📌 In short: a workation means you work remotely from abroad, often combining it with some leisure time. In Belgium, there are no special rules for this. The general rule applies: you can only deduct costs that are genuinely and primarily professional. Most workation costs do not fully qualify.
💡 The basic rule
In Belgium, a cost is only tax-deductible if you need it to do your job. A workation is seen as a personal choice by the tax office. You could have worked just as well from home, so the trip itself is not considered a professional necessity.
📋 What can you deduct and what cannot?
Cost | Can you deduct it? |
Flight or train to your workation destination | ❌ No, this is a personal trip |
Travel from your workation location to a client meeting | ✅ Yes, just the professional part |
Hotel or Airbnb during the workation | ⚠️ Usually not, hard to justify |
A coworking space in Belgium | ✅ Yes, 100% deductible |
A coworking space abroad during the workation | ⚠️ Grey zone, sometimes accepted |
Restaurant meal with a client | ✅ 69% deductible |
ℹ️ The Belgian tax office has no specific rules for workations. Every case is judged individually. When in doubt, be conservative and only claim what you can clearly justify. |
🌍 Working in another EU country? You need an A1 certificate
If you work abroad (in the EU or Switzerland) during your workation, you need an A1 certificate before you leave. This document confirms that you remain in the Belgian social security system and do not have to pay contributions in the country you are visiting.
Request it at INASTI/RSVZ before your trip.
You need to be up to date with your contributions.
🚨 Working abroad without an A1 certificate can mean you have to pay social security contributions in that country too. Always arrange this before you leave. |
📁 What records should you keep?
A clear overview of which days were work days vs personal days (your calendar, emails, call records)
Proof of the work you did (invoices sent, client messages, video call logs)
Receipts for any costs you want to deduct
💡 In Accountable, only add the costs you can genuinely justify as professional. If the tax office ever asks, you want to be able to explain every item clearly. |
Not sure what you can deduct for your workation? Our tax coaches are here to help. 😊