You have not yet received your tax assessment notice (tax calculation note), but would like to know now whether you should expect to pay additional tax or receive a tax refund? At the moment, two of our tools can help you find out:

• If you have been sent a proposed simplified return from us or if you use Tax-on-web to submit your tax return, you can immediately get an estimate of the amount of your tax.
• You can also obtain this estimate anonymously through Tax-Calc.

However, you will only find the final amount you will have to pay or be refunded in your tax assessment notice.

You have submitted your tax return and would like to know when you will receive your refund? The date of your refund depends on the date on which you receive your tax assessment notice (tax calculation note).

Please note: do not mistake the tax assessment notice for the proposed simplified return (a pre-filled tax return based on the information we know about your situation so that you do not have to fill in a tax return yourself). Whether your proposed simplified return (or your ordinary return) is still being processed or whether your tax assessment notice is already available, you can keep track of it on the MyMinfin platform, under the heading “Ma déclaration/My return - Ma proposition de déclaration simplifiée/My proposed simplified return”. As soon as the tax assessment notice is ready, you will find it, like your previous tax assessment notices, under the heading “Mes documents/My documents” of MyMinfin.

You still haven’t received your tax assessment notice

Therefore, it is normal that you haven’t yet obtained any refund. We can only refund you once we have converted your tax return (or your proposed simplified return) into a tax assessment notice. We have until June 30^th 2024 (for income of 2022) to do that. You will receive the refund two months after the tax assessment notice (so August 31^st 2024 at the latest).

In the meantime, don't forget to check that your bank account number is correct on MyMinfin and to give us your bank account number if necessary.

You have already received your tax assessment notice

The month in which we will reimburse you is mentioned on your tax assessment notice (not to be mistaken for a proposed simplified return).

We will refund on the following dates:

Please bear in mind that it may take several days before the refund is present on your bank account.

No, we cannot refund your taxes sooner than expected.

You will receive a tax refund on time if you receive it by the end of the second month after you receive your tax assessment notice (tax calculation note). Example: if you receive your tax assessment notice on January 15^th 2021, you should receive your tax refund by March 31^st 2021. 

Did you receive your tax assessment notice more than two months ago and you haven’t yet received your tax refund? Here are some of the reasons why you may not receive your tax refund on time.

You mentioned a wrong bank account number

We have refunded you on the wrong bank account number:

• incorrectly entered bank account number
• Bank account number not updated

Find out how to communicate or change your bank account number in order to receive your tax refund.

The FPS Finance lacks information on my situation for a timely tax refund

In order to be able to make a tax refund in time, we sometimes need additional information. This is the case, for example, if:

• you are the heir of a deceased person who was entitled to a tax refund
• Your tax refund concerns a joint ownership between several people
• You live abroad and do not have a Belgian bank account in order to receive your tax refund

I have debts to other public authorities

If you have additional debts to other public authorities, we can withhold all or part of your tax refund in order to clear your debts. If this is the case, we will send you a letter outlining your situation and the action we have taken to remedy it. A contact point is always mentioned on the letter.

A third party objects to my tax refund

If, for example, you have granted a transfer of your taxes or if a creditor has seized your taxes, it is possible that this person is opposed to your tax refund. Find out how to be refunded when you are in collective debt settlement.

You are entitled to a tax refund and would like to know how you will receive it? It all depends on whether we know your bank account number or not.

You can find out on your tax assessment notice (tax calculation note) how the amount due to you will be refunded.

• If we know your bank account number, we will make the refund by means of a bank transfer to this account number.
• If we do not know your account number, we will send you a postal money order.

If you are married or legally cohabiting, the bank account number last communicated to us will appear on your tax assessment notice.

Please note:

• A refund via postal order has some disadvantages. You will have to go to the post office and receive the amount in cash.
• Moreover, we cannot refund amounts below EUR 50 through postal order.
  (See Art. 304/1 of the Income Tax Code 1992)
•  Therefore, we request you  to provide us with your account number as soon as possible (This hyperlink opens a new window).

In order to be able to refund you quickly and securely, it is essential to update your bank account with the FPS Finance. There are three possible procedures for communicating your (new) account number to us. These are listed below in order of security and efficiency:

1. Online on MyMinfin.be

The easiest and quickest way is to carry it out via MyMinfin.

Change your bank account number through MyMinfin.be

Need help? See how to proceed by watching this video tutorial or by reading our explanation below:

• Log in using your identity card (eID), the “itsme” application or another digital key.
• Select “Connexion en nom propre/Login in your own name” and click “Next”.
• Click on “Modifier mon numéro de compte/Change my bank account number” under “Mes paiements et remboursements/My payments and refunds”.
• Click on “Modifier les données/Change the data”.
• Fill in the data of your new bank account (IBAN and BIC) and click on “Confirmez vos données saisies/Confirm your entered data”.

Please note: if you are married or legally cohabiting, we will settle your joint refund to the account number mentioned in the assessment notice, unless you or your partner communicate a new account number after the date of sending the assessment notice and before the 10th of the month of your refund. For example, for a sending on 14/09/2022, the last account number entered between 14/09/2022 and 10/11/2022 will be used, (and the refund will be paid on 30/11/2022).

2. Via our secure general contact form

You do not have access to our computer applications and need our help to enter your bank account number for you? There are two possibilities.

2.1. Paper form received with your tax assessment notice

If you have received your tax assessment notice (tax calculation notice) mentioning a refund and your bank account number is not included in our database in your name, you will find a paper form to fill in. 

• Fill in all the data on the form attached to your tax assessment notice and do not forget to mention the article number of your tax assessment (see the grey box at the top right of your tax assessment notice) and your IBAN account number. 
• Sign it.
• Upload this paper form and any necessary annex via our secure general contact form before the 5th of the month of your refund. If, for instance, your tax assessment notice mentions a refund date on August 30th 2022, you must transmit us the form before August 5th 2022 in order to receive this refund on the account number you want to communicate to us.

2.2. Online contact form

If you want to inform us of a change in your bank account (and you have not received the form attached to your tax assessment notice), you can send us your bank details via our secure general contact form, by filling in the required fields and:

• by uploading a necessary proof of your identity (preferably a copy of your identity card or possibly your driving licence or bank card or even your passport)
• by adding a copy of your signature as an annex 
• by specifying in the box “Formulez ici votre question/Ask your question here”: “Demande d’introduction d’un compte bancaire dans la base de données du SPF Finances/Request for entering a bank account into the FPS Finance database”.

Please note: no bank details will be entered into our database without proof of identity.

Please note: if you are married or legally cohabiting, your partner must also submit an application via a contact form in their name. Bank details must be entered per citizen and under no circumstances may data be entered on a single form for several citizens. 

3. By post

Warning! Processing bank details by post takes longer and is less secure.

Besides, if we are unable to process your mail in time, your refund might be delayed. 

3.1. Paper form received with your tax assessment notice

If you have received your tax assessment notice (tax calculation notice), which mentions a refund, and we do not have a bank account number in our database for you, you will also find a form to fill in.

• Fill in all the data on the form attached to your tax assessment notice. Do not forget to mention the article number of your tax assessment (see the grey box at the top right of your tax assessment notice) and your IBAN account number. 
• Sign it
• Send the form to the following address before the 20th of the month preceding the month of your refund: 

                  Infocenter SPF Finances

                  Avenue Prince de Liège (JB) 133, boîte 126

                  5100 Namur

If, for instance, your tax assessment notice mentions a refund date on August 30th 2022, you must transmit us the form before July 20th 2022 in order to receive this refund on the new account number you  communicated to us. 

3.2. Letter to be sent

If you want to inform us of a change in your bank account (and you have not received the form attached to your tax assessment notice), you can send your bank details to the following address: 

                  Infocenter SPF Finances

                  Avenue Prince de Liège (JB) 133, boîte 126

                  5100 Namur

Include with your letter:

• Your full bank details
• Your national register number
• Your signature
• A proof of your identity (preferably a copy of your identity card or driving licence or bank card or passport).

Warning: no bank details will be entered into our database without proof of identity. 

Please note: if you are married or legally cohabiting, your partner must also sign the application for entering a bank account, specifying that the bank account is also in their name and attaching a copy of their identity document. Entering bank details is carried out per citizen and in no case, entering the data will be done in our database if the application is not complete. 

IN SUMMARY, DEADLINES FOR CHANGING YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER DEPENDING ON THE MEANS OF COMMUNICATION CHOSEN

You have received your tax assessment notice and noticed that the bank account number mentioned is not correct?

In that case you need to indicate your modified bank account number before the 5th of the month of your tax refund. This date will also appear on your tax assessment notice.

You received your tax refund by postal money order (cheque) and you don't know how to collect it?

In order to collect your postal money order, you must go to a post office. You must do so within three months of the date of issue of your postal money order; the date of issue appears on the postal money order. The post office will give you your refund in cash.

What to do if my postal money order is no longer valid?

If your postal money order is no longer valid, you should then contact us.

You were supposed to receive your tax refund by postal money order (cheque), but you didn't receive your postal money order by the due date?

Keep in mind that it is sent on a non-priority basis and that its delivery may be delayed by a few days. You still haven't received it a few days later? Then you have two options:

1. Provide us with your account number and contact us to let us know that you wish to receive your refund by bank transfer.

Ask for a duplicate of your postal money order to bpost bank.

If it is mentioned on your tax assessment notice that your tax refund will be paid by postal money order, it is because we do not know your bank account number.

Please provide us quickly with your bank account number. Please note that you must do so before the 20^th of the month following receipt of the tax assessment notice. This final date will also appear on the tax assessment notice. See how you can communicate your bank account number.

The deadline for collecting a postal money order is three months from the date of issue. This is mentioned in the postal money order.

