The world is entering a very turbulent period where economies are becoming dependent on proper fiscalization. Many countries in 2016 has started implementation processes related to changes of the existing or defining new fiscal laws and regulations, launching tenders for the procurement of necessary HW and SW for fiscal solutions and finally in some countries successful fiscalization has generated new revenues.
The upcoming year (2017) will remain very colorful, in terms of different views of what is the best fiscalization method. Many countries have already voted new legislations or are just now preparing for it. The goal is common, combatting the black economy, mostly in cash-based sectors. Following is a quick recap of events that are ongoing in some fiscal countries:
Belgium
Some taxpayers enjoy exemption from the obligation of fiscalization in horeca sector and some were individually permitted to apply their flat-rate scheme. However as of 1 January 2017, companies that use a registered cash system shall no longer be able to apply a flat-rate scheme (Ruling BTW no. E.T.131.030 d.d. 10-1-.2016).
Romania
Fiscal law update mandates the use of electronic fiscal cash registers equipped with electronic journal. Depending on the size of a business, following are deadlines for new implementation:
- 1 October 2016 for large taxpayers;
- 1 January 2017 for medium-sized taxpayers;
- 1 May 2017 for small taxpayers.
Moldova
From 1 January 2017 in Moldova new fiscal law requires the use of certified cash registers by the Ministry of Finance only.
Turkey
Since January 1, 2017 all businesses will be obliged to use the cash register and POS (so called: “New Generation of Cash Register”). Order No. 427 issued by the Ministry of Finance according to the Tax Procedures Code General Communiqué on each business after this date must be a new generation of POS cash register devices. Process of replacement of old fiscal cash registers and fiscal printers started at the beginning of the year 2012. It included more than 1,800,000 devices approximately.
Russia
The law on transition to new cash register equipment, conveying online information about cash payments to the tax authorities, came into force on July 15, 2016. From February 1, 2017 cash register equipment registration should be made in compliance with the new rules. According to the new rules, when taxpayer makes payment electronic cash receipt must be created and fiscal data sent to the tax authorities through the “fiscal data operator”. In accordance with the established procedure, the electronic receipt should also be sent to the customer, and if the customer requests so, the receipt should also be printed in paper form. The law also stipulates that the receipt can be forwarded to the customer through the “fiscal data operator”.
- from February 1, 2017 – cash register equipment registration in compliance with the new rules
- from July 1, 2017 – mandatory implementation of the new procedure for those groups of persons for whom the use of cash register equipment is currently mandatory
Slovenia
By the end of the 2016 Slovenia has successfully completed the first year of fiscalization. Officially in the first 9 months of the fiscalization 880 million receipts were issued/processed and from this number more than 20 million receipts were verified by public. This shows participation of customers/buyers is active in process of fiscalization. They were stipulated also with the very popular fiscal lottery.
Czechia
Czech Republic begins the first year of fiscalization. The official start for the first fiscal group of taxpayers was on December 2nd 2016. And since then 42,116 taxpayers issued more than 80 million receipts, and more than two thousand reports of non-issuance of receipts. In one month exploitation work two major system breakdown occurred. In both cases taxpayer should issue their receipts without FIK code in offline mode. The first group of users will be expanded to other three groups by mid 2017.
Norway
With effect from 1 January 2017, cash register systems offered on the Norwegian market must comply with the Cash Register Systems Act and the Cash Register Systems Regulations. The rules mean that, after 1 January 2017, cash register suppliers will only be able to provide cash register systems which meet certain requirements. For example, these requirements cover mandatory and prohibited functions, as well as the securing of an electronic journal. Before systems can be offered for sale, lease or loan, suppliers must submit a product declaration to the tax office stating that the cash register system fulfills the requirements laid down in the regulations. The tax office may penalize by fine a cash register system supplier which fails to provide a product declaration or whose cash register system does not fulfill the requirements set out in the Cash Register Systems Act or in the Regulations issued pursuant to the Act.
Austria
The Austrian „Registrierkassensicherheitsverordnung (RKSV)“, a new enactment for the handling of electronic cash registers, prescribes that starting with January 1st 2017, each receipt has to be signed and stored digitally.
All cash registers in Austria need to be equipped with a technical “safety device” and a certain secure-signature-creation device (signature card). With this signature card, all data of the cash register/POS system, will be digitally signed and thus be protected from manipulation.
Hungary
From 1 January 2017 the government extends the obligation of using online cash registers in sectors that were exempted.
As of 1 January 2017 the following two business activities will be added to the scope of taxpayers obliged to use online cash registers:
- passenger transport with taxi as per section 49.32, and
- only currency exchange offices from security and commodity contracts brokerage as per section 66.12.
Currently 217 thousand online cash registers operate in the country e.g. in retail outlets, gas stations, pharmacies, restaurants and hotels. The online cash register system has generated an extra tax income of around HUF 150 billion in 2014 and about HUF 60 billion in 2015.
Other
For activities in other Countries on different Continents do not hesitate to contact us, or visit our world’s biggest fiscal encyclopedia.
Happy New (Fiscal) Year!
