NEWS

One year ago Czech Republic introduced a modern online fiscal system (EET). The first two groups of taxpayers have been introduced (fiscalized) according to the original MOF plan. Third group was on hold as some members of the Parliament collected enough votes to stop implementation, challenging Government for invading privacy of taxpayers. The case was taken to the high court and after proceedings, some minor changes to the technical specification, implementation continues.

Fiji: Plastic bag levy

Leading ecologists have been alerting for years the large presence of plastic waste in nature, especially in seas and oceans. Plastic waste, which is non-degradable in addition to disturbing the image of our environment, seriously threatens living beings on our planet.  The primary method for reducing plastic waste is in the recycling of plastics if possible. The second aspect of the fight against plastics is based on activities related to the reduction of its use.

Plastic bags make up a significant percentage of discarded plastics, in stores, plastic bags are used in huge amounts, especially because they are free. Many countries for a long time directly charge for plastic bags and the latest surveys in Europe show that the results of this measure are positive.

Fiji, as a small Pacific country endangered by plastic waste, has made a major step forward with its approach. A fixed tax on plastic bags in the amount of 20 Fiji cents per bag was introduced to the existing environmental tax law (Act No 20 Environmental Levy – 2015) in 2017 (Annex 29).

The money that this tax collects is aimed at just ecological fighting against plastic. Citizens and visitors of Fiji Islands every time paying this tax are reminiscent of the fact that the consumption of plastic bags should be rational. On the other hand, if they already must ask for the bag they are aware that they pay a special tax that will be used for ecological purposes.

The long-announced modernization of the fiscal cash register system in Poland will begin this year. It will include all existing “first generation” fiscal cash registers. Since there are many taxpayers, the replacement will be organized in stages and will last for few years. The final list and user specification has not been completed yet, it is certain that there will be new amendments even after the fiscalization begins. According to some comments due to the incompleteness of the law, there is a danger that same user has to replace the cash register twice. The main novelties on which the modernization is based are: e-receipts, online data transfer to the tax administration server, archiving of receipt data in digital form and unification of the protocol between cash register and the payment terminal.  

Will Romania once again postpone the implementation of the Fiscal law annex (Ordinance 91/2014)? This week, National Council of Small and Medium Enterprises in Romania (CNIPMMR) filed a request to postpone the implementation foreseen for the period Jun-August 2018.

The request states that the proposed solution in the annex has been technologically overcome. They also say that the tax administration has not renewed its resources for a long time and that ANAF IT center should be modernized before the fiscal reform. It is emphasized that it is necessary to digitize all of Romania, including rural areas. Previous attempts have been canceled due to inappropriate infrastructure. It is better, they say, to postpone the process for a year or two and thus introduce a modern solution.