Starting from 2026, the taxation procedure for all residents of the IT park of Moldova may change.
The Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization has submitted draft amendments to the Law on Information Technology Parks for public discussion. The project provides for the provision of the opportunity for call centers and contact centers to work within the IT park. Also, suppliers of other categories of employment services, including for export, will be able to become residents. In addition, it is proposed to establish a park council - a collegial body that will approve the activity plan of the park administration and its development strategy, approve the semi-annual and annual reporting of the park, its budget, manage the risk system for the administration of the park, hold a competition and propose to the government a candidate for the position of park administrator. From 2026, the section for supporting and stimulating the activities of parks will change its name to “Tax regime applied by park residents.” The IT park will retain a single tax of 7% on resident sales, while the minimum amount of the single tax determined monthly for each employee will increase from 30% to 35% of the average monthly salary in the economy projected for the tax period of the corresponding tax. This measure will increase the degree of social insurance for employees of IT park resident companies, and will also bring wage tax rates into line with the employer’s expenses in the general regime. It is also proposed to abolish the condition for resident employees to have an insured income in the amount of 68% of the average monthly salary for the economy projected for the corresponding year in order to benefit from all types of social insurance benefits paid from the state budget. The only condition will remain the full fulfillment of all tax obligations provided for by law. The State Tax Service will distribute revenues from the single tax in the following ratio: 15% - to the income tax account of a legal entity, 10% - to the employee income tax account, 15% - to the account of compulsory health insurance contributions for employees, 55% - to the employee's social benefits account and 5% - to the employee’s individual investment accounts. At the same time, the single tax will not include local fees, real estate tax and road toll - the IT park employee will pay them separately. This change will eliminate the disparity between companies leasing offices and companies owning real estate, reduce the incentive for resident companies to purchase/register vehicles, and eliminate unnecessary losses in local government revenue. Another innovation is that the status of an IT park resident can be canceled at the initiative of the State Tax Service, based on an appeal to the park administration, as a result of a tax audit and a finding of violations of the law by the resident. At the same time, the law will provide guarantees that if amendments to the law are approved that change the rate and/or composition of the single tax withheld from residents of the IT park, the resident has the right to use the established tax regime until 2035 and work until entry due to new laws. Changes related to the tax regime in the IT park are proposed to come into force on January 1, 2026, the remaining amendments will come into force after the publication of the bill. The explanatory note to the project notes that according to the law, the activity of the IT park cannot exceed 10 years. The Moldova IT park, created in 2018, will be able to operate in the mode provided to it until the end of 2027, and the guarantees provided to it regarding the structure of the single tax in relation to residents expire in 2026. To ensure business predictability, it is necessary to clarify the period of operation of the park. The Ministry proposes to expand the tax regime of the IT park until 2035 - this will help attract investment and relocation of IT business to Moldova, especially in conditions of uncertainty in competitive markets. Consultations on the project are held until September 22: https://goo.su/ZjzO. // 15.09.2023 — InfoMarket.
