Croatia: Growth exceeds 100% in the restaurant industry
In the first half of 2014 a larger number of fiscal receipts is issued than the last year. This is due to the fiscalization, introduced in Croatia last year, bringing desirable surplus to the treasury, as much as 8 billion HRK (~1,3 billion USD) out of which 2.6 billion HRK is contributed by hospitality and as many as 5.2 billion HRK by retail traders.
Tax collectors in the first 7 months of last year had 21,590 inspections and in more than 2,000 cases found irregularities. This year there were three times less inspections – about 6,600 – and found almost the same irregularities – almost every third case.
The targets are those traders who do not issue certified receipts.
“Tax collectors continue inspections with increased intensity while not punishing those who have a surplus of two to three HRK than those who do not issue receipts,” said Minister Boris Lalovac.
Growth in excess of 100 percent
When the government decided to make equal playfield for all traders by introducing fiscal invoicing system to all sectors at the same time, the consequences were felt in the daily income of restaurants:
- In 2010, the average was about 100 HRK
- In 2013 the average increased to about 210 HRK,
an increase in excess of 100%, and that happened in the years of the economic crisis!
These data, according to the Department of Finance are just an indication that there is a lot of money in the gray area.
