Update: Change in sales duties in Flanders

The Flemish Government in its September Declaration of 27 December 2021 announced it would reduce the registration tax for family homes from 6% to 3%. By contrast, the purchase of a second residence, investment property or professional real estate would in the future be subject to a 12% rate, compared to 10% today. The new rates will reportedly apply from 1st January 2022. In other words: family home buyers had better wait until after New Year to have their notarial deed executed. Later the Flemish Government decided that for other real estate the date of the private sales agreement will be taken into account. Thus, those buyers are still eligible for the reduced rate after 1st January 2022 as long as the private sales agreement was signed before 1st January 2022. These measures apply in the Flemish Region.