According to Bercu, the classification of economic activities does not make a distinction that would exclude currency exchange bureaux from the application of the new tax rate.
“Because the classification makes no distinction regarding currency exchange bureaux, they still fall within the scope of this article. There could be a completely different effect to what is intended – namely, the collection of greater sums of money for the state budget – as currency exchange activities may move from the legal sphere into, shall we say, the grey area. At the same time, currency exchange bureaux are not going through the best of times and there is a risk that a great many will close, whilst the banking system could end up monopolising this activity as well. The risks are very high. And currency exchange is a fairly important activity for our citizens who come from abroad or who work here,” said Vlad Bercu.
For his part, Marcel Spatari, chair of the Committee on Economy, Budget and Finance, rejected the argument regarding the risk of a shift into the informal sector.
“I’ve heard you. I’m slightly bothered by the casual way in which we bandy about the argument of ‘a shift into the informal sector’. If we’re being responsible, show us that profits will fall, that there’ll be difficulties. But I don’t think the threat of a shift into the informal sector is the best argument,” said Spatari.
Corina Alexa, State Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, pointed out that, in the form in which the bill was passed at first reading, no exceptions are provided for currency exchange bureaux.
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