How Much Do You Actually Keep from Your Income in Belgium (2026): Taxes for Self-Employed + Real Examples

If you are self-employed in Belgium or want to start an activity, you have probably wondered: how much do I actually keep if I invoice 3,000 or 5,000 euros per month?

The short answer: much less than you think.

Many Romanians in Belgium make the same mistake: they look at revenue, not profit. In reality, between the money you invoice and the money you keep, there are several types of taxes and costs.

In this simple guide, I explain:

• How much tax you pay as self-employed in Belgium
• How much you keep from your income
• Real examples (3,000, 5,000, 10,000 euros)
• The difference if you are bijberoep (secondary activity)
• What you can do to keep more money

What taxes does a self-employed person pay in Belgium

To understand how much you keep, you need to understand the 3 main taxes:

1. Social contributions (20.5%)

If you are self-employed in Belgium (zelfstandige), you must pay social contributions.

20.5% of profit (up to €75,024.54, 2026 figures). These cover:

• Pension
• Health insurance
• Social protection

They are calculated on profit, not total revenue.

2. Income tax

After contributions, you pay income tax. The system is progressive:

• 25%
• 40%
• 45%
• up to 50%

The more you earn, the higher the tax rate.

3. VAT (if you are a VAT payer)

Standard VAT in Belgium: 21%

Important: VAT is not your profit. It is money collected for the state.

Read the complete guide: VAT in Belgium (BTW) explained simply

Real examples: how much do you keep

Example 1: 3,000 euros per month

Annual profit: 36,000 euros (excluding VAT, after costs)

Example 2: 5,000 euros per month

Annual profit: 60,000 euros (excluding VAT, after costs)

Example 3: 10,000 euros per month

Annual profit: 120,000 euros (excluding VAT, after costs)

Calculated with the 2026 income figures for a self-employed person in main activity, without municipal tax (usually 6-9% of the income tax) and without personal deductions.

Important reality: It does not matter how much you invoice, what matters is how much you keep. In Belgium, taxes increase with income.

Bijberoep (secondary activity) - how much do you pay

Many Romanians start with bijberoep, meaning:

• You have a full-time job
• You have a business on the side

Advantage

Lower or non-existent social contributions (in some cases).

Bijberoep example

Conclusion: good for starting out, but becomes inefficient as you grow.

Common mistakes

1. Not setting money aside for taxes - set aside about 30% of your profit at €25,000 a year, 40% at €40,000 and 45% at €60,000 (about half in bijberoep)
2. Spending the VAT - VAT is not yours, it belongs to the state
3. Not understanding the tax system - lack of knowledge costs money
4. Not having a good accountant - a good accountant saves you more than they cost