New tax changes make punishments fiercer

TIRANA, April 5 – The parliamentary economy committee approved on Tuesday some changes to the tax procedures law which foresee stricter measures for businesses starting their activity without being registered with the National Registration Center, non-declaration of employees and lack of cash registers.
The changes which received only the votes of the majority deputies, foresee that fines for businesses initially caught without cash registers will double to 200,000 lek for big businesses and 100,000 lek for small businesses. If caught without cash registers or without issuing receipts for a second or third time, fines start from 300,000 lek to 500,000 lek.
Parliament’s press office said the changes were also made in the frame of meeting European Commission recommendations on informal economy which is reported to be at 35 percent of the GDP.
The changes are also an indication that punishments after the proposed tax amnesty is applied will be fiercer.