Before starting a case, we always schedule a free introductory meeting. This can be done online or in person at our office in Tienen. During this meeting, we'll briefly discuss your situation and determine if and how we can help. If you only have a few specific questions, we can often answer them promptly and efficiently.

For more complex questions (such as assistance with communicating with banks, filing tax returns, or verifying whether your past crypto income has been correctly declared) a thorough analysis of your historical transactions is usually required. For this, we use specialized software such as CoinTracking, Koinly, or Cryptotaxcalculator, which accurately maps your previous crypto activities. We also ask clients to complete a short questionnaire (similar to the questionnaire from the Advance Rulings Service) to gain a deeper understanding.

After this initial analysis, we'll schedule a follow-up meeting to discuss the preliminary findings. If necessary, we'll refine the data together, after which we'll produce a final analysis.

If we are asked to complete your tax return, we will do so based on this analysis.

When you contact us to communicate with your bank or to verify that everything has been reported correctly, there are two possible outcomes:

1. Everything was reported correctly : we will then write a letter to your bank stating that we have analyzed your transactions and that, in our opinion, everything was reported correctly.

2. There are omissions or errors: in that case, we'll assist you in rectifying the situation. Afterwards, once everything has been correctly reported, we can still prepare a statement for your bank.

   
   

If you wish, we can also communicate directly with your bank, for example to explain our analysis or answer additional questions.

In exceptional cases, a bank may still refuse to accept your funds, despite our findings. If so, we will, if desired, connect you with other banks we partner with that have previously been willing to accept crypto income, provided they have the correct tax framework.

Yes, the initial consultation is completely free and without obligation . We believe it's important that clients have the opportunity to talk to us without any obligation, explain their situation, ask initial questions, and determine whether they would like to continue working with us. Only after this consultation will the client decide whether to open a case.

The initial consultation is free of charge. During the consultation, we'll ask you to briefly describe your situation and specify any questions you have. Important matters for us include:

• When you have started investing in crypto;

• The way you invest (e.g. dollar cost averaging);

• What exactly you do (mining, staking, participating in liquidity pools, etc.);

• Whether you have already declared income in your tax return in the past;

• The reason you are contacting us (e.g., bank questions, tax audit, assistance with filing a tax return, etc.)

  
  

If you have simple questions, we can often answer them during the consultation. If a more thorough analysis is required, we'll explain what we believe is the best approach and briefly explain how we work.

After the conversation, you will always receive a follow-up email in which we summarize what we believe is the most appropriate course of action and how the question can best be resolved.

To be clear: the initial consultation is without obligation and does not imply any commitment to enter into an agreement with us as a client.

Aeacus Lawyers generally doesn't analyze clients' trade histories manually, but rather uses specialized tax software. These programs automatically import and process thousands of transactions and generate structured reports on profits, losses, fees, airdrops, staking, and more.

Depending on the file, we generally use one of the following programs:

• CoinTracking : This allows transactions to be loaded via a CSV file or through an API connection to the platform (such as Binance, Kraken, or Coinbase). CoinTracking reconstructs the complete history and automatically generates a tax report.

• CryptoTaxCalculator : A user-friendly tool that also works with CSV files or APIs. The platform automatically detects purchases, sales, transfers, and fees, and provides an overview of realized capital gains.

• Koinly : Focuses on simplicity and visualization. It imports transactions, connects wallets and exchanges, and generates a tax overview with a clear breakdown by year, coin, or transaction type.

These programs are not free . Aeacus pays a license fee for them, which is passed on to the client. The suggested annual fees range from €200 to €400 , depending on the number of transactions and the program chosen. We work with the client to determine which platform is most suitable for their specific situation.

While these tools are a great help, they're not a panacea . Currently, there's no program fully aligned with Belgian tax regulations. Therefore, we still prepare the final tax assessment and reporting.

