THE ESSENTIALS
Your first tax return can seem scary, but it’s simpler than it looks. Even if you had a small student job in 2025, you’ll probably have to file a return in 2026. The goal is to check your income and make sure you’re not paying too much tax, or even to get back what’s already been withheld. Tax-on-web is your best friend for this, and we’re going to guide you step-by-step.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The return you file in 2026 concerns your income from 2025 (this is called the 2026 tax year).
- Who has to declare? As soon as you turn 18, you normally have to file a return in your own name, even if you had no income. If you’re a minor but had certain income (like a student job), you’ll also have to declare.
- What is the exempt amount? This is the part of your income on which you don’t pay tax. For your 2025 income (2026 return), this amount is 10,910 euros. If you have dependents, this amount can be higher.
- Your student job and taxes:
- If you only had income from a student job in 2025, you don’t pay tax if the gross taxable amount (the one under code 250 on your 281.10 slip) doesn’t exceed 15,971.43 euros for the 2026 return.
- If you had other income in addition to your student job, you don’t pay tax if your total net taxable income (after deducting expenses) doesn’t exceed the exempt amount of 10,910 euros for your 2025 income (2026 return).
- If your employer withheld professional withholding tax from your salary, you can get it back (in whole or in part) if your income remains below the exempt amount.
Verified sources
- myfid.be
- dexxter.be
- belgium.be
- mapremieredeclaration.be
- bruxelles-j.be
Information verified on 29/08/2026. Amounts and rules may change: always check with the official body.