Do I have to declare my bank account abroad to Belgium?
In short
Yes. Every bank account abroad must be declared every year on your tax return, and once in the central register (CAP) of the National Bank of Belgium.
Video transcript
You have a bank account abroad. Even if there is no money in it. Required: Every account is declared each year in your tax return, and once in the National Bank's register (CAP). The right way: Tick the foreign account box in your tax return. Declare the interest too. If you don't declare: Not declaring: Administrative fine; Undeclared interest: 10 – 200 % tax increase; Social assistance: Can be stopped, reclaimed.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- Every account must be declared, including current, savings, foreign currency and investment accounts. The law sets no minimum balance; an account with no money in it must also be declared.
- Every year, you tick the foreign account box on your tax return.
- You declare the account once to the central register (CAP) of the National Bank of Belgium (NBB); you do this yourself, not the bank.
- Interest or income from the account must also be written on your tax return.
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- There is an administrative fine for not declaring; check the exact amount with the tax authorities (FOD Financiën / SPF Finances). If there is undeclared interest or income, there is also a tax surcharge of 10–200%
Legal basis:WIB 92, art. 444, 445
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- Back taxes and a tax surcharge
Legal basis:WIB 92, art. 444
- If you receive social assistance, it can be stopped and must be paid back
Legal basis:Wet 26.5.2002 maatschappelijke integratie, art. 30 §1, 24
- Risk of a money laundering investigation
Legal basis:Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek II, art. 502
Why does this rule exist?
The rule supports tax fairness and the fight against money laundering. As information sharing between banks becomes more common, undeclared accounts are easier to find.
Where can you go?
- Accountant or social secretariatDimona, e-invoicing and tax obligations
- Organisations for self-employed peopleFlanders: Unizo · Wallonia and Brussels: UCM
- Tax office (FOD Financiën / SPF Finances)Declaring foreign property and accounts
- Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.
This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses
Source and reliability
Official source- Source check
- 7 / 7 statements in an official source
- Checked: 12.10.2026
- Last checked
- 12.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 7 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
Hesap kişinin kendisi tarafından bir kez NBB CAP'a bildirilir
NBB – CAP melden - Found in an official source
Her yıl beyannamede yurt dışı hesap kutusu
Kamer DOC 54 1899/001 (14.06.2016), WIB 92 art. 307 §1 tweede lid'i aktarıyor (bugün art. 307 §1/1 a) - Found in an official source
Bildirmemenin idari cezası var; beyan edilmeyen gelirde %10–200 vergi artırımı
WIB 92, art. 444, 445 - Found in an official source
Vergi kanununu ihlal hapisle cezalandırılır ancak yalnız hileli kasıt veya zarar verme amacı varsa
WIB 92, art. 449 - Found in an official source
Beyan edilmeyen gelir için vergi ve %10–200 artırım
WIB 92, art. 444 - Found in an official source
Gelirleri bilerek gizleme veya yanlış beyan leefloon'un 6 aya (hilede 12 aya) kadar kesilmesine yol açar; ayrıca geri istenir
Wet 26.5.2002 maatschappelijke integratie, art. 30 §1, 24 - Found in an official source
Suçtan (ör. vergi kaçakçılığından) elde edilen paranın saklanması/aktarılması kara para aklama suçudur
Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek II, art. 502
The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.
General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?