Hundreds of unregistered businesses identified in Tirana

TIRANA, Aug. 17 – The tax directorate in the municipality of Tirana says it has identified hundreds of unregistered businesses during recent controls and warned hundreds of others to pay their dues. In a statement on Wednesday, the municipality of Tirana says it has taken measures to include 369 businesses in the tax scheme and warned 377 big businesses and 244 other VIP businesses to pay their taxes. The tax collection rate in August 2011 has increased by 13 percent compared to last July, when it was at 55 percent compared to a year ago. Latest data by the municipality of Tirana show some 28,730 businesses operated in Tirana until the June 2010. Some 69 percent of them are small businesses. Most businesses operate in the retail trade accounting for 26 percent of the total, followed by services with 16 percent, leisure and entertainment with 15 percent, wholesale trade with 13 percent.