The rapid spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) leads to
far-reaching measures at home and abroad.
Updated March 2021
These measures may have (sometimes unexpected) tax consequences.
Below, we cover various tax related questions that taxpayers
may have.
1. My business is mandatorily closed due to governmental
measures. Is the compensation that I might receive taxed?
In order to mitigate the financial impact for these companies,
the Flemish Government announced that businesses in the Flemish
region can request a compensation. Businesses which were
mandatorily closed entirely were initially entitled to a lump-sum
compensation of €4,000 while businesses which could remain
open on weekdays were entitled to a compensation of €2,000.
Status – Has any special status been introduced?
This overview includes the COVID-19 federal measures implemented in Belgium. Please note that regions, provinces and municipalities can apply additional measures.
Belgium has imposed a second lockdown from November 2, 2020. A curfew has been implemented from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. in Brussels-Capital Region and Wallonia, and midnight until 5 a.m. in Flanders, during which it is forbidden to be on public roads or in public areas, expect for:
urgent medical reasons (including veterinary reasons);
partner or family violence;
professional reasons (including commuting).
Remote working is mandatory for employees for whose function it is possible, insofar that the continuity of business, activities and services allows it.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s Office is partnering with the FBI to combat unemployment benefits fraud. The two have formed a task force made up of Law Enforcement, Federal Tax Officials and more to address the over 350-thousand fraudulent claims filed in Illinois so far. Attorney General Raoul says it’s important they all work together on this, as thieves have been stealing people’s identities across the country to apply for unemployment benefits. If you get a notice that a claim has been filed in your name, Raoul says you should report it immediately to the Illinois Department of Employment Security.