Balance of all accounts

Verified 09 January 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

What is an all-account balance? What does your balance of any account have to include? When does the employer have to remit the balance of any account? What if the employer makes a mistake or forgets? We present you with the information you need to know.

Receipt for balance of any account is part of the documents that your employer must hand over to you at the end of your employment contract.

The receipt for the balance of all accounts lists all the amounts paid to you.

Your balance of any account is paid to you by check or bank transfer at the end of your employment contract.

The entries to appear on your balance of any account are as follows:

  • Total amounts owed to you at the end of your contract (salary, bonuses, termination benefits)
  • A statement that the balance receipt for any account is made out in duplicate (one of which is given to you)

It depends on whether you give notice (i.e. a period of work between the announcement of your termination of the employment contract and the actual termination of the contract) or not.

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You're giving notice

Your employer will give you one of the 2 copies of the receipt for balance of all accounts at the end of your notice.

Your employer must inform you that the document is ready and give it to you.

Please note

you are not required by law to sign the receipt for the balance of any account.

You do not have to give notice

Your employer will give you one of the 2 copies of the receipt for balance of all accounts.

In case of waiver of the notice, your employer may give you the receipt on the day of your physical departure from the company, without waiting for the termination of the notice initially provided.

Example :

You are excused from giving notice which was to take place on the 1ster October 31. Your employer can give you the receipt on September 30.

Your employer must inform you that the document is ready and give it to you.

Please note

you are not required by law to sign the receipt for the balance of any account.

You can dispute the amounts shown on the balance of any account if you believe that your employer has (intentionally or unintentionally) made a mistake or an oversight in calculating the various salaries or allowances.

The time limit for challenging these amounts depends on your signature or the absence of your signature on the receipt.

You signed the receipt

You have 6 months following the date of your signature to dispute the balance receipt of any account.

If the appeal concerns sums not mentioned in the receipt, you have a period of 3 years to dispute the receipt.

The challenge must be addressed to the employer by registered letter.

Your letter will then specify the reasons for the dispute and the amounts involved (such as salary arrears or paid leave allowances).

Your employer is not required to mention the 6-month dispute period on the balance of any account.

Warning  

Your employer can claim overpayments from you during 3 years.

You didn't sign the receipt

You can challenge the receipt before the labor council according to the following deadlines:

  • 1 year if the amount relates to the termination of the employment contract (e.g. severance pay)
  • 2 years if this concerns a dispute between you and your employer that occurred during the performance of the employment contract (example: non-payment of professional fees)
  • 3 years for everything related to salaries

The challenge must be addressed to the employer by registered letter.

Your letter will then specify the reasons for the dispute and the amounts involved (such as salary arrears or paid leave allowances).

Warning  

Your employer can claim overpayments from you during 3 years.

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