R&D incentives for patents and SPCs in Belgium

Writing on the IP Finance weblog this morning, Tom Swinnen (Thompson Hine LLP, Brussels) explains that, for the 2008 tax year, a new tax incentive has been introduced in Belgium which leads to a maximum effective tax rate of 6.8% on patent income. This is the Patent Income Deduction (PID) scheme which, he maintains, results in the lowest effective European tax rate on income derived from the licensing of patents or the use of patented products. The PID is available only in respect of patents and supplementary protection certificates, but not any other intellectual property rights. You can read Tom's piece in full here.