IN MAP: 88 municipalities have increased their property tax, here's how it is in your municipality

A sharp increase in property taxes is being implemented across Belgium, with 88 municipalities raising their surcharges on immovable property tax in 2026. This marks a substantial jump from just six municipalities that increased these taxes in the previous year, according to the Property Tax Report by Ayming Belgium. In Flanders alone, 56 municipalities have opted for higher taxes, though Brussels registers the highest property tax burdens overall.

These property taxes, paid by both individuals and companies, are calculated using the cadastral income (KI), which represents a property's hypothetical annual rental value. Regional governments apply a base rate, and provinces and municipalities then add local surcharges. Dorian Clément, Finance & Tax Manager at Ayming, explained that rising costs for essential services like pensions, police, fire departments, and social services are putting municipal finances under pressure. "Property tax is the most direct lever that municipalities have for this, and it is now being used," Clément stated.

The overall tax burden in Belgium has risen from 50.58 percent to 51.29 percent of the cadastral income. Flanders remains the most fiscally attractive region with an average tax burden of 47.22 percent, despite 56 of its municipalities increasing their base rates. Notably, 24 Flemish municipalities are imposing higher rates specifically on businesses and offices while keeping rates for individuals unchanged.

In Wallonia, the average tax rate stands at 55.22 percent, with 24 municipalities increasing their tariffs, led by Waver with a 31 percent rise. Forty-eight municipalities in Wallonia now exceed a 60 percent tax rate, primarily in the province of Hainaut. Brussels faces the highest average property tax burden at 58.48 percent, with additional regional taxes on non-residential surfaces affecting office owners.