Talk:Investing from Belgium

Bond market ETFs
Some ishare bond etfs, courtesy of Ishare product overview,Staatsobligaties:

For broad market, Euro denomination bonds:
 * IEGA: iShares Core Euro Government Bond UCITS ETF; TER 0.20%
 * IEAG: iShares Euro Aggregate Bond UCITS ETF; TER 0.25%
 * IBCI: iShares Euro Inflation Linked Government Bond UCITS ETF; TER 0.20%

For specific maturity Euro denomination bonds:
 * IEGE: iShares Euro Government Bond 0-1yr UCITS ETF; TER 0.20%
 * IBGS: iShares Euro Government Bond 1-3yr UCITS ETF; TER 0.20%
 * IBGX: iShares Euro Government Bond 3-5yr UCITS ETF; TER 0.20%
 * IEGY: iShares Euro Government Bond 5-7yr UCITS ETF; TER 0.20%
 * IBGM: iShares Euro Government Bond 7-10yr UCITS ETF; TER 0.20%
 * IEGZ: iShares Euro Government Bond 10-15yr UCITS ETF; TER 0.20%
 * IBGL: iShares Euro Government Bond 15-30yr UCITS ETF; TER 0.20%

Note: that investment grade corporate funds are also available: Bedrijfsobligaties, investmemt grade.

--Blbarnitz 11:37, 7 November 2015 (UTC)
 * integrated in page -- talk can be closed?
 * --BeBH65 19:28, 12 November 2015 (UTC)

What to keep here? what to move to other pages as it is also valid outside of Belgium
This page as it is written now includes a number of topics tha are alsoe valid outside of Belgium. Exampels: --BeBH65 19:17, 9 November 2015 (UTC)
 * Do we need to keep them here?
 * repalce them with links to existing pages?
 * create new pages for them?
 * the description of bond fund types and the risk assesment on them
 * the list of ETF's
 * the description of Why Irish ETFS are better

There should be a balance between educating the reader and duplication of information. It is always helpful to have everything in one page, but the reader must know the information exists in a different page (where can the information be found?). So, the information must exist in two (or more) pages.

Writing the same information also takes more effort to maintain. If the information changes, it must be done in all locations. The wiki has a few tricks for this situation.


 * 1) Create a short summary, then provide a link for more information. This is the same technique as you have done in Invest early and often. There is a short summary with a link to a main article. The reader understands the concept and can research further. We also have a See also template for minor points.


 * 1) Use a template to repeat the same information in several pages. Write the content once, then include the information everywhere it is needed. To change the content, just change the template. Here is an example: Template:Definition of terms. This template is used on many fund distribution pages - click on "What links here" (left side menu, under Tools) to see the list of pages.

--LadyGeek 22:25, 9 November 2015 (UTC)

Information still to be added / updated
--BeBH65 19:02, 11 November 2015 (UTC) --BeBH65 21:13, 12 November 2015 (UTC) updated
 * tak21/tak23 ARE lifeinsurance -- ✅
 * fourth pillar -✅
 * Full offline review - ✅
 * I am almost done with this page. What are the remaining actions to bring it to the next stage, with replacing "under construction" by "expand"

--BeBH65 21:13, 12 November 2015 (UTC) If you are done with this page, the remaining actions are:


 * Remove the "under construction" template message. There is always an opportunity to add more content, but the "expand" message is only used if there is a significant deficiency of information. You have enough information to help a Belgian investor, so I think the "expand" template is not needed. Here is a complete list of messages: Bogleheads:Template messages
 * Update the International domiciles navigation template to add Belgium as a new country. ✅
 * Add a Belgium category. ✅

Removal of "under construction" will let the other editors know that your page is ready for the final (last 2) administrative steps. The experienced editors can help with this "housekeeping", as it can be a bit tricky. --LadyGeek 03:55, 13 November 2015 (UTC)

I removed the EU template. While Belgium is certainly a member of the EU, so is the Netherlands. We have pages describing each country in detail. I think the EU category should be for the broader topic (applies to the entire EU instead of one country). --LadyGeek 22:02, 13 November 2015 (UTC)

Consider removal of Expand, as I think it is more complete than a similar page, Investing from the Netherlands. Improvement is certainly possible, but I don't think the page should be highlighted in this manner. --LadyGeek 22:21, 13 November 2015 (UTC) ✅--BeBH65 19:16, 14 November 2015 (UTC)

Reader feedback: List of brokers
Suggested reader feedback:

"Maybe a list of brokers where you can exchange ETF funds and the costs they charge for trading. Would be useful imo."

A direct link to the reader feedback submission is at the top of this page: View reader feedback

--LadyGeek 13:51, 1 June 2016 (EDT)

✅ --BeBH65 14:20, 1 June 2016 (EDT)

Belgian tax credit for Level 2 taxes paid
The page currently states: "Note that dividend taxes withheld by other countries (Level 1 and Level 2 taxes) are not eligible for the Belgian tax credit for dividend income. Only dividend taxes paid to the Belgian authorities are eligible for tax credit."

Is this really true, and if so, can you provide a citation? Level 1 tax (paid internally by the ETF, and so indirectly by the investor) is often not creditable, but Level 2 tax (paid directly by the investor to the home country of the ETF or stock held) usually is creditable against local tax in most countries. If true, is this only for ETFs, or would a Belgian investor holding (say) AAPL lose 15% of their AAPL dividend to US tax and with no Belgian credit?

--TedSwippet 17:32, 26 December 2020 (UTC)


 * thanks for checking what we do.
 * "No credit for actual foreign taxes paid on other income is available under Belgian domestic law, but foreign taxes are deductible against taxable income."
 * https://home.kpmg/xx/en/home/insights/2011/12/belgium-income-tax.html
 * dividend withholding tax in Belgium is automatically withheld by the broker, on the net received dividends.
 * The dividend withholding tax is called "liberating". there is no need to declare it anywhere
 * for stocks it indeed means that we first pay 15% to USA and then 30% on the remainder, so an investor would only receive about 55% of the dividend.
 * yes some BE investor complain about this - but they forget that individual investor do not have capital gains tax.
 * BeBH65 18:41, 26 December 2020 (UTC)