Yes, in many cases you are allowed to use your home address as your business address in Belgium. This applies both to sole traders and to many companies.
However, that isn’t always the best choice.
This is because your business address is used for official correspondence and, in most cases, is listed in the Cross-Sectoral Business Register (KBO).
Whether a home address is suitable depends on your business activities, your need for privacy and the professional image you wish to project.
In this article, we explain when you can use your home address, what the pros and cons are, and when a professional business address is a better alternative.
Can I use my home address as my business address?
Yes, that is permitted in many cases.
Will my home address be made public?
Yes. Your company’s business address is usually available via the KBO.
Is a home address always the best option?
Not necessarily. Over time, many business owners opt for a professional business address to protect their privacy and project a more professional image.
Many self-employed people start their businesses from home. It’s simple, cost-effective and often entirely permitted.
Do you run a sole trader business or a company, and do you carry out your work mainly online? If so, in many cases you can use your home address as your business address.
However, there are situations in which you need to take additional rules into account.
Take, for example, businesses that receive customers, have a lot of deliveries or carry out activities that affect the local community.
Even if you are renting a property, it is a good idea to check your tenancy agreement first.
Some tenancy agreements permit commercial use, whilst others exclude it either entirely or in part.
If you do register your business at your rented property, or if you claim part of the rent as a business expense without this having been properly provided for in the tenancy agreement, you run the risk of a dispute with your landlord.
They may claim that you are using the property in breach of the tenancy agreement and ask you to rectify the situation or, in serious cases, take legal action.
Furthermore, an additional tax reporting obligation has been in force since the 2024 tax year. Anyone who ticks box 1072 or 2072 on their tax return must, according to the FPS Finance, Annex 270 MLH add this along with the property details.
This obligation is particularly important if you wish to claim a tax deduction for rent or rental benefits as business expenses.
If the tenancy agreement has been registered free of charge, it is generally assumed that the property is intended solely for residential use and the rent may not be deducted as a business expense, except in specific cases such as accommodation for employees or company directors based on a statutory or contractual obligation.
If you do declare the rent as business income even though your tenancy agreement does not allow it, this could not only lead to tax problems, but also put a strain on your relationship with your landlord.
Are you unsure? If so, it is always a good idea to check in advance which rules apply to your situation.
Having a home address certainly has its advantages, especially when you’re just starting out with your business.
Renting a separate business address involves additional costs. By using your own home, you can set up your business without those extra expenses.
You don’t need to look for an additional premises or sign a lease. This means you can get your business up and running more quickly.
More and more entrepreneurs are working entirely online. Freelancers, consultants, web designers, marketers and other service providers often do not need a physical office.
For them, a home address may be a practical solution.
Although a home address may seem appealing, there are also some significant drawbacks that many business owners only realise later on.
People who use a rented property as a business address often only consider the administrative side of things, but the tenancy agreement remains the decisive factor.
As soon as you use the property for business purposes or claim tax relief on rental costs, this may have consequences for the landlord.
By Appendix 270 MLH the tax authorities receive information about the rented premises and the amount deducted for business purposes.
If commercial use was not correctly stated or permitted in the tenancy agreement, your landlord may rely on this.
This could result in a refusal to allow professional use, a request to change your business address, a demand to amend the terms of the agreement or, in the worst-case scenario, a dispute over breach of contract.
For many business owners, the biggest drawback is privacy.
If you use your home address as your business address, in most cases that address can be found via the KBO or by other means.
This makes it easy for customers, suppliers and other interested parties to look up your home address.
Would you like to keep your private life separate from your business? If so, a professional business address can make a big difference.
A professional business address often inspires more confidence than a home address.
That doesn’t mean that clients will take you less seriously if you work from home, but a business address can help create a more professional first impression.
This is sometimes a factor, particularly for consultants, service providers and B2B companies.
When all business post is delivered to your home address, your personal and business paperwork tend to get mixed up more easily.
In the case of a rented property, there is the additional factor that business use becomes more apparent, particularly when you claim rent as a tax deduction and need to attach Schedule 270 MLH.
If that use is not in line with your tenancy agreement, it could lead to problems with your landlord.
As your business grows, a clear separation often becomes much more practical.
Are you moving to a new home? If so, you’ll also need to update your business details with various organisations and inform your customers, suppliers and other business contacts.
A permanent business address offers greater stability in that respect.
For many start-ups, a home address is sufficient. However, there are situations in which a professional business address offers more advantages.
This is useful, for example, when you:
For many self-employed people, a professional business address is not a luxury, but a practical investment in privacy and professional image.
These terms are often used interchangeably, but do not always mean the same thing.
Your home address.
The official address under which your business operates and at which business correspondence can be received.
In the case of a company, this is the official address at which the company is legally registered.
Depending on your business structure, these addresses may be the same, but this is not necessarily the case.
A professional business address is suitable for far more entrepreneurs than is often thought.
For example, for:
Even if you work entirely from home, a business address can offer added value by ensuring that your home address remains private.
Home address or business address?
| Home address | Professional business address |
| No additional monthly cost | Professional appearance |
| Home address visible | More privacy |
| Personal and business post together | Business post separately (can be digitised) |
| Changing your business address when moving house | Permanent business address |
| Suitable for many first-time buyers | Ideal for growing businesses |
Yes. Many sole traders use the business owner’s home address as their business address.
Yes, that is possible in many cases. Which solution is most suitable depends on the company’s activities.
In most cases, the official business address can be found via the Cross-Sectoral Business Register (KBO).
Yes. Many entrepreneurs start out using their home address and later opt for a professional business address as their business grows or when privacy becomes more important.
No.
Freelancers, consultants, online shops and small businesses are also increasingly opting for a professional business address in order to better protect their private lives and present a more professional image.
That is only possible if the situation is in order from a tax and contractual point of view.
Anyone wishing to claim a deduction for rent or rental benefits as actual business expenses, and who ticks box 1072 or 2072 for this purpose, must attach Appendix 270 MLH to their tax return.
The details of the rented property are then set out there.
This obligation to provide information does not apply to rentals for which you receive an invoice or similar document. However, you should always check in advance whether your tenancy agreement permits commercial use.
If this is not stated correctly or if it is prohibited, you risk running into problems with your landlord, even if your business is properly registered.
Using your home address as a business address is an excellent option for many entrepreneurs in Belgium.
It can certainly be a simple and cost-effective solution, particularly during the start-up phase.
Nevertheless, it is wise not to focus solely on the costs. Privacy, a professional image, a clear separation between work and private life, and the arrangements with your landlord often become more important as your business grows.
You should be particularly careful if you are renting a property and wish to claim the rent as a business expense: Annex 270 of the MLH may be mandatory, and an error or an unclear tenancy agreement could lead to a dispute with your landlord.
Would you prefer not to disclose your home address, or are you looking for a professional business address?
In that case, it offers BE Offices a statutory correct business address in Antwerp, including mail processing and flexible services.
This way, you can enjoy the benefits of a professional business address without the costs of a traditional office.
