Flanders property tax revenue rises as payment plan requests surge

Property tax revenue in Flanders climbed to 4,068 miljard euro in 2025, marking an increase of 822.251.358 euro compared to 2020 figures, according to data from the Flemish tax administration.

Rising Yields and Local Government Shares

The total net tax amount collected stood at 3.246.024.610 euro in 2020 before climbing to 3,932 miljard euro in 2024 and reaching 4,068 miljard euro in 2025. That trajectory represents an absolute increase of 822,251,358 euros over a five-year period. The annual Flemish regional tax is calculated using indexed cadastral income alongside municipal and provincial surtaxes known as opcentiemen.

Local authorities claim the vast majority of these funds rather than the Flemish Region itself. Municipal shares accounted for 3,135 miljard euro of the 2025 total, while provincial shares delivered roughly 585 miljoen euro. The Flemish Region retained nearly 348 miljoen euro. Because local surtaxes vary widely by jurisdiction, the actual tax bill for an owner depends heavily on where a property is located.

Surge in Approved Payment Plans

Alongside higher overall yields, the tax administration processed a significantly greater volume of installment requests from property owners struggling to meet deadlines. Authorities granted 9,449 payment plans in 2020. That figure grew to 13,132 in 2023, reached 17,008 in 2024, and hit 20,763 in 2025, reflecting an increase of nearly 120 percent across the five-year span.

Flemish Minister of Finance Ben Weyts provided these figures in response to a parliamentary inquiry by Flemish MP Anke Van dermeersch of Vlaams Belang. Minister Weyts noted that despite the sharp proportional rise, approved installment plans remain under 1 percent of the total volume of tax bills, with nearly 3 miljoen aanslagbiljetten processed in 2025.

Political Reactions and Affordability Concerns

Vlaams Belang argues that the mounting tax burden turns primary residences into fiscal cash cows for Vlaamse gezinnen. MP Anke Van dermeersch stated that affordability demands immediate attention for pensioners and homeowners with modest disposable incomes who own a home without necessarily possessing high liquid funds.

“Een eigen woning moet een beloning zijn voor werken, sparen en verantwoordelijkheid nemen en geen permanente fiscale last.”

Anke Van dermeersch, Vlaams Parlementslid

Procedures for Payment Difficulties

Property owners unable to settle their tax bills by the deadline can request an installment plan from the Flemish Tax Administration under specific conditions. Authorities stress that an installment plan functions as a discretionary favor rather than an automatic right, requiring taxpayers to demonstrate a genuine financial hardship.

The tax agency notes that approved payment plans do not exempt taxpayers from additional charges. Default interest applies starting on the first day of the month following the final payment deadline. Tax authorities recommend applying for relief early rather than waiting for formal recovery actions to begin.