The relationship between tax payer and the state has always been tense, but lately, as the Government says it will no longer tolerate tax evasion, those who are the link between companies and the state say they have to withstand more pressure than before, although they always paid their due in relationship with the state.
Present at two different ZF Live shows, two people from two different areas, Dragos Doros, manager of the fiscal assistance department of KPMG and Madalin Niculeasa, lawyer and managing partner at Niculeasa Litigator, have said the same things. Companies who pay their taxes in Romania have to take more pressure when it comes to the state’s hunger for money than those who are not good payers. And in a way there is an explanation for this, Dragos Doros says ironically: tax evaders are harder to catch!
“It is easier to go to companies you can find immediately than to those that are hard to find,” Doros comments.
Such an attitude becomes bothersome, he says, avoiding to directly blame the tax authorities, saying they unfortunately face a lack of resources.
Madalin Niculeasa also talks about how much money he gives to the tax authorities without feeling he gets anything in return.
“The state runs thorough checks on me when I deduct my expenditures.” But, he says, if this is the case, the state should also answer for how it spends money collected from citizens: “I don’t feel anything is coming back to me for the money I pay to the state.”
Predictability of laws, taxes are essential for a society, but in Romania politicians are not interested in these aspects because if legislation is clear, you cannot take advantage of it.
(English version by Daniela Stoican)