Second residence tax yields 85 million euros for coastal municipalities
De Tijd requested figures from the Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities (VVSG). This shows that the ten coastal municipalities collect more than 85 million euros with the second residence tax.
No domicile
This tax must be paid by owners of a home where no one is domiciled. The fact that the coastal municipalities collect the lion’s share of the proceeds is due to the large number of second homes in those municipalities.
“Municipalities have the constitutional right to levy taxes and thus implement policy,” says Nathalie Debast, spokesperson for VVSG.
“Responsible”
“The fact that the figures are higher on the coast is fully justified. People with a second residence on the coast do not pay additional personal income tax in that municipality, but they do enjoy the services and infrastructure there.”
Besides the coast, the student cities of Leuven and Ghent collect considerable amounts in second residence tax: 3.9 and 6.2 million euros respectively.