FOD Financiën / SPF Finances letter explained in English
Federal tax office. The federal tax office. It handles personal income tax, and in Wallonia also the yearly property tax.
Letters you may get
- Aanslagbiljet / avertissement-extrait de rôle — your income tax bill or refund for one year
- Voorstel van vereenvoudigde aangifte / proposition de déclaration simplifiée — a ready-made tax return to check
- Herinnering / rappel — tax that wasn’t paid on time
What to do
- Check the bill in MyMinfin. To object, send a bezwaarschrift / réclamation within 6 months from the third working day after the sending date.
- Always pay with the structured communication (+++…+++) from the bill, so the payment is linked to you.
- Find the deadline. Look for “termijn”, “uiterlijk op”, “délai”, “au plus tard le”.
- Write the reference number from the letter on everything you send back, and keep copies.
- If you disagree with a decision, object in writing before the deadline (“bezwaarschrift”, “beroep”, “verzet”, “bezwaar”). See the template.
Words you may see
- aanslagbiljet
- Tax bill. It shows how much income tax or property tax you must pay, or get back, for one year.
- bezwaarschrift
- Written objection against a tax bill. You can send it online in MyMinfin or by post.
- avertissement-extrait de rôle
- Tax bill. It shows how much income tax or property tax you must pay, or get back, for one year.
- réclamation
- Written objection against a tax bill. You can send it online in MyMinfin or by post.
Questions
What is the FOD Financiën / SPF Finances?
Federal tax office. The federal tax office. It handles personal income tax, and in Wallonia also the yearly property tax.
How long do I have to answer a letter from the FOD Financiën / SPF Finances?
It depends on the letter. Look for words like “termijn”, “uiterlijk op”, “délai”, “au plus tard le” — they mark the deadline. In Belgium, a letter sent by post is usually treated as received on the third working day after the date it was sent. Many deadlines, for example 6 months to object to a tax bill, start from that day. To object, the letter usually names the way to do it (“bezwaarschrift”, “beroep”, “verzet”, “bezwaar”).
Can I read a FOD Financiën / SPF Finances letter in English?
Yes. Take a photo of the letter with Briefly. It explains the letter in plain English, finds the deadline and the amount, and gives you ready-made replies in Dutch or French. Your letter never leaves your device.
Other offices in Belgium
Vlaamse Belastingdienst / Brussel Fiscaliteit / SPW Fiscalité · Gemeente / Commune · OCMW / CPAS · RVA / ONEM · VDAB / Actiris / Le Forem · Ziekenfonds / Mutualité · Groeipakket / Allocations familiales · Dienst Vreemdelingenzaken / Office des Étrangers