An expat should definitely have their tax and social residency status examined by an expert. Complicated State Structure: Since there are three cultures living within Belgium, it is quite complicated to address the legalities within the country at times. There can be a struggle between the cultures, which is a detriment to efficiency. Be sure to research the legalities of contracts before relocating to Belgium.
Brussels has all the disadvantages of a large city (traffic , congestion , long lines at govt offices , and overcrowding at shopping centres , especially on Saturdays ) without offering any of the benefits that typically come with big-city living (e.g. after-hours shopping and services). Easy travel access to Europe.
Cons: High cost of living. Great foo you get a lot of options for both quality and diversity. Top earners are hit with a whopping of their income , compared to in other European countries, although government reforms aim to reduce the Belgian tax burden and a number of tax deductions can be claimed. The first is the weather. There is a significant amount of rain all year round and that can be frustrating.
Income tax is especially high in comparison to other places in Europe and it’s also expensive to own a car. (more…)