The Minister of Finance stated that the proposed measure, which stipulates that the minimum monthly salary cost for each owner-director of a company should be greater than 10,000 kuna per month, does not work against entrepreneurship, and that it has not yet been fully defined whether this measure will be included in the tax reform package.
“I regret that the conclusion is being drawn that something is being done against entrepreneurship. We have implemented numerous measures as a result of dialogue with entrepreneurs, during which we listened to and adopted their comments. I have even been criticized many times for engaging in dialogue with entrepreneurs too often,” Marić told reporters.
He emphasized that his ministry has independently designed and implemented many measures to promote entrepreneurship in the broadest sense. “We are now entering the next round of tax relief where, from the entire set of measures, nine laws are in public consultation, the focus has fallen only on one which is also in public consultation. Therefore, nothing has been fully defined,” he pointed out.
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In response to the remark that everyone is being punished instead of just those who circumvent regulations, Marić asserted that entrepreneurs are the backbone of the Croatian economy, and that no problem in society can be solved without strong entrepreneurship.
“That is why we have directed all administrative measures to facilitate, relieve taxes, and create things that will help. We cannot always be sure from the start that we have hit the right measure and the right effect, which is why we are going through a democratic procedure in public consultations. Based on the comments we have received, it is certain, and tax experts agree, that the topic is well addressed, but there is a way to regulate it appropriately and we will do that,” the minister stated.
Nothing in the tax reform has been defined yet and nothing is sacred scripture
He added that the public consultation lasts until September 6, that there is enough room for the exchange of opinions and comments, that on Thursday he has a meeting with representatives of the Croatian Employers’ Association, and he believes that he will also manage to meet with union representatives.
“After that, both the government and parliamentary procedures follow, and nothing at this moment is defined yet and nothing is sacred scripture,” announced the Minister of Finance, adding that the tax reform should be viewed in its entirety considering that citizens will also feel certain tax reliefs.
Regarding property tax, Marić said that he understands the dissatisfaction of Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandić and other mayors due to its non-introduction, as it was intended to be their original revenue source.
However, he notes, “at this moment, this is not the focus of the tax reform, but rather the greatest relief for both the economy and citizens in the segments where they will feel the greatest benefits of the reform, which at this moment amounts to a relief of three billion kuna.”
