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🇧🇪Belgium
Belgium IPT rate increase confirmed from 1 July 2026
Belgium’s annual tax on insurance operations for non life insurance (IPT) will increase from 9.25% to 9.6% from 1 July 2026. The wider Programme Law was approved by the Belgian Chamber of Representatives on 28 May 2026 and published in the Belgian Official Gazette on 1 June 2026. The law applies the increased IPT rate to premiums falling due from the first day of the month following publication. Accordingly, the new rate will take effect from 1 July 2026. Insurers and intermediaries writing Belgian non life risks should ensure systems and compliance processes are updated ahead of the effective date. Xatia’s Belgian IPT content and products will be updated to reflect the confirmed rate change.
The Florida Surplus Lines Service Office has confirmed that its service fee will reduce from 0.06% to 0.03% for new and renewal Florida surplus lines and independently procured coverage policies with an effective date on or after 1 July 2026. For many US surplus lines insurers, the direct impact may be limited. In practice, the main action point is for surplus lines brokers, agents and intermediaries handling Florida quoting, invoicing, filings and compliance. Systems and processes should be reviewed ahead of 1 July 2026 to ensure the correct fee is applied during the transition. We will continue monitoring for any related guidance or operational clarification.
Reports suggest Belgium’s proposed standard IPT increase to 9.6% now looks set to miss the planned 1 April 2026 start date. While the latest parliamentary text still referenced 1 April 2026, recent developments suggest the Programme Law has been delayed. For now, the increase remains proposed rather than final, and the new effective date is still to be confirmed. We will share a further update once the legislative timetable is clarified.
The Dutch Tax Authorities’ Knowledge Group for Insurance Products and Insurance Premium Tax has published a new position (KG:070:2026:2) confirming that clinical trial insurance for individuals (proefpersonenverzekering) is exempt from Dutch Insurance Premium Tax (IPT). This reverses the previous 2022 position, which had treated such cover as taxable. Clinical trial insurance for individuals insures the trial participant against injury or death arising from participation in medical research. The Knowledge Group considers this to fall within the statutory exemptions for accident or sickness-type insurance and therefore to be exempt from IPT. Research institution liability insurance, which covers the research organisation’s liability exposure to a clinical trial, remains subject to Dutch IPT, currently at 21%. We are monitoring for any further clarification or administrative guidance.
After a period of uncertainty, the Lithuanian tax authorities have clarified how the new insurance safety contribution should be administered. It has now been confirmed that the safety contribution should be charged in addition to the insurance premium as a separately identifiable amount, rather than being absorbed and paid out of the gross premium received by the insurer. This clarification resolves earlier doubts about whether insurers were permitted to invoice the charge separately or were required to fund it from within the premium itself. The decision provides much needed certainty around pricing, invoicing and IPT calculations.
Recent reports suggest that the implementation date for the Belgian IPT rate increase from 9.25% to 9.6% will be 1 April 2026, subject to formal enactment. Insurers and intermediaries should continue to monitor the implementing legislation and prepare systems and operational processes for the proposed change.
Cyprus’ House of Representatives has approved legislation providing for the full abolition of stamp duties. This will remove the stamp duty currently applied to insurance policies, subject to the final published legal text and commencement provisions. We are monitoring for publication in the official gazette and confirmation of the effective date, which is expected to align with the wider 2026 tax reform timeline. Insurers and intermediaries should review year-end renewals and endorsements, and prepare system and process updates so that stamp duty is not charged or reported once the change takes effect, including any transitional treatment. We will share more information once the final text and any Tax Authority guidance are available.
France is seeing a high level of legislative and budget activity, with several proposed measures that could materially affect the taxation of insurance premiums. Motor IPT: parliamentary debate has included proposals to increase the standard motor IPT rate, currently 18%. The change has not been adopted and remains subject to final budget approval. Marine and aviation: amendments have been tabled to remove long standing IPT exemptions for marine and aviation insurance, bringing these risks into the 18% IPT scope. These amendments have not yet been enacted. Health insurance levy: a proposed one off 2.05% additional levy on certain health insurance premiums for 2026 is included in the PLFSS 2026 draft, in addition to TSA, and is pending final approval. Riot risk surcharge: the Government has proposed a new mandatory, separately itemised surcharge on property and motor policies to fund a riot mutualisation scheme. It is not currently in force and is expected after 2026. All measures remain proposals and will depend on final legislative outcomes and implementing texts. We will continue monitoring developments and provide updates if any of these proposals are approved.
Belgian standard IPT rate increasing from 9.25% to 9.6%
In the newly agreed Belgian 2026–2029 budget framework, the Federal Government announced its intention to increase the standard insurance premium tax rate on non life policies from 9.25% to 9.6%. The effective date was still to be confirmed at the time of the announcement, with a suggestion that it could be as soon as 1 January 2026. The rate increase remained subject to implementing legislation. IPT on life and savings products, along with existing reduced or special IPT rates, was unchanged in the announcement. Further information will follow as it becomes available.
Irish Insurance Compensation Fund levy reducing to 1%
The Irish Insurance Compensation Fund levy will reduce from 2% to 1% with effect from 1 January 2026. Insurers and intermediaries should act quickly to ensure systems are updated ahead of this date. The Government Levy non life insurance rate remains unchanged at 3%. Xatia is committed to keeping clients informed of IPT developments and supporting them through the operational impact of tax changes.
