Taxpayers’ Advocate starts work

TIRANA, September 7 – Artur Papajani, a former tax director general, has been appointed as the head of the newly established Taxpayers’ Advocate office.
Papajani was dismissed as general tax director in May 2010, after more than one year in the post.
The newly established institution along with the Taxpayers’ Consultative Council are aimed at improving relations between the government and taxpayers.
The Directorate of Taxpayers’ Advocate has the primary function of providing information in an efficient and relevant matter to different administrative levels based on the problems faced by taxpayers, in paying their taxes and following relevant administrative procedures to guarantee of the right of the taxpayers by the tax administration.
“Creating the structure of the Directorate of the Taxpayers’ Advocate will serve as a framework for efficient tracking of information and for handling all the issues taxpayers face in their dealings with the administration – things like unreasonable delays, wrong solutions, etc.,” Arjana Dyrmishi, director of fiscal policy in the Ministry of Finance, told the members of the commission. “The new structure will deal with these concerns and issues facing the taxpayer and will offer the right solution within the tax structures.”
Meanwhile, the Taxpayers’ Consultative Council will work in the Finance Ministry and will be dominated by business community representatives. It will deal with aspects of the implementation of fiscal laws. It will also directly cover issues business faces in the implementation of tax procedures.