Employee type - Company director
The status
of the company director
No employment contract, but a mandate. No NSSO contributions as an employee, but social security through the self-employed status. The rules for company directors are fundamentally different from those of every other staff type.
Definition
What is a company director?
A company director (in a BV, formerly BVBA) or board member (in an NV) is the person who represents and manages a company through a mandate, not through an employment contract. This distinction is crucial: the director is not an employee of their own company.
The director falls under the self-employed status and pays social contributions through the RSVZ (National Institute for the Social Insurance of the Self-Employed), not through the NSSO like employees.
When does this apply?
Every person who holds a management mandate in a Belgian company (BV, NV, CV, …) and receives remuneration for it is, in principle, a director/manager in the fiscal and social sense.
Mixed situation
A director who is also employed as an employee in their own company (e.g. as technical director with a separate employment contract) combines two statuses. In that case a DIMONA declaration as an employee is also required, in addition to the corporate registration.
Companies and Associations Code (CAC) - Belgian company law
Since 1 January 2020, the CAC has replaced the former Companies Code. The new company forms (BV instead of BVBA, CV instead of CVBA) have implications for the role and liability of the director.
DIMONA & legal framework
DIMONA for the company director
No DIMONA as a self-employed director
A director remunerated exclusively through their mandate (remuneration from the company, benefits in kind) is not an employee. No DIMONA declaration is required for the corporate contributions. Social contributions are paid directly to the approved social insurance fund for the self-employed.
DIMONA required in a mixed status
When the director also has an employment contract as an employee (e.g. as IT manager or operational director), an ordinary DIMONA declaration is mandatory for that employee portion before the start of employment.
Penalties for a missed DIMONA
A forgotten DIMONA in a mixed situation is subject to the same sanctions as for ordinary employees: administrative fines of €3,000 to €35,000 per undeclared worker in a social inspection.
Contract form & duration
Mandate,
not contract
The director is appointed through the articles of association or a resolution of the General Meeting. There is no employment contract. The mandate is in principle unlimited (BV) or limited to a maximum of 6 years but renewable (NV).
No dismissal protection as a director
A director has no right to a notice period or compensation upon revocation of the mandate, unless the articles of association (in a BV also the appointment resolution) provide for it or the General Meeting grants a severance payment upon revocation. This is a fundamental difference from the employee system.
NSSO & remuneration
No NSSO -
but RSVZ
Self-employed contributions via RSVZ
The director pays quarterly contributions to an approved social insurance fund. The rate is 20.5% on the first bracket of net taxable professional income (up to €75,024.54). A minimum contribution of €890.42/quarter applies (2026), excluding the fund’s 3.05 to 4.25% management fees.
Remuneration via the company
The director receives remuneration that is fiscally qualified as director’s remuneration (box XVI of the tax return, form 281.20). The optimisation of dividend vs. salary is a consideration that Business Centrum works out together with your accountant.
Benefits in kind
Company car, laptop, smartphone, housing - benefits in kind are valued at a flat rate and are subject to withholding tax. The calculation rules are strictly defined.
No holiday pay or year-end bonus
As a pure director, you are not entitled to employee holiday pay or a year-end bonus, unless this is contractually provided for or you also have an employee portion.
Comparison
| Aspect | Employee | Director |
|---|---|---|
| Social security | NSSO (~27% employer) | RSVZ (~20.5%) |
| DIMONA | Mandatory | Mixed only |
| Holiday pay | Yes | No (unless contract) |
| Dismissal rights | Protected | None (unless contract) |
| Sick pay | Health fund | Health fund (self-empl.) |
Minimum remuneration for corporate tax
Corporate tax includes a reduced rate (20% instead of 25%) for small companies that award their director a remuneration of at least €51,000 gross per year (or equal to the taxable profit if that is lower). This is an important optimisation parameter. From tax year 2027, the reduced rate is also lost if the flat-rate benefits in kind exceed 20% of the directors’ remuneration. Newly formed small companies are exempt from the remuneration condition for their first four taxable periods.
The right status determines your tax burden for years to come.
Advantages for the company
When is the director status optimal?
Lower total social charges
The total contribution burden for a self-employed director (~20.5% on net professional income) is structurally lower than the combined employer and employee contributions in the employee system (~40% of gross salary). This advantage grows as remuneration increases.
Flexibility in remuneration structure
The director can optimise their remuneration through a combination of salary, dividends, benefits in kind and expense reimbursements. That mix determines the tax pressure at corporate and personal income tax level. Employees do not have that flexibility.
No notice periods
Upon revocation of the mandate there are no statutory notice periods as there are for employees. This gives the company more flexibility during management changes. Conversely, the director also has more freedom to step down.
Frequently asked questions
Company director - FAQ
The most frequently asked questions about the status of a company director.
Related services
What Business Centrum arranges for you
Social Secretariat
Coordination with your social secretariat for processing the employee portion in a mixed situation. We are your single point of contact.
Payroll Administration
Processing of the director’s remuneration, withholding of professional tax and issuance of fiscal form 281.20 (director’s remuneration).
HR Analysis
Analysis of the optimal mix of salary, dividends and benefits in kind for the director, in collaboration with your accountant.
Read next
- Benefit in kind company car Belgium 2026: the calculation and what the car costs you
- Meal vouchers employer contribution Belgium: what you pay, what you deduct, what it saves
- Profit premium for employees in Belgium: what it costs, what your staff take home and how to grant it
- Bogus self-employment in Belgium: when does your subcontractor become an employee?
Sources
Every amount and deadline on this page was checked against these official sources, last consulted on .
- FOD Sociale Zekerheid, bijdragennota zelfstandigen 2026
- FOD WASO, Wijzigingen aan het Sociaal Strafwetboek vanaf 1 september 2026
- RSZ, Administratieve instructies 2026/3, De bijdragen
- Wet van 15 juli 2026 tot hervorming van de personenbelasting, BS 29 juli 2026, art. 76, 80 en 88 (art. 215 WIB 92)
- Wetboek van vennootschappen en verenigingen, art. 7:85, par. 2 (Justel)
- Xerius, overstappen als bedrijfsleider (tarieven 2026); RSVZ, Algemeen Beheerscomite, advies 2021/19
Your director status correctly arranged
From DIMONA in mixed situations to the optimal remuneration mix: Business Centrum guides directors and their companies through Belgian social legislation.
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