Four Brussels municipalities to increase local taxes

Residents in Jette, Anderlecht, Berchem-Saint-Agathe and Woluwe-Saint-Pierre will all pay more taxes this year, L’Echo newspaper has reported.

In Jette, property owners will also be faced with higher charges.

This new situation, a decision of the capital’s new municipal councils formed after October 2024’s local elections, is in sharp contrast to previous years, where communes reduced their municipal charges. In 2024, 22 municipalities recorded tax decreases.

The councils have drawn up their budgets and opted for tax adjustments and further tax increases are possible, Bruzz reports.

The new moves also result from the proposed federal government reforms. Municipalities expect less income due to the changes for example in unemployment benefit, now limited to two years, and tighter rules on early retirement.

As a result of this loss, L’Echo predicts that municipalities will increase their personal income or property tax more often. Across Belgium, several municipalities are scheduled to do so this year.

Jette is raising its municipal surcharges – the additional taxes municipalities are allowed to add on top of the normal taxes – on both personal income tax and property tax.

The average Jette resident will pay €1,426.25 in property tax this year, 5.3% more than in 2024 (€1,354.47). This higher amount is set because municipal surcharges on property tax will go up, and due to regional and provincial surcharges. Berchem-Saint-Agathe and Woluwe-Saint-Pierre are also upping this tax.

In addition, Jette is raising its municipal surcharges on personal income tax from 6.4% to 7.4%. Anderlecht’s tax increase – of 1.5 percentage points from 5.5% to 7% is even greater, although this is salary-based, mayor Fabrice Cumps made clear.

“For a gross annual income of €20,000, the tax rises by €1.50 per month, for €25,000 the increase is €4 per month, and for €50,000 it goes up to €15 per month.”