Romanian PM: Fiscal authorities should fine, not close small tax offenders

The National Tax Administration Agency ANAF presented a report to Prime Minister Victor Ponta which shows that the fiscal inspectors have suspended the activity of 232 firms where they found tax irregularities, out of about one million companies registered in Romania. “Of the 232 suspended firms, 150 probably deserved it, but I want no abuses,” Ponta said before the Government meeting on April 2. He asked the Finance Minister to change the regulation and impose heavy fines for those with tax misdemeanors rather than to suspend their activity. According to Ponta, the firms that will have a difference below RON 300 between cash in their register and official records, will only be fined and not suspended. However, the PM said that he would continue to support ANAF’s campaign against tax evasion, even with the risk of “being swore at”. He pointed out that the fiscal inspectors’ campaign against tax evasion brought EUR 1 billion more to the state budget and increased the level of fiscal conformity, as more firms bought and installed cash registers to issue fiscal receipts. The media has reported several cases of firms whose activities have been suspended by the fiscal inspectors due to small unbilled sums of a few RON. editor@romania-insider.com