Why Liège is introducing a tax on self-checkout machines

519 euros per device per year: that is how much retailers with self-scan checkouts in the Belgian city of Liège will have to pay from next year. The city wants to use the tax to protect jobs and support small traders, but trade federation Comeos has reacted with outrage.

“Negative signal”

From 2026, Liège retailers will have to pay a tax of 519 euros per self-checkout per year. This was unanimously decided by the city council on Monday evening. Finance alderman Carine Clotuche (Les Engagés) cites two arguments. On the one hand, this should support small retailers who are unable to invest in this type of equipment, while having to compete with larger supermarkets. On the other hand, there is the issue of employment: “Automatic checkouts replace a person,“ Clotuche told RTBF. With this new tax, Liège hopes to collect 77,000 euros next year.