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Inspections start in January, no co-financing of costs

Merchants and hoteliers believe that we will abandon the introduction of fiscalization on January 1, 2013, but we will not because there is no reason for postponement, said Finance Minister Slavko Linić at today’s press conference on the Fiscalization Act.

The reason for such persistence lies in the fact that only 15 percent of entrepreneurs record their cash turnover, and this law should enable fair competition for all economic entities in the country.
– Six months is enough time for all participants covered by this law to adapt to the new way of doing business, and the previous daily cash turnover of 85 to 110 kuna in cafes is unrealistic, Linić believes.

Although in recent months the Guild of Hoteliers and Tourism Workers and the Guild of Trade of the Croatian Chamber of Trades hoped for co-financing of the costs of implementing fiscalization, the minister believes that this additional financial burden is not unbearable. -Although this is an additional burden, the costs of fiscalization are around 300 kuna per month, and annually between 1500 and 2000 kuna, said Linić.

Fiscalization is also supported by the majority of 1000 surveyed citizens in a survey on citizens’ attitudes towards fiscalization conducted by Ipsos agency. That combating the gray economy and tax evasion is the most important reform is considered by 38 percent of respondents, while 83 percent believe that the gray economy and tax evasion are very big and big problems in Croatia. Additionally, as many as 78 percent of respondents believe that tax evasion should be suppressed regardless of the consequences. Respondents agree that it is not fair for some to pay their obligations to the state while others cheat.

That is why, starting in January next year, the inspection will control the work of hoteliers and see how many of them have joined the fiscalization process. In the first round of checks, penalties for lawbreakers will not be so rigorous, but already in February, hoteliers and merchants who do not comply with the law will start being fined from 5 to 500 thousand kuna. Of the 22 thousand fiscalization obligors, only slightly more than 8700 have requested its introduction so the Ministry of Finance believes that there will be a last-minute rush.

Those hoteliers and merchants who do not have the ability to use the internet, which is necessary to connect the cash register with the Tax Administration server, will need to request confirmation from HAKOM and will keep a record book. The Ministry of Finance states that about 5 percent of such obligors exist. On the other hand, fiscalization obligors who experience an internet connection failure will have their turnover data recorded in the cash register, and only in the case of a cash register malfunction will they need to keep a book and report their accounts within two days. Linić also commented on the Real Estate Act, for which he also said there is no reason to abandon it.
-Campaign starts in January, and the government will decide what will happen in this regard – concluded Linić.