RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Tax evasion bill

Persons accused of tax evasion may escape prosecution in certain circumstances.

Tax evasion bill
Tax evasion bill

, 10.10.2018, 12:49

The MPs in the Romanian Parliament’s legal committee have approved an amendment to the bill to revise the law on the prevention and combating of tax evasion, a move that has caused controversy. The amendment stipulates that persons accused of tax evasion may escape criminal prosecution if they pay the damages caused. The measure can only be applied once if, during criminal investigation or until the first hearing, the person in question pays the damages caused by tax evasion in full, as well as a 20% penalty fee.



Finance minister Eugen Teodorovici says he supports any European measure that seeks to recover losses because, in recent years, the state has proved to be a structure that fights against business people and this must stop. He has also announced that the government will propose legislation by the end of the year for a European practice in this regard to be also adopted in Romania.



Eugen Teodorovici: “We in the government have approved a memorandum to have a wider discussion with the finance minister, the justice minister and all the other bodies involved in tax evasion management so that by the end of 2018 we can come up with a bill to amend a number of legislative acts on tax evasion. The aim is to adopt a practice used in more advanced European states by which the state seeks to recover the losses and not necessarily close down companies, send its shareholders to prison and other such actions.”



The only votes against this measure in the legal committee came from the MPs of the Save Romania Union, who argue that such measures cannot be taken without an impact study. Save Romania Union deputy Stelian Ion does not rule out a challenge in the Constitutional Court if this version of the bill is adopted, and explains his party’s objections.



Stelian Ion: “Not having a foundation, the move may appear as aiming to benefit certain people and as being superficial and unprofessional, so we cannot possibly support it. The possibility to reduce maximum sentences if damages are repaid in full by the time of the first hearing, which is currently stated in the law, is replaced with the obligatory cessation of criminal prosecution. Is this measure opportune? Won’t it lead in fact to an increase in crime in the area of tax evasion?”



Experts agree that the high rate of tax evasion in Romania, which accounts for some 30% of the GDP, calls for urgent measures. They wonder, however, if it’s fair for the tax authorities to block the accounts of ordinary citizens for debts of a few Euros while tax evaders hiding millions can escape criminal prosecution.

EP and local elections in Romania on June 9 (Photo credits: AEP)
Today in the News Tuesday, 12 November 2024

Preparations for the elections abroad

  After the local and European parliamentary elections, held simultaneously on June 9, Romanians are preparing for an election marathon. They will...

Preparations for the elections abroad
Photo: kschneider2991 / pixabay.com
Today in the News Tuesday, 12 November 2024

Growing trade deficit

The trade balance deficit recorded in Romania in the first nine months of the current year increased by 15%, as compared to the same period of 2023,...

Growing trade deficit
Photo: pixabay.com
Today in the News Monday, 11 November 2024

Central Bank Report on Inflation

The latest report on inflation was approved at the end of last week by the Board of Directors of the National Bank of Romania. According to the...

Central Bank Report on Inflation
Klaus Iohannis, at the EPC summit (Budapest, Hungary)
Today in the News Friday, 08 November 2024

EPC meeting in Budapest

European leaders met in Budapest to discuss security challenges facing Europe, with an emphasis on the situation in Ukraine, as well as the issues of...

EPC meeting in Budapest
Today in the News Friday, 08 November 2024

Romania, from wages to youth unemployment

Data from the Statistical Office of the European Union – Eurostat show that the adjusted average annual full-time salary of Romanians is the fourth...

Romania, from wages to youth unemployment
Today in the News Thursday, 07 November 2024

Reactions to the election of Donald Trump

Many political leaders around the world have reacted by congratulating the Republican Donald Trump, who announced his victory in the US presidential...

Reactions to the election of Donald Trump
Today in the News Thursday, 07 November 2024

Farmers and the Common Agricultural Policy

The Romanian Minister of Agriculture Florin Barbu and the European Commissioner for Agriculture, the Polish Janusz Wojciechowski, who is on formal...

Farmers and the Common Agricultural Policy
Today in the News Wednesday, 06 November 2024

Roxana Mînzatu, endorsed by the Romanian Parliament

Romanian Government’s proposal for the position of European Commissioner in the future Community Executive, the Social Democrat Roxana Mînzatu has...

Roxana Mînzatu, endorsed by the Romanian Parliament

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company