By Kadir Duran – Bruxelles Korner

Finance – Salaries – Digital – Mobility – Culture

December 1st, 2025 does not bring a major “big bang,” but rather a set of very concrete adjustments affecting finances, digital services, employment, and several professional sectors. Quiet reforms… yet with direct consequences for households, businesses, and workers across Belgium.

Here is everything that comes into force today.

1. Consumer credit: Interest rate ceiling reduced

Starting today, banks may not exceed 12% on consumer loans above €5,000.

✔️ Applies to:
• all new loans signed from December 1st onward
• existing loans with variable rates

❗ Fixed-rate loans remain unchanged.

Government objective: curb over-indebtedness while inflation remains unstable.

2. Salaries: automatic indexation in several sectors

Two sectors receive an average +2% salary increase this December 1st:

• CP 130: printing, graphic arts, newspapers
• CP 311: large retail companies

This is not a voluntary raise but the standard indexation mechanism triggered by rising living costs.

ℹ️ Indexation for CP 217 and CP 220 will only arrive on January 1st, 2026.

3. Payments to the State: postal money orders abolished

With the State’s accounts moving from bpost to BNP Paribas Fortis, a major change comes into effect:

➡️ Postal and international money orders to the State are no longer accepted as of today.

Citizens must now pay exclusively via bank transfer (IBAN).

🔄 Money orders already issued remain valid for 3 more months.

4. Tax administration: switch to the Enterprise e-Box

The FPS Finance accelerates its digital transition:
as of December 1st, most companies no longer receive paper mail, except legally required registered letters.

Documents now sent exclusively via e-Box Entreprise:

• VAT
• tax assessment notices
• withholding tax documents
• audit notifications

Not activating the e-Box → risk of fines and missed mail.

5. Digital: Proximus shuts down its Cloud and certain bonuses

The end of a long-standing service.

➡️ Proximus Cloud closes permanently on December 1st, 2025.
➡️ Certain Wi-Fi bonuses (including older automatic public networks) disappear.

🎒 Consequence:
Clients must save their photos, files, and data before deletion.

6. Crafts & industry: new EU protection (GI)

December 1st marks the implementation of the EU regulation on Geographical Indications (GI) for artisanal and industrial products.

This applies to:

• cutlery
• glassware
• textiles
• local craftsmanship
• niche industrial products

Belgium can now protect and promote its artisanal know-how at the European level (similar to “Parmigiano” or “Champagne,” but for crafts).

7. Mobility – Wallonia: final deadline for taxi operators

Affected Walloon taxi operators must be compliant before December 1st.

➡️ Any authorization expiring after December 1st must be converted under the new regulation.
➡️ Failure to comply → automatic loss of licence.

A strict administrative deadline expected to shake the taxi supply in several municipalities.

8. Culture: key deadline for artists

Artists receiving the arts labour allowance must renew their file by today at the latest.

➡️ Legal deadline: August 1st → December 1st, 2025
➡️ No submission = loss of benefits for the next period.

A crucial issue for independent performers.