Romania needs a modern fiscal system, rational public policies, a restructuring of public expenses, a continuous fight against tax evasion, but also an efficient use of public money intended for Romanians, the minister of Finance, Marcel Bolos says in a post on his Facebook page, on Monday night.

According to him, the introduction of new taxes is not a solution to the current level of uncollected claims to the budget, of the VAT gap (the difference between the amount of VAT that the state would expect to collect and the amount of VAT actually collected at the state budget), gap of income tax and social contributions.

„When you are the minister of Finance and you have 175 billion RON in unpaid budget claims, a VAT gap of 32 billion RON, an income tax gap of 19 billion RON, a gap in social contributions of 53 billion RON, you put yourself the questions: what is the right thing to do so that the business environment and the population do not have to face new and new fiscal burdens?

„Because the introduction of new taxes is not a solution. At the same time, you look around as some choose to toxically twist the intentions and provisions of some proposals to pursue their own political interests and mislead public opinion. Instead of contributing constructively to the public debate and proposing viable solutions, they prefer to resort to my personal denigration and misinformation. This is a clear proof of the lack of responsibility and the inability to offer real and constructive alternatives for the problems facing Romania,” the minister adds.

Marcel Bolos explains that one of the provisions says that the transactions for buildings, land and means of transport are conditioned by the payment of the seller’s obligations towards the National Tax Administration Agency (ANAF), such as VAT, income tax, social contributions and that such a provision has already existed for a long time, for the payment of obligations to local budgets.

„But, mind you: the seller is not obliged to pay his/her debts in advance (as is the case for the obligations to the local budget) but can do it from the money obtained for the good that is the subject of the sale. It is a measure of fiscal responsibility and compliance with the law, which protects the public interests of all those who pay their taxes correctly. In a functioning democracy, the protection of individual rights must be balanced with respect for the law and responsibilities to the community. The invocation of the right to property as an argument against this measure reflects a limited understanding of the principles by law,” the minister points out.

Regarding the „fiscal CNP” (where the CNP is the social number, ed. n.), he specifies that it „is written clearly” in the draft piece of legislation that it is an optional measure and that the state will never force anyone to pass their CNP or any other form of identification on invoices/vouchers.

He adds that the e-Invoice and the measures related to the digitization of the fiscal system were not introduced overnight, but there was a six-month adjustment period, when no sanctions were applied to those who did not use the system.

Also, the minister mentions that it was proposed to reduce the cash ceilings only for those who do not pay their taxes and charges and have legal garnishments placed on their accounts, to the detriment of the evasionists „who cheat the state”.

„What’s wrong with this? Shall we remain with 175 billion RON in unpaid debts? Shall we helplessly look at the evasionists? Let’s not forget that only here comes the money for teachers’ salaries, doctors’ salaries, money for pensions, money for motorways and many other projects addressed to Romanians,” Marcel Bolos writes on the social network.

He adds that after the completion of the consultation process with the representatives of the business environment, the conclusions will be presented to those entitled to make the decisions.

„The political parties blame me for not presenting at a political level these measures addressed to those in the business environment accustomed to non-payment of taxes and fees. I kindly ask them to have the necessary decency and patience to complete the consultation process with the representatives of the business environment which we have already started, because they are addressed in the first place. Then, the conclusions of these consultations will be presented to those in the decision-making position. What do you want until the end? Consultation with the parties or with the business environment? Such moments have to be overcome. We cannot stay in a permanent deadlock. Romania needs a modern fiscal system, a restructuring of public expenses, a continuous fight against tax evasion, but also an efficient use of public money for the Romanians,” the minister of Finance concludes.

AGERPRES