction, our foreign colleagues can call on us for advice with regard to trade and services in Belgium.

@TheOffice is the first Flemish accountancy firm to be accepted by the INAA group.

After a favorable evaluation of our internal organization and professional qualities, our membership of the INAA group is a fact.

INAA stands for “International Association of Independent Accounting Firms”.   It is an international network of certified accountants, auditors and tax consultants, spread over more than 50 countries on 5 continents.

Each country has its own local regulations, taxation and customs. From now on, this network allows us to provide specialized assistance and advice to Belgian SMEs that want to set up subsidiaries or branches abroad and help our clients even better in their international activities

more certainty concerning stock option plans for consultants active through management companies

The implementation of a stock option plan is possible using either options or warrants. Many companies wish to reward certain ‘ key persons ‘ well and commit them for a long time to the company. Because of its favorable tax treatment, the granting of stock options is an interesting tool. Until recently,  it was unclear whether this tax system also applies where the relevant person is active through a management company. On 2017, April 13, the tax administration has introduced a circular and set out how such stock options should be treated and thus implicitly confirmed that the tax system of the stock options indeed applies at “the granting by a company of stock options on its shares to the Managing Director of a management company that provides services to the former company”.

This circular also clarifies the calculation of the benefit: the tax base is basically equal to 18% of the actual value of the underlying shares. However, when the option is granted for a period exceeding five years, the taxable benefit is increased by 1% per year (or part of a year) that exceeds five years. The rate of 18% cannot be reduced by 50% even if the management company is appointed as a director of the company that has issued the stock options.

Do not hesitate to contact us if you would like more information about the practical application of this system.

The new Innovation Deduction: an Opportunity for IT companies

On February 2nd, 2017, The Belgian Parliament has approved the law introducing a tax "innovation income deduction".

This deduction was introduced retro-active as of July 1st, 2016 and can therefore already be applied for the past fiscal year.

The income eligible for the deduction must relate to intellectual property rights of :

1/ patents or supplementary protection certificates;

2/ breeders' rights

3/ orphan drugs

4/ data and market exclusivity

5/ copyrighted software

t is this last category that offers interesting perspectives for the many IT companies. Also software developed for the improvement of internal business and production processes may be eligible for the deduction.

The deduction amounts to 85% of the qualifying net income, but surely there are some important conditions to consider:

  • The software should be the result of a research or development project as defined for the exemption for withholding tax on wages;
  • The software has produced no income before July 1st, 2016;
  • The deduction is limited if the software was only partially developed by the company.

Furthermore, for the application of this tax deduction, it is crucial to be able to submit corresponding evidence : convincing data and related documentation, both in terms of income and expenditure.

Of course, our office can guide you through these administrative obligations.

Don't miss this opportunity!