The Moldovan government approved the draft amendments to the fiscal policy for 2022.
As Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita noted, this document is intended to maintain predictability and stability in terms of taxes and to help increase income growth of citizens, since it provides for an increase in the amount of personal exemption for taxpayers, doubles the amount of exemption for dependents (children), stipulates an increase in the minimum wage of public sector employees from 2200 to 3100 lei. At the same time, according to the prime minister, changes in the amount of excise taxes are made only on some tobacco products, since this is provided for by Moldova's obligations under the Moldova-EU Association Agreement. “But basically all taxes will remain unchanged next year,” the head of the Cabinet said. As Finance Minister Dumitru Budianschi explained, in particular, the draft amendments to fiscal policy for 2022 are aimed at consolidating budget revenues, supporting economic recovery and ensuring social protection. The main measures included in the project are related to the consolidation of the legal framework, adjustment of the regulatory framework in the tax and customs sphere in order to simplify it. The draft amendments to the fiscal policy for 2022 provide, in particular, that from January 1, 2022, all 100% of income from road use fees will be transferred to local budgets. Herewith, the amount of personal exemption for taxpayers of individuals in 2022 will be increased by 7.1% - from 25.2 thousand to 27 thousand lei, the amount of additional and increased exemption will be increased by 4.8% - from 18.9 thousand to 19.8 thousand lei, and the amount of exemption for dependents (children) will double - from 4.5 thousand to 9 thousand lei per year. Meanwhile, the minimum wage for public sector employees will increase from 2200 to 3100 lei. It is also planned to increase the excise tax on certain tobacco products for 2022 and 2023 in order to bring the excise tax rate on these products in line with the minimum excise tax rate for filter cigarettes or without it. In particular, it's about revising the amount of excise taxes on other cigars, cigarillos and cigarettes containing tobacco substitutes, as well as cigars, cut-off cigars and cigarillos containing tobacco. Earlier it was assumed that for these two headings the excise rate for 2021-2023 will amount to 41% of their value in lei. At the same time, it is planned to revise and increase the size of these excise taxes in order to standardize them and ensure the implementation of the provisions of the Moldova-EU Association Agreement. It is proposed that in 2022 the amount of excise taxes on other cigars, cigarillos and cigarettes containing tobacco substitutes, as well as cigars, cut-off cigars and cigarillos containing tobacco should be 41% of their value in lei, but not less than 959 lei, and in 2023 - 41% of their value in lei, but not less than 1103 lei. In addition, it is planned that in 2022 Moldova will introduce excise taxes on liquids intended for use in electronic cigarettes. It was agreed that the excise tax on liquids intended for use in electronic cigarettes will be 1957 lei per liter. Moldova will also abolish from 2022 the fee for the provision of mobile services in the amount of 1.5% of sales revenue related to these services. It is also envisaged to increase the amount of income tax withheld at the source of payment on winnings in gambling, from 12% to 18%, to cancel the exemption from income tax withheld at the source when purchasing scrap metal, paper, plastic, etc. In addition, amendments to the budgetary and The tax policy for 2022 envisages improving the tax regime of water users associations for irrigation, revising the method of calculating depreciation for residents of information technology parks, and clarifying the tax regime of income received by the administration of the information technology park. The changes adjust the provisions regarding local taxes, in accordance with the decision of the Constitutional Court of September 14, 2021, stipulate the non-application of an additional excise tax to vehicles imported for medical purposes, etc. // 19.11.2021- InfoMarket.
