Brussels Compensates Homeowners for Property Tax Increase

Brussels is introducing a reform to its property tax system, which will lead to an increase in the surcharges applied to property owners. The surcharges are rising from 2,950 to 3,457, a change that will affect property owners differently based on their holdings.

For homeowners who reside in their own properties, the increase will largely be offset. They will receive a fixed compensation of 100 euros, along with the regional Be-Home premium, which currently stands at 164 euros and is set to double to 328 euros next year. According to city officials, these measures mean that owner-occupiers will effectively pay less property tax than they did last year.

However, owners of multiple properties will feel the impact of this reform more acutely. These individuals are expected to pay approximately 30 euros more per month on average. Anas Ben Abdelmoumen, the alderman of finance, stated that the city is requesting an "extra solidarity effort" from "large property owners." He noted that these owners often reside outside Brussels but derive substantial rental income from properties within the city, benefiting from Brussels' appeal.

The reform also includes a significant reduction in the municipal personal income tax, lowering it from 6% to 4.9% for residents of the City of Brussels. Ben Abdelmoumen believes this measure will enhance the purchasing power of the city's inhabitants, aligning with the administration's goal to strengthen residents' economic capacity.