22 of the 43 tax offices of Belgium’s Ministry of Finance will close by 2030, as reported by several media outlets based on an internal memo to staff.
The ministry confirmed the news to Belga on Wednesday, attributing the closures to cost-saving measures implemented by the De Wever government.
The decision aligns with the Horizon 2030 plan and aims to consolidate the local tax offices into 21 central agencies. These locations were chosen for their accessibility, the potential to house multiple services under one roof, and the efficient use of administrative buildings. The primary goals are to enhance collaboration between services, reduce property costs, and modernise working environments.
According to Francis Adyns, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance, the reorganisation will not impact service quality, asserting that “effective services do not necessarily need to be spread across multiple sites.”
The administration is also focusing on online services. The ministry assures that citizens without internet access or sufficient digital skills can still contact tax offices by phone for assistance, such as help with tax return submissions.
These alternatives, alongside teleworking, have reduced the foot traffic in local offices in recent years.
Approximately 2,000 of the ministry’s 21,000 employees will be affected by this reorganisation. Speaking to VRT, the SLFP union confirmed that layoffs are not anticipated, and called for discussions on staff support measures.
“We have initiated a support trajectory to best assist our employees,” responded Mr Adyns, who also affirmed that the plan will be implemented gradually.
