Submitting a negative declaration

A negative declaration is one where you get a refund for previously paid contributions.

When does this apply?

Batteries exported abroad (outside Belgium) should not be included in your declaration. It is possible that a contribution has been paid for those batteries already. In this case, you make a negative declaration for the exported batteries to get the contribution refunded.

Een negatieve aangifte is een aangifte waarbij je eerder betaalde bijdragen terugbetaald krijgt.

How do you submit a negative declaration?

Batteries without serial numbers

Proceed as follows to submit a negative declaration for batteries that do not require a serial number. This applies to all batteries except for home batteries and/or Energy Storage Systems (ESS) – see: Which batteries require a serial number?

Just like a positive declaration, you can submit your negative declaration manually or via an import. You manually enter a negative declaration as follows:

  • Go to ‘Declarations’ and click on the declaration in the overview that you want to submit.
  • Click on the green ‘+ Add battery’ button at the top
  • Select the battery from the list of available batteries. At the top, you can filter and/or sort by Bebat code, category, IEC code, chemical family and more.
  • Click on the green ‘+’ button at the end of the row with the relevant battery
    The battery has now been added. Is it the wrong battery? You can click on ‘Undo’ in the confirmation window that opens.
  • In the ‘Number’ column, enter a negative (-) number for the number of batteries, e.g. -10.

To submit a declaration via an import (from a previous declaration or file), follow the same steps as for a positive declaration. Make sure you use a minus sign (-) in front of the number when entering the negative number of batteries under ‘Number’, e.g. -10.


Batteries with a serial number

When you need to submit a negative declaration for home batteries and/or ESS, you must also provide the serial numbers for these batteries. Proceed as follows:

  • Go to ‘Declarations’ and click on the declaration in the overview that you want to submit.
  • Add the batteries in the same way as for batteries without a serial number.
    Please note: the weight you enter should not differ more than 2000 grams from the originally submitted weight of this battery with serial number. 
  • In the ‘Number’ column, enter a negative (-) number for the number of batteries, e.g. -10. You will see a notification that you must provide the serial number.
  • Once you have entered all batteries and quantities, click on ‘Review & submit’ at the bottom.

You will now see a pop-up with an overview of the home batteries and/or ESS for which you entered a negative number. For these batteries, you need to complete the associated serial numbers:

    • For each line, enter the Brand and Model just like you did when entering serial numbers for the submission of a positive declaration. Finally, enter the serial number that should be removed in the last column.
      Attention: the brand and model must be identical to that of the originally submitted battery with serial number that you want to declare negatively. 
    • When you have completed this for all lines, click on ‘Add serial numbers’. You can only do so when you have entered the required information for all lines.
Once done, you can submit your declaration.


Once your declaration is submitted, your request is sent to us for processing:

  • Battery with serial number put on market by your organisation
    If the serial number is known to us as a battery that was declared by you, we will ensure the amount is deducted.
  • Battery with serial number not put on market by your organisation
    If the serial number is known to us as a battery declared by another organisation, we will contact that organisation.