The Expected Tax Amnesty Won’t Happen

TIRANA, October 24

Contrary to what was promised in July, it seems that the tax amnesty won’t take place. There is no more hope for a forgiveness of tax liability of about 1.1 billion dollars. Contrariwise, they will be collected with force. Every day that goes, an element is removed from July’s proposal on tax amnesty until it will be totally nullified. Minister of Finances Arben Ahmetaj was clear-cut on Monday after the repetitive questions by journalists on this issue.
“There is no forgiveness of liabilities,” he repeated twice.
“There will be a facilitation for those that are going to pay the entire liability for the period 2010-2014. They will benefit an ease in fines and interests while for those that won’t pay, the obligation will be collected with force through all the instruments that we have,” Ahmetaj, who seem to be irritated by this question.
The preliminary draft on the tax amnesty that was proposed in July with a big fuss defined a complete forgiveness of obligations until 2011. Following this period, there would be a forgiveness by 30 percent for fines and delay interest for those who would pay 70 percent of obligations.
In September this draft remained pending after the objection of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which insisted on the forgiveness of the liabilities that were impossible to collect. So far, no new draft is ready, but Ahmetaj shed light on what was important to know. Previously in May 2016, Ahmetaj highlighted that taxes cannot be collected with force.

News Source: Monitor