Businesses owners to face prison for repeated violations

TIRANA, Dec. 1 – The Albanian government has tightened penalties against businesses by introducing criminal investigation and imprisonment for repeated violations with the declaration of employees and the use of cash registers in a bid to reduce informality estimated at more than 30 percent of the GDP.
Speaking at the parliamentary economy committee this week, Finance Minister Shkelqim Cani said the amendments to the law on tax procedures reduce fines to businesses but also include imprisonment for repeated violations. The amendments would also require changes to the Criminal Code which are made under a qualified majority of votes.
“There is no technical error in case somebody does it for a third, fourth or fifth time and that’s why we have introduced criminal measures,” said Cani.
The changes envisage that tax procedures will further ease by the publication of court decisions on tax issues by the tax administration, the cut of time for placing the bank guarantee to appeal the tax administration decision and the acceleration of the decision by the Appeals Directorate to 60 days, from 90 days currently.