Vlabel follows...
On June 21, 2021, the Flemish Tax Administration took a first position on this issue (SP No. 21042). Vlabel concurred with the decision of the Constitutional Court and announced that it would henceforth also allow the credit for movable property, both in the valuation and administrative litigation phase and in the case of a request for ex officio exemption (and even outside the 5-year assessment period if applicable).
However, this position did not address the regime of foreign estate taxes, taxes that are not an actual inheritance tax but directly encumber the estate of the deceased. At the time, Vlabel accepted these foreign estate taxes only as specific liabilities of the estate. The foreign estate tax could only be deducted from the value of the foreign taxed assets to determine the tax base in Belgium. Indeed, this tax was regarded as a kind of charge imposed on the estate (SP No. 15121), so that it was not eligible for the aforementioned credit.
In doing so, Vlabel went against the decision of the Federal Administration of November 21, 1968 (No. E.E./80.587). For the application of this credit specifically for real estate, no distinction is made in this administrative decision depending on whether the tax is levied directly and globally at the expense of the estate or personally and individually at the expense of the entitled parties to each part. The Federal Administration thus allowed the crediting of foreign inheritance tax on foreign real estate, even if the foreign inheritance tax had the characteristics of an estate tax and was not to be borne personally by the taxpayer.
Therefore, the application of Vlabel's former position was considerably less favourable than a full credit for inheritance tax levied abroad.
Example: A testator with tax residence in the Flemish Region bequeaths a property located in the United Kingdom worth €1 million to his son
The real estate is in principle subject to 40% "Inheritance Tax" in the United Kingdom if the remaining net assets exceed 325,000 pounds sterling. Indeed, the first £325,000 are exempt. If we apply Vlabel's former position to this, then inheritance tax will be levied on what remains, i.e. on 600,000 euros. The son will then still owe 114,000 euros of inheritance tax in Belgium (Flemish Region) (3% on the first 50,000 euros, or 1,500 euros, 9% on the next 200,000 euros, or 18,000 euros and 27% on the remaining 350,000 euros, or 94,500 euros (rates in the direct line and between partners)).
Applying the method of the Federal Administration, the son will no longer owe any additional inheritance tax in Belgium. Indeed, the 40% rate of British Inheritance Tax exceeds the 27% rate of inheritance tax in the Flemish Region.
However, the credit is allowed when it comes to (the inheritance tax levied on) real estate located abroad and held by a foreign company of which the deceased directly holds shares (so-called real estate company), and which is considered as real estate abroad. This appears from an unpublished administrative decision of the Federal Administration of March 20, 2008 (No. E.E. 102.537). Practice shows that Vlabel also follows this decision.
... and extends to foreign estate taxes ...
However, the first position (No. 15121) was expressly waived by Vlabel's supplement to Position No. 21042 on Aug. 18, 2021. Vlabel accepts that foreign estate taxes are also eligible for a credit, where the term "inheritance tax" will be interpreted to mean "any tax levied because of death".
In doing so, Vlabel expands its position in accordance with the Federal Administration's decision, for both movable and immovable property, given the general wording in the position. Vlabel no longer makes a distinction according to whether the tax is levied directly and globally on the estate or personally and individually on the beneficiaries of each part. This means that the credit therefore also applies, for example, to the British Inheritance Tax and the American Estate Tax. In the example of the testator who bequeaths a property in the United Kingdom worth EUR 1 million to his son , the son will no longer owe any additional inheritance tax in the Flemish Region on the UK property.
... after which the Flemish legislator also follows ...
After publication of this (supplemented) position, expectations were high that the Flemish legislator would also remedy this situation soon. This expectation is now finally a reality. On October 10, 2022, the Flemish government submitted a draft decree anchoring the position (Parl. St. Flemish Parliament 2022-23, no. 1440/001).
Not only does the draft now extend the credit of foreign inheritance tax to all foreign property, both movable and immovable. From now on, the credit would apply to foreign inheritance tax levied in any country, and thus not only to inheritance tax paid in the country of location of the property in question. This takes into account both the current international context, and the less unambiguous localization of movable property. The latter is therefore only to be welcomed.
The draft is currently under further consideration by the Commission. Once approved, it is expected to enter into force definitively ten days after publication in the Belgian Official Gazette.
... but leaves a gap
However, the draft does not seem to cover the regime of foreign estate taxes. On this point, therefore, the decree seems to be flawed at first glance. Indeed, the draft decree does not clarify whether only inheritance tax in the strict sense is meant, or "any tax levied because of death" as mentioned in position 21042, including foreign estate taxes.
It would be helpful if the legislator would enshrine position 21042 in its entirety and literally , thus allowing the crediting of "any tax levied by reason of death.
Please note that the rules have not yet been amended in the Walloon Region. In Brussels, the legislator has amended its legislation, but limited the possibility for a credit to inheritance tax paid in the country of location of the property in question (which differs from the flemish proposed legislation). Foreign estate taxes are not explicitly coverd by legislation, but the federal position EE 80.587 is still applicable.
