Star Fund

• You pay less tax: An investment in this fund entitles you to pension savings tax relief in accordance with the provisions of the 1992 Income Tax Code, as described below under “taxation”, subject to changes to fiscal regulations. That means it is advantageous whether or not you have been working for a long time. The possibility of exiting the fund prematurely remains available, although this has extremely adverse tax consequences (tax rate of 33%). You receive a tax reduction of respectively:
  • 30% if you opt for the ceiling of up to 980 euros in 2019. The maximum tax reduction in that case amounts to 294 euros + municipal taxes.
  • 25% if you opt for the increased ceiling of up to 1.260 euros in 2019. The maximum tax reduction in that case amounts tot 315 euros + municipal taxes.
• Sustainable pension savings fund: Star Fund invests in sustainable securities. Over the long term you may receive an attractive return, but the return and your capital are not guaranteed.
• You contribute at your own pace: You choose the amount and frequency of your payments yourself. You can decide each year whether you want to invest a maximum of 980 euros or 1.260 euros (2019 figures) or whether nothing.
• Starting from 24 euros per month: You can also place a standing order for a minimum of 24 euros. In this way you gradually build up a large pension capital.
• You can open and manage your pension savings online: You can track the capital you have built up in Home’Bank and you can manage your payments there as well.

Please note: returns are not guaranteed. You should also take the subscription fees and ongoing charges into account, as described in the following paragraphs. 

The main risks to be considered are as follows:

• Market risk: The market risk, which takes into consideration past performance and potential future changes in the financial markets in relation to the financial instruments used to attain the investment objectives, is considered high.
• Credit and counterparty risk: Risk that an issuer or counterparty will default.
• Liquidity risk: The fund’s liquidity risk is low. Liquidity risks arise if an underlying investment is difficult to sell, putting the repayment of your investment in the fund at risk.
• Currency risk: The risk that the value of an investment is affected by currency fluctuations is considered average.
• Non-performance risk: Depending on the investment strategy of the undertaking for collective investment, the return over a specific period may be positive or negative. The non-performance risk is closely related to market risk and is considered high.

No guarantee is given that returns will be obtained and/or that the initial stake will be recovered. Amounts invested in CIUs (Undertaking for Collective Investment) are not covered by the Fund for the protection of deposits and financial instruments.

• Entry charge (applicable by ING Belgium): 3%
• Exit charge: 0%
• Ongoing charges taken from the Sub-Fund over a year: 1.16% of which 0,90% management fees.
• A detailed description of all fees is available on page 20 of the prospectus.

Taxation

• An investment in Star Fund entitles you to pension savings tax relief in accordance with the provisions of the 1992 Income Tax Code, as described below, subject to changes to fiscal regulations. An investor in Star Fund who is a resident of Belgium (or of a member state of the European Economic Area) and subject to Belgian personal income tax is eligible for the tax relief. The investor must be over 18 and under 64 years of age in the year when the account is opened. The account must also have a minimum term of ten years. The amount that qualifies for tax relief is limited to a maximum purchase amount per taxpayer in each taxable period. This may be increased by Royal Decree. Indexation of the amounts is possible in accordance with the legal provisions. The tax relief is calculated at the special average tax rate of 30% or 25% respectively, plus municipal tax. You receive an annual tax reduction of, respectively:
  • 30% if you opt for the ceiling of up to 980 euros in 2019. The maximum tax reduction in that case amounts to 294 euros + municipal taxes.
  • 25% if you opt for the increased ceiling of up to 1.260 euros in 2019. The maximum tax reduction in that case amounts to 315 euros + municipal taxes.
• Conditions for the increased tax ceiling of 1.260 euros in 2019:
  • If you wish to invest more than 980 euros/year, then you have to inform ING of your explicit choice.
  • The choice is irrevocable and valid exclusively for the tax period specified. As a result, you will have to make the choice again each year.
  • If a sum higher than 980 euros is invest in a year when no prior choice has been explicitly made, the amounts above 980 euros will be returned free of charge.
• From 2015 to 2019, there is an annual anticipatory levy of 1% on the final tax. This anticipatory levy is calculated on the savings that had been built up as at 31 December 2014.
• Repayment of capital: The tax rate amounts to 8% in principle, but is reduced by the amount of the anticipatory levy. In principle, repayment of capital can only be requested after 10 years. However, the possibility of exiting the fund prematurely remains available, although this has extremely adverse tax consequences (tax rate of 33%). For more information on the tax rate, please refer to pages 22-23 of the prospectus.
• What is the tax basis? For payments made from 1 January 1993 onwards, the taxable income for the investor in the pension savings fund is equal to the net amount of the payments, capitalised at a flat rate of 4.75%, irrespective of the actual return achieved. Payments made before 1 January 1993 are capitalised at a rate of 6.25%.
• Tax when the pension is paid out: In accordance with the Star Fund investment policy, it is possible for the fund to invest more than 10% of its assets directly and/or indirectly in instruments that give rise to interest payments, as envisaged in EU Directive 2003/48/EC. An investor who is a natural person subject to personal income tax in Belgium and is acting within the context of the ordinary management of his/her private assets could therefore be subject to withholding tax (30%) upon the redemption (or liquidation) of his/her units. At present, Star Fund does not have to be regarded as an investment that gives rise to interest payments within the meaning of EU Directive 2003/48/EC. Consequently, no such withholding tax liability arises.
• Tax certificate: Every year, in the month of May, you will receive a tax certificate for the contributions you made in the preceding year. You can also download the certificate from Home’Bank, along with a number of other tax certificates.