News about State budget and taxes

In just two days, Andy Burnham secured the support of a majority of Labor Party MPs and is expected to become the next prime minister of the United Kingdom following Keir Starmer’s resignation. Such a rapid start left potential rivals with almost no chance. However, the closer Burnham gets to power, the more questions arise about what his government will look like and what course it will take.

At a meeting in Brussels, Spanish Finance Minister Carlos Cuervo promoted a plan for joint EU borrowing totaling 850 billion euros, believing that the timing was ideal for creating reliable assets.

From January 1 through June 30, 2026, the State Tax Service, as part of measures carried out in accordance with its legal authority to manage and appraise confiscated goods under its jurisdiction, sold confiscated goods totaling 854,500 lei.

Since it will be possible to pay local fees using a QR code starting next year, the code will be included on seven types of relevant payment notices. The authors of the amendments emphasize that this will simplify the tax payment process.

The implementation of the new law on vehicle compliance certification will require additional spending and an expansion of the administrative apparatus; however, the government has not disclosed how much this will cost.

The Moldovan Parliament approved, in the first reading, by a vote of 63 in favor from members of the PAS, Democrația Acasă, and the Alternativa bloc, a bill to ratify the Convention Establishing the International Commission for the Examination of Claims by Ukraine, signed in The Hague on December 16, 2025

Starting with the 2027 tax year, payment of land tax, property tax,  garbage collection fees, and other types of local fees will be possible by scanning the QR code printed on the new standard payment notice forms.

The maximum period of service in the civil service after retirement will be extended to 7 years. The legislative initiative aims to retain experienced professionals within the system, ensuring continuity of personnel and the effective transfer of accumulated experience to younger colleagues.

Experts from the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Technical Assistance (OTA) are assessing the possibility of launching a project in Moldova to strengthen the system for combating financial fraