In this opinion piece, Nicolas Quarré, CEO of Accountable, is raising the alarm: a new fiscal measure that automatically penalises any error in a tax return with a 10% surcharge is creating a climate of fear for anyone looking to go self-employed in Belgium.
Introduced following an audit by the Court of Audit, the measure applies to individuals, the self-employed, and SMEs alike, with no distinction between good faith and bad faith. Quarré argues that tax legislation is so complex that even well-intentioned entrepreneurs make mistakes. This fear of failure acts as a major barrier to entrepreneurship and holds back innovation.
He calls for a graduated penalty system that takes the severity of an error into account, paired with preventive tools such as automatic reminders, and an open dialogue with organisations including Unizo, UCM, and ITAA.
Read the full opinion piece on De Tijd (Dutch) or L’Echo (French).
Accountable, headquartered in Brussels and Berlin, is a tax software that has been helping the self-employed manage their business finances with confidence and control since 2019. The intuitive app, which includes its own free professional account, makes bookkeeping simple and stress-free. From tracking expenses to filing tax returns correctly with guarantee, Accountable ensures every aspect is clear and manageable. Automated calculations, smart bank integrations and seamless collaboration with accountants give the self-employed full control over their finances, without the complexity. Accountable is the first provider on the market with an AI Accountant that automatically categorises receipts, answers tax questions and prepares data for the tax authorities. Since its founding, more than 175,000 tax returns have been processed through the app. More than 50,000 Belgian freelancers rely on Accountable, and 68% of all digital VAT filings in Belgium are submitted via the platform.
