Iurie Cicibaba
Thus, another income tax benefit for employers is proposed. Similar to food vouchers, they will be able to give their employees vacation vouchers once a year in the amount of up to 50% of the average projected salary of the economy. The employee will be able to vacation in a Moldovan boarding house or hotel for these funds. This will also support domestic tourism, the authors of the amendments hope.
At the same time, the document notes that with the expansion of the range of deductible expenses, the employer has the right within the company to provide both season tickets for sports and reimbursement of living expenses in Moldovan tourist facilities. Therefore, it should choose only one type of expenses to be deducted.
In addition, it is proposed to allow the deduction of expenses incurred by the employer for the organization of alternative childcare services for children under 3 years of age. The amount of deduction of these expenses is set at MDL 2,500 for each child.
The draft law also provides for changes in the personal income tax. In particular, it proposes to cancel the taxation of non-resident individuals’ incomes received as interest or capital gains on state securities issued in Moldova. The amendment is aimed at equalizing the taxation of income of resident and non-resident individuals. Indirectly, it is aimed at attracting investments in government securities and increasing liquidity on the Moldovan financial market.
Another proposal concerns the collection of VAT on imported cars. It is proposed not to apply it to cars that are leased as of January 1, 2026. i.e., all leasing purchases made before this moment will not be subject to VAT. As for new cars imported before January 1, 2026, but not sold, it is not clear how this provision will be applied, experts note.
In general, their assessment of the proposed changes is positive. Business representatives saw positive signals in the fact that the Ministry of Finance heard their recommendations on transfer pricing. In particular, some definitions in the legislation have been changed. However, a controversial provision remains the provision that the enterprises, whose volume of transactions exceeds 20 million lei in a certain tax period, will have to submit transfer prices files only upon the request of the State Tax Service.
“The problem is that taxpayers will not understand it as abolishing the need to prepare annual price analysis,” says Iurie Cicibaba, partner of the international company Forvis Mazars Moldova. – Such inaccuracy may have the opposite effect”.
As for the proposal on vacation vouchers, the support of domestic tourism adds pluses, but why should one have to choose between sports and recreation, asks the specialist. “It’s not really logical,” Chichibaba believes. -If we want to achieve a reduction in payments in envelopes, we should encourage companies that pay their employees officially. It might make sense to limit the benefit. For example, allow a deduction of no more than half of an employee’s average salary and no higher than the average projected salary.”
On VAT on cars, a “wise decision” has also been taken. “Business proposed it, and the Ministry of Finance heard us,” continues Iurie Cicibaba. – But we are concerned about the complete abolition of excise taxes on cars due to the introduction of VAT from the new year. This is logical and understandable for new cars. But not with regard to old cars of five and more years old. We assume that they may now try to undervalue them at importation. Therefore, excise duty on cars over three years old could be reduced. Otherwise, we may face a situation where the budget loses, the environment worsens and disloyal competition between official dealers and those who import old cars grows”.
– All this can lead to the growth of the shadow economy in this industry, where it already exists,” he says. – And if we are talking about whitewashing the auto market, insurance is one of the effective ways to achieve it. Like CASCO led to the whitewashing of the market, first of all, repair works. Because the insurance company works only by enumeration. In addition to the direct impact, indirect effects are no less important in business, and you should treat them with utmost care.
The expert also wonders why the authors of the project left the price of a meal ticket within the old limits: from 35 to 70 lei. It has not grown for 3-4 years, although the legislation prescribes to increase it in accordance with the inflation rate.
Today, the National Bank of Moldova says that the use of cards is growing rapidly. “But coupons are one such tool for whitening the market,” explains Iurie Cicibaba. – The expansion of POS terminals came at a time when employers started issuing food stamps. These funds can be controlled. That is, payment by transfer reduces the risks of illegal payments and losses for the state”.
