The aid which Belgium plans to grant in the period up to 31 December 2005 to undertakings authorised as at 31 December 2000 to act as coordination centres under Royal Decree No 187 of 30 December 1982, and whose authorisations expire between 17 February 2003 and 31 December 2005, shall be considered compatible with the common market; by way of derogation from the general rules on taxation, it involves:
- application of the normal corporate tax rate to a theoretical tax base corresponding to a variable percentage of certain operating costs (the "cost plus" method). However, an alternative tax base is used if it exceeds the tax base resulting from application of the "cost plus" method; this alternative tax base includes the abnormal or benevolent advantages received by the centres and non-deductible expenses,
- application of a special annual tax of EUR 10000 per employee, with a ceiling of EUR 100000,
- exemption from the précompte immobilier (property tax) on buildings owned by the centres which they use for their professional activity,
- exemption from précompte mobilier (withholding tax) on dividends, interest and royalties paid by the centres except, in the case of interest, where the beneficiary is subject to tax on natural persons or to tax on legal persons,
- exemption from précompte mobilier (withholding tax) on revenue which the centres receive from money deposits,
- exemption from the 0,50 % registration tax on subscriptions of capital and on increases in authorised capital.