Belgian Tax ID: What It Is & How to Find Yours

Every natural or legal person conducting taxable activity in Belgium—residents, non-resident individuals, sole traders, partnerships, and corporations must hold a Belgian Tax Identification Number (TIN). The identifier is required for all fiscal communications, including income-tax returns, VAT declarations, withholding-tax filings, and correspondence with the Federal Public Service (FPS) Finance.

Issued by the Federal Public Service (FPS) Finance, the Belgian tax identification number connects all financial transactions to the government’s central records. The information below outlines the purpose of the Belgian Tax ID, describes its format, and details the procedures for locating it to ensure full compliance with Belgian tax authorities.

What is the Belgian Tax ID?

In Belgium, businesses use specific identification numbers when dealing with tax authorities. These include the value added tax ID, the RNPM (Registre National des Personnes Morales) number, or the unique enterprise number, also known as the Numéro d'entreprise unique. Each of these can serve as a valid tax ID depending on the context.

The unique enterprise number always starts with a 0 and can be entered either with or without the prefix BE. The total number of characters depends on how it's written:

• With BE: 12 characters (e.g., BE0987654321)
• Without BE: 10 digits (e.g., 0987654321)

Similarly, value-added tax ID or RNPM numbers can be:

• 9 digits (e.g., 123456789) without the BE prefix
• 11 characters (e.g., BE123456789 or BE 123456789) with the prefix

Note: If you include BE, you must not leave a space between the prefix and number if the full length reaches 12 characters.

Format of the Different Types of Belgian Tax IDs

Here’s a quick overview of the different types of Belgian Tax IDs, who they’re for, and how each is formatted.

Key differences between the Belgian Tax ID for individuals and for businesses

Here's how the Belgian Tax ID differs for individuals and businesses, based on structure, purpose, and use.

Where to Find a Belgian Tax ID?

Whether you're an individual or a business, your Belgian Tax ID appears on official documents issued by the government. Here's where you can find it:

For Individuals (National Number - NN)

The National Number is issued once you're registered in Belgium's National Register. You can find this number in the following places:

• On your Belgian ID card (for citizens and residents): Usually printed on the back side or near your photo.
• On your residence permit (for non-Belgians): Listed as the national identification number.
• Official letters from the government: Such as tax documents, health insurance registration, or social security letters.
• Payslips or employment contracts: Employers often include the national number on formal HR documents.

For Businesses (Enterprise Number / VAT ID)

When a company registers in Belgium, it receives a unique enterprise number. This number also acts as the business's VAT ID. You can find the business tax ID through:

• On your company’s registration certificate: Issued by the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (Banque-Carrefour des Entreprises).
• Official invoices and tax filings: Every registered business must mention its VAT number on invoices and communication with the tax authorities.
• Online on the Belgian Public Registry: You can search for any registered company and see its enterprise number at CBE Public Search Portal 
• Company bank statements and contracts: This number is often listed in the business header or footer.

Importance of Belgian Tax ID

A Belgian Tax ID is more than just a number, it’s a key identifier used by the government to track financial and legal activity. Here’s why it matters:

• Mandatory for Tax Filings:  Individuals and businesses need it to file income tax or corporate tax returns in Belgium.
• Needed for VAT Compliance: For companies, the VAT number is essential to issue invoices and report VAT to tax authorities.
• Linked to Social Security: The tax ID helps connect individuals to Belgium’s social security and healthcare systems.
• Essential for Employment and Payroll: Employers use the ID to report salaries, deductions, and contributions to the state.
• Used in Official Identification: It appears on ID cards, residence permits, and other government-issued documents for tracking legal status and identity.

Conclusion

Every person or entity carrying on taxable activity in Belgium must possess a Belgian Tax Identification Number (TIN) issued by the Federal Public Service Finance. Depending on the context, this identifier is the National Number (for citizens and residents), the BIS number (for short-term foreign nationals), or the unique enterprise number also used as the VAT ID for companies, partnerships, and sole traders. Each number is embedded in the State’s central fiscal database and is mandatory for income-tax returns, VAT declarations, withholding-tax filings, and all formal correspondence with the tax authorities.

The identifier appears on official documents: citizens find it on their identity cards, residence permits, government letters, payslips, and contracts, while businesses locate it on the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises registration certificate, invoices, tax filings, bank statements, and the public registry portal. Possession and correct use of the TIN are compulsory for corporate and personal tax compliance, VAT invoicing, payroll reporting, social-security linkage, and legal identification; failure to quote the number where required compromises regulatory standing and may trigger penalties.