Has the period of validity expired? Bpost will return the money to us. Please provide us with your bank account number and we will ensure that you are refunded as soon as possible.

According to your tax assessment notice (tax calculation note), you are entitled to a tax refund, but you also have debts with public authorities.

In most cases, you will then not receive, or only part of, your refund. We withhold the part of your refund that is necessary to pay your debt. If you are concerned by this situation, we will inform you.

If you are concerned by a collective debt settlement, we will carry out your tax refund to your debt ombudsman.

You are entitled to a tax refund, but a creditor has seized it?

Your creditor can then oblige us to withhold your refund. In this case, the creditor will inform you. We must then hand over your entire refund to the bailiff, who will use it to settle your debts. If there is any amount left over after this debt settlement, it will of course be paid to you.

What to do if I have several creditors?

In the event of a seizure, we will hand over the entire refund to the bailiff. The bailiff will then distribute your reimbursement to the creditors, taking into account any privileges they may have: certain types of debt (such as social security contributions or withholding tax on movable property) have priority over other debts and must be refunded first.

You are entitled to a tax refund, but you have an agreement with a creditor to transfer your tax refund?

Your creditor can then obligeus to withhold your refund. If we receive a transfer or a seizure of debt, the creditor will inform you. We must then give your refund (or part of it) to your creditor who will use it to pay off your debts. If there is any amount left over after the payment of your creditor(s), it will of course be paid to you.

What to do if I have several creditors?

If we receive a transfer of claims from several creditors, we will first take into account the debts of the creditor from whom we first received a transfer application as regards the use of your tax refund. As soon as this debt has been paid in full, we will assign the remaining amount of your refund to the second creditor, and so on.

You can find an overview of your transfers and seizures online on the MyMinfin platform.

Check the overview of transfers and seizures on MyMinfin.be

You will also find the amount for which the transfer or seizure was made, but this is not necessarily the current balance of your debt. If you want to know the current balance of your debt, you should contact the creditor.

Each spouse has a share in a joint taxation. This is the breakdown defined by the General Administration of Taxation (AGFISC) between the spouses after the tax has been calculated.

In principle, both shares, i.e. the entire repayment, will be paid to the surviving spouse, on the account mentioned on the Tax Assessment Notice. No action is required on your part. You should, however, check this account and change it if it is closed or if you do not have access to it. You can change your bank account number via MyMinFin.be. For more information, see this page.

However, the debts of the surviving spouse and those of the deceased that we are responsible for recovering will be deducted from this amount.

In some specific cases only, you will be contacted by our services when the refund is being processed, i.e. after the Tax Assessment Notice has been sent. In these cases, it will be essential to return the completed letter and any enclosures requested within the indicated time frame, to prevent a longer refund period.

Each partner has a share in a joint taxation. This is the breakdown defined by the General Administration of Taxation (AGFISC)  between the spouses following the tax calculation.

Your own share will be paid to you, after deduction of any debts you might have. Make sure, however, that you have access to the bank account mentioned on the Tax Assessment Notice for reimbursement. You can change your account number via MyMinFin.be. For more information, see this page.

In the event of legal cohabitation, you do not automatically inherit from your deceased partner. Your partner must have drawn up a will in your favor.

Our administration could get access to these wills, but you can send us a copy to too, addressed to the Collection Team once you have received your Tax Assessment Notice.

If there is no will in your favor, the legal heirs will be reimbursed.

Are you moving to a foreign country in the near future and you want to be sure to receive your refund? Then communicate your (Belgian or foreign) bank account number now.

If we do not know your bank account number at the time of payment of your refund, the payment will not take place: we do not pay via an international postal money order because we want to avoid charges to your disadvantage. It is therefore very important that you check whether your tax assessment notice mentions the correct bank account number.

Also inform the population service of the municipality where you live now of your full address abroad. This way, your foreign address will also become your official address in the Belgian national register. We always send all documents (such as your tax return form and tax assessment notice to that address.

You are entitled to a tax refund and are wondering whether we can pay it into your foreign bank account number?

That’s possible. If we already know this number, it will also appear on your tax assessment notice (tax calculation notice). 

What should I do if my bank account number does not appear on my tax assessment notice?

Please give us the following data:

• IBAN:
• BIC:
• Owner of the bank account:
• Name of the bank establishment:
• For some countries, such as the United States of America, the “routing code” of your bank.

Send us these data via the contact form:

• To the question “Quel est le sujet de la question ?/What is the question about?” choose “Toutes les questions relatives aux impôts, paiements et remboursements/All questions relating to taxes, payments and refunds”.
• To the question “Il s’agit de ?/What is it about?” select “Paiement ou remboursement/Payment or refund” in the drop-down menu.

Bear in mind that it may take several weeks before you receive your tax refund.

And if the FPS Finance does not know your bank account number?

If we do not know your bank account number at the time we want to make your refund, the payment will be blocked. We do not pay by international postal money order, as we want to avoid charges to your disadvantage. It is therefore important that you check whether your tax assessment notice mentions the correct bank account number.