Relief at source - eligibility, documentation, deadlines - Belgian equities

Who can obtain relief at source?

Relief at source from withholding tax on dividends from Belgian equities is available through Clearstream Banking for beneficial owners as follows:

Documentation requirements

The documentation requirements vary according to the status of the beneficial owner, as follows:

For supranational or international organisations:

• Annexe 229 - Attestation de Propriété in the name of each beneficial owner concerned;
• Per-payment Corporate Action Instruction.

For foreign companies holding “qualifying” participation:

• foreign companies with minority participation claiming exemption:
  • Self-declaration for exemption of dividend withholding tax art. 264/1;
  • per payment corporate action instruction.
• foreign companies with substantial participation claiming exemption
  • Self-declaration for exemption of dividend withholding tax;
  • per payment corporate action instruction.

Form descriptions are presented according to the procedures available for relief and/or reclaim of withholding tax on income from Belgian equities.

Deadlines for receipt of documents

Eligible beneficial owners can benefit from relief at source from withholding tax on dividends from Belgian equities provided that:

• The respective Annexe is received at the latest four business days before the first dividend payment; and
• The Per-payment Corporate Action Instruction is received at the latest two business days before each respective dividend payment.