Belgian Tax Agency Blocks Accounts Over Erroneous VAT Notices; Accountants Protest

Belgium's SPF Finances sent 190,000 erroneous VAT payment notices in late August due to misallocated payments, prompting automatic account freezes despite assurances of regularization. Accountants report that account blocks persist on the ground, contradicting official claims. This administrative failure disrupts business cash flows and erodes trust in tax administration, though it is not a macro-market event.