For an estate where the deceased had their tax domicile in Brussels or Wallonia, you file the declaration with the Federal Public Service (FPS) Finance, not VLABEL. The procedure differs on a few practical points from the Flemish route.
Which office is competent?
Competence is set by the tax domicile of the deceased at the time of death, not by where you live or where the property is.
| Deceased's domicile | Competent office |
|---|---|
| Flanders | VLABEL (guide) |
| Brussels | Legal Security Office Brussels (FPS Finance) |
| Wallonia | Legal Security Office of the district in Wallonia |
Find the exact offices on finances.belgium.be.
Which form?
The official form is the "inheritance declaration", free in NL/FR. A comprehensive document covering:
- identification of the deceased and heirs;
- movable assets (accounts, investments, vehicles, art);
- real estate with cadastral number and estimated value;
- debts and funeral costs;
- gifts in the last 3 years (Brussels, Wallonia);
- life insurance with beneficiaries;
- clauses from the marriage contract or will, if any.
Deadlines
- 4 months if death occurred in Belgium;
- 5 months if in another EEA country;
- 6 months outside the EEA;
- extension possible with a motivated request before expiry.
How to file
Unlike Flanders, filing in Brussels and Wallonia often happens by registered post or physical delivery. Some offices also accept digital submission via MyMinfin.
Steps:
- Fill in the form (handwritten or printed).
- Attach: death certificate, certificate or deed of inheritance, bank certificates, real-estate valuations, will if any.
- Signature of all heirs or a mandated person.
- Send or deliver to the competent office.
- Wait for the assessment notice (4 to 8 months on average).
- Pay within 2 months of receipt.
Differences from VLABEL
| Topic | VLABEL (Flanders) | FPS Finance (Brussels/Wallonia) |
|---|---|---|
| Filing | Digital via MyMinfin | Often paper or MyMinfin |
| Home valuation | Free VLABEL appraiser | Private appraiser or party valuation |
| Assessment notice | 3 to 6 months | 4 to 8 months |
| Gift suspect period | 5 years (since 2025) | 3 years |
| Rates | Flemish code (3%, 9%, 27%, 25-55%) | Brussels / Walloon code (see region) |
Rates
- Brussels: see Brussels inheritance tax.
- Wallonia: see Wallonia inheritance tax.
Nalenta and the FPS route
Nalenta generates a ready-to-sign declaration for the FPS offices in Brussels and Wallonia, with forms, annexes and signature pages. You print, sign and send by registered post, and Nalenta tracks your deadlines. For the Flemish route see VLABEL filing.