Belgium allows boss to pay lump sum for EV-charging at home

In Belgium, employers must reimburse their employees with an electric company car for the actual cost of EV charging at home. So far, determining this ‘real cost’ has proved daunting, as electricity prices are ‘blurry’ and vary between employees and among regions, and digital meters aren’t widespread yet.

To prevent confusion, the resigning Belgian Minister of Finance, Vincent Van Peetegem, has promised to simplify things and published a circular allowing employers to pay a lump sum to their employees in 2025 based on the official price reports of energy watchdog CREG.

Temporary tolerance

Van Peetegem says it is a “temporary administrative tolerance” until pending techniques, like the obligatory digital meters, are available to measure the actual electricity costs accurately. A permanent ruling is on the table for the next government.

Starting 1 January, companies may use a flat rate for a year to reimburse employees for their home charging sessions. This has to be based on average monthly electricity prices published by the federal energy regulator CREG.

Region differences

For Q1 in 2025, the average rate is calculated based on prices from October, September, and November, and it also considers the employee’s place of residence (Flanders, Brussels, or Wallonia).

According to financial newspaper De Tijd, this means for Flanders, 28.22 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh), for Brussels 32.94 cents/kWh, and for Wallonia 32.56 cents/kWh. This lump sum is the maximum; the employer can pay under these amounts.

The country’s leading employers’ organization, VBO-FEB, applauds the minister’s clarification. “We are pleased that the circular now creates a clear framework for employers and employees,” said Pieter Timmermans, CEO.