Traders to benefit tax reimbursement on new cash registers

TIRANA, Oct. 4 – Government says it will reimburse small business owners for the compulsory installation of cash registers, whose process was delayed until the end of this year following protests by traders over their high prices.
In a hearing at the parliamentary economy committee last week, Finance Minister Ridvan Bode said that under the recently approved draft law, traders can benefit up to 44,000 lek (around 440 dollars) in tax compensation for the tax registers whose final installation deadline has been postponed by next December.
“This decision was made in consultation with the companies which are authorized to implement the cash register process, by accepting to offer cash registers at reduced prices of 53,000 lek (VAT included) or 44,000 (VAT excluded),” said Bode, adding that all businesses which have installed cash registers or signed contracts until February 28, 2011 will benefit tax compensation.
Reacting to accusations of alleged abuses by opposition Socialist Party officials and local traders, Bode said the cash register prices offered by the four authorized companies were much lower than in regional countries.
The cash register process for small businesses has failed to be implemented since 1994 and is seen by government as a necessary reform to reform the small business market.
Albania’s opposition Socialists and ruling Democrats have traded accusations of corruption over a government drive to ensure local businesses use new cash registers.
Earlier this month, local traders in Tirana protested for three days over the cost of the equipment, before the Ministry of Finance agreed to postpone their installation until the end of the year.
The current drive represents the third official campaign in two decades to suppress Albania’s black economy and install registers.
An investigation by Balkan Insight published in July found the process of installing the machines has been derailed by rows over sales of faulty equipment and complaints of conflicts of interest.