Concessionary tax evasion
The Head of the Parliamentary Commission of Economy, Erjon brace, appealed the Albanian government to urgently change the oil concession agreement by increasing taxes on private companies.
“Tax on profit for oil should not be lower than the average of the industry, wherever it is applied. If the average tarts with 55-60%, Albania should not keep it still 50%, with the horrible favor of recognizing a series of spending that turn the profit to zero”, Brace declared.
But oil is not the only problematic sector. For the chrome concession, tax on private operators is even lower, only 10%, although they are exploiting a public asset.
“A chrome company cannot pay only 10% for its profit. And they haven’t paid even this so far, because they too have presented high spending on paper, which often have not been realized at all. All you need to do is go to Bulqize and see how those investments have not been realized. We have spoken about the tax-on-profit progressive tax. This is the case when the progressive tax should be established as soon as possible”, Brace added.
But even with these low taxes, the companies have not paid taxes, because they declare losses. According to Albpetrol, only four companies that exploit Albania’s oil resources have declared more than 1.5 billion USD of spending, but they haven’t presented their bills.
Brace says that this is another reason that makes the concessionary changes obligatory.
“The fiscal administration, including its higher levels and naturally even the Ministry which covers the responsible area, should work to stop recognizing these spending that include off-shore companies. On the other hand, they should justify every spending with regular bills with the current prices, not increased ones just to not pay the tax on profit”, Brace declared.
The official data show that since 2005, the concessionary companies have exported more than 1.6 billion USD of oil and chrome, and have paid only a minimal tax.
The Chief of the General Tax Office, Brisilda Shehaj, declared that the scheme with the VAT bills could be bigger than what they first suspected.
“We suspect that the scheme is even bigger. Next week, the tax administration will report the achievements of this month, and also the cases of evasion that we have found. It is not only Tirana included in the VAT scheme, but also others that we have been to verify in just two weeks”, Shehaj declared.
Mrs.Shehaj released these declarations during a meeting with the Economic Faculty students for raising awareness among citizens to withdraw the tax bills. She has used this to make an appeal to the business too.
“I want this campaign to receive more awareness from business, since in November we will be on terrain for registering the Albanian business”, Shehaj declared.
The Tax Director also spoke about the tax administration performance. Even it has not been made public, the she declared that there was progress in October with the collection of income. Bulldozers have intervened this Friday for freeing the illegally occupied areas by private constructions in the city of Durres.
The Local urban Construction Inspectorate of the Durres Municipality and the National Urban Construction Inspectorate have demolished the “Kamelia” complex with the support of the Public Order Police and the Municipality Police, and also by public companies with heavy transportation vehicles.
The complex built under the Dailan Bridge, in the entrance of the Durres City, had bars, restaurants, a large parking and entertainment areas. The construction inspectors have not met resistance and the action will continue in other areas. An employee of the Office Against Money Laundering in Tirana was arrested by the police.
Beqir Kukeli had been sentenced by the Vlore Cout to five years in prison for bank robbery and forging documents.
Through these forged documents Kukeli had even been able to enter the state administration and work at the Office Against Money Laundering.
The Police operation was realized this afternoon in Tirana. Police said they secured official evidence that led to the arrest.
Top Channel’s cameras filmed this operation live. Beqir Kukeli will be transported to Vlora, where he will hear his verdict.
“Tax on profit for oil should not be lower than the average of the industry, wherever it is applied. If the average tarts with 55-60%, Albania should not keep it still 50%, with the horrible favor of recognizing a series of spending that turn the profit to zero”, Brace declared.
But oil is not the only problematic sector. For the chrome concession, tax on private operators is even lower, only 10%, although they are exploiting a public asset.
“A chrome company cannot pay only 10% for its profit. And they haven’t paid even this so far, because they too have presented high spending on paper, which often have not been realized at all. All you need to do is go to Bulqize and see how those investments have not been realized. We have spoken about the tax-on-profit progressive tax. This is the case when the progressive tax should be established as soon as possible”, Brace added.
But even with these low taxes, the companies have not paid taxes, because they declare losses. According to Albpetrol, only four companies that exploit Albania’s oil resources have declared more than 1.5 billion USD of spending, but they haven’t presented their bills.
Brace says that this is another reason that makes the concessionary changes obligatory.
“The fiscal administration, including its higher levels and naturally even the Ministry which covers the responsible area, should work to stop recognizing these spending that include off-shore companies. On the other hand, they should justify every spending with regular bills with the current prices, not increased ones just to not pay the tax on profit”, Brace declared.
The official data show that since 2005, the concessionary companies have exported more than 1.6 billion USD of oil and chrome, and have paid only a minimal tax.
The Chief of the General Tax Office, Brisilda Shehaj, declared that the scheme with the VAT bills could be bigger than what they first suspected.
“We suspect that the scheme is even bigger. Next week, the tax administration will report the achievements of this month, and also the cases of evasion that we have found. It is not only Tirana included in the VAT scheme, but also others that we have been to verify in just two weeks”, Shehaj declared.
Mrs.Shehaj released these declarations during a meeting with the Economic Faculty students for raising awareness among citizens to withdraw the tax bills. She has used this to make an appeal to the business too.
“I want this campaign to receive more awareness from business, since in November we will be on terrain for registering the Albanian business”, Shehaj declared.
The Tax Director also spoke about the tax administration performance. Even it has not been made public, the she declared that there was progress in October with the collection of income. Bulldozers have intervened this Friday for freeing the illegally occupied areas by private constructions in the city of Durres.
The Local urban Construction Inspectorate of the Durres Municipality and the National Urban Construction Inspectorate have demolished the “Kamelia” complex with the support of the Public Order Police and the Municipality Police, and also by public companies with heavy transportation vehicles.
The complex built under the Dailan Bridge, in the entrance of the Durres City, had bars, restaurants, a large parking and entertainment areas. The construction inspectors have not met resistance and the action will continue in other areas. An employee of the Office Against Money Laundering in Tirana was arrested by the police.
Beqir Kukeli had been sentenced by the Vlore Cout to five years in prison for bank robbery and forging documents.
Through these forged documents Kukeli had even been able to enter the state administration and work at the Office Against Money Laundering.
The Police operation was realized this afternoon in Tirana. Police said they secured official evidence that led to the arrest.
Top Channel’s cameras filmed this operation live. Beqir Kukeli will be transported to Vlora, where he will hear his verdict.
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