The project has been dubbed “tax policy – 2026”, although Moldova has had a clear tradition of preparing such a document for many years. According to it, the draft is developed by the Ministry of Finance, in preliminary consultation with professional and business associations, which prepare their proposals. The finance ministry evaluates them from the point of view of their impact on budget execution and, if possible, includes them in the document. It is then discussed in public debates and then goes to the government and parliament, where deputies make their adjustments or proposals.
This year, the procedure was understandably shortened, which was perceived differently by representatives of the business community. Many were not embarrassed by this. Especially since in the summer, before the end of the mandate, the previous parliament approved a package of tax changes to the legislation, which Radu Marian mentioned the other day as tax policy – 2026. He emphasized that it was the third year in a row that the government approved the tax policy in the summer. And assured that this calendar will be followed next year as well.
Others, on the contrary, saw this as a “breaking of tradition”, which allowed businesses to more actively promote their proposals. But all unequivocally complained about the too short timeframe for the adoption of the project, which would make its discussion “formal”. Although the proposals themselves were generally assessed positively, with some exceptions.
As specified in the explanatory note to the draft, it is designed to eliminate legislative inconsistencies, clarify provisions and stimulate certain sectors of the economy through tax adjustments. “Business is always open for a dialog with the authorities and welcomes legislative initiatives that are aimed at improving the economic situation in the country as a whole and for individual enterprises and citizens,” commented Svetlana Slobodeanu, auditor, international certified accountant, doctor of economics, “Unfortunately, despite numerous requests addressed to the government to maintain legislative stability and constancy in the application of tax mechanisms, we have been observing and forced to participate in constant and The proposed additions to tax policy for 2026 look more like correcting previous flaws than implementing strategic, truly necessary measures.”
The expert community evaluated the proposal for the right to deduct the cost of electrical installations and networks donated under Law No. 164/2025 on Electricity. “We believe that it would be consistent to designate here also the gratuitous transfer of water supply and sewerage systems, according to Law No. 303/2013 on the public service of water supply and sewerage. And also gas installations and networks, according to Law No. 108/2016 on natural gas,” she continues. – And to prescribe a clear mechanism and procedure for documenting the right to deduct such, certainly significant, losses”.
At the same time, experts consider the increase in the threshold for mandatory registration of VAT payers – from 1.2 million lei to 1.5 million lei – to be insignificant. “Recall, the threshold of 1.2 million lei was introduced in 2018,” notes Svetlana Slobodeanu. – I think everyone will agree that for 8 years the level of price growth in our country has far exceeded 25%, that’s how much the authors propose to raise it”.
Andrei Jizdan, Doctor of Economics, Director of Jizdan & Partners, agrees with his colleague: “The business community appreciated this decision, given that the threshold has not been adjusted for many years,” he says. – At the same time, we believe that the increase should be more significant, as this threshold does not take into account inflationary processes and current economic realities. Moreover, the threshold of 1.2 million lei was set for the application of the 15% single tax, which is designed for entrepreneurs who carry out independent activity, the so-called freelancers. If we assume that a freelancer can reach an annual turnover of 1.2 million lei, it is all the more obvious that representatives of the small enterprise sector can easily exceed an annual turnover of twice as much. We believe that this ceiling should be reviewed annually as part of the fiscal policy, in order to comply with the current economic realities.”
“It is not clear why for the popular norm on the deduction of education expenses of individuals, despite the apparent increase in the absolute amount (from the current 16.1 thousand lei to the proposed 20 thousand lei), the limit remains, which is not linked to the number of persons trained,” continues Svetlana Slobodeanu. – As before, regardless of the number of children, an individual has the right to deduct a certain amount of education expenses for the whole year. But from the next year the taxpayer’s own education will be added to the deduction. True, within the same limit.”
Regarding the benefit of deferring the payment of income tax from entrepreneurial activity for small and medium-sized enterprises, the specialist notes: “Despite the fact that the norm is initially contradictory and ambiguous, which is confirmed by repeated changes, and its effect should end in 2025, the authors propose to “extend” it for another 2026. In our opinion, this is not an extension of the benefit, but the introduction of a new mechanism, as the cost criteria for enterprises that can apply it are changed, and the list of “exceptions” to this right is significantly expanded. In particular, it is proposed that enterprises engaged in trade cannot take advantage of the tax deferral. If the legislator still insists on these changes, we believe it would be advisable to introduce them as new norms in Article 87 of the Tax Code, rather than “layering” on the mechanism already worked out for 3 years”.
A lot of disputes in the professional community was caused by the proposal of the authors of the project to leave in force the use of excise duty on imports of cars and to postpone the introduction of the norm on VAT, which was to be applied from January 1, 2026. The reason is insufficient preparation of the information system of the Customs Service for adequate assessment of their customs value. Svetlana Slobodeanu proposes to look at this fact from a different angle.
“It’s not even about conceptual disagreements on the application of excise duties or VAT,” she says. – It is depressing that since 2023, when the norm on the introduction of VAT was approved, nothing has been done to make the legal mechanism work”.
Logos Press will continue to comment on the draft tax changes proposed for 2026. Keep an eye on our publications.