Client review and token/NFT spam: We always ask our clients to review the generated trade history. In practice, clients are sometimes surprised to see certain coins or tokens appear in their overview, even though they never purchased them themselves. This is usually the result of NFT or token spam : worthless coins or NFTs that automatically appear in the wallet, often with fraudulent or misleading intent.

If the number of spam transactions is limited, we ask the client to manually delete them in the tool. However, if the spam is extensive, we prefer to work with CSV files of the exchanges, so that we can import in a more targeted and clean manner.

API integration versus CSV upload

• An API connection is a secure, automatic connection between your crypto exchange and the tax program. This connection only allows To read transaction data , not to execute trades or access your funds. It is therefore entirely read-only and generated from your own exchange account.

• A CSV upload involves creating an export file of your transaction history (in Excel or text format) and either uploading it to the program yourself or providing it to Aeacus. This provides more control over what exactly is imported and is often preferred for large volumes of spam.

Finally, if the number of transactions is very limited (for example, ten per year), the use of a tax program is usually not necessary and we can perform the analysis directly without additional software costs.

The tax programs explain step-by-step how to set up a connection. We also guide our clients where necessary in setting up the API connection or exporting the correct CSV files, ensuring everything runs smoothly and correctly.

If a client already has an account with another crypto program, we can, of course, work with that as well. For clients who are already familiar with such programs, we can, if desired, limit ourselves to a review of the tax reports or analyses they have prepared.

Aeacus Advocaten is a tax law firm with a distinct specialization in crypto taxation . We combine our legal expertise with extensive practical experience in crypto. Our lawyers have been active in the crypto world for years, allowing us to provide clients with sound legal and substantive guidance.

We're most often contacted for analysis of trade and transaction history : clients want to verify whether their past crypto activities were correctly reported or need assistance completing their tax returns . Thanks to our years of experience, we have a keen understanding of how to correctly interpret, report, and translate this data for tax purposes in accordance with Belgian tax reporting requirements.

Over the years, we've seen just about everything: from simple purchases and sales to staking , mining , participation in liquidity pools , ICOs , NFTs , and even clients who want to launch their own tokens or coins. This broad experience allows us to quickly assess the tax considerations and how best to address them.

We also assist clients in communicating with banks , for example, when transferring cryptocurrencies to a Belgian account. In such situations, banks often ask additional questions about the origin of the funds. We then assist in drafting statements or, if desired, contact the bank directly. In this context, Aeacus Lawyers has also built up extensive experience in AML and KYC legislation. If a bank nevertheless refuses to accept the funds, we can, provided the file is fully fiscally compliant, introduce clients to banks with which we have a smooth working relationship. Should any errors or ambiguities remain, we will of course assist in correcting them, if necessary via a tax regularization .

We also advise companies who are active in crypto, for example on VAT on crypto transactions , accounting treatment or the establishment of a company for trading activities or other crypto initiatives.

We also assist clients who are invited for questioning as part of an investigation into tax fraud or money laundering involving cryptocurrencies . This often occurs when clients have previously transferred cryptocurrencies to a Belgian account without prior notification to the bank, which may lead to a report to the CFI. and possibly a police investigation . In such cases, we offer legal assistance before, during, and after the interrogation, and we help to properly frame the case and, if necessary, regularize it. It is, of course, preferable to analyze the case before any funds are transferred to a Belgian bank.

Finally, we also take action in cases involving fraud and scams , for example when clients have fallen victim to scam projects, fake wallets or lost access to their funds.

In short: we assist clients with any legal or tax question related to crypto – from tax returns to analysis, from portfolios to police interrogations.

Depending on your needs and the urgency of your case, an initial appointment is usually possible within a few days. For urgent cases, we can, of course, be available the same day.

Depending on your needs and the urgency of the matter, an initial analysis can also be completed within a few days. If certain matters are more urgent, we can prioritize them, for example, in the case of blocked funds or the rapid release of funds urgently needed for a purchase, such as real estate.