Press Release: The Commission refers Belgium to the Court of Justice over discrimination in Flemish registration tax

The European Commission has decided to refer Belgium to the European Court of Justice to end discrimination in the Flemish registration tax. Flanders deducts from the registration tax on the purchase of a house the amount of the registration tax paid earlier on another house provided it was in Flanders. Registration taxes paid in other Member States are not credited. The Commission considers that the Flemish rule is contrary to the EC Treaty. Belgium had not changed its legislation despite the Commission's formal request in the form of a Reasoned Opinion of 20 July 2005 (IP/06/1044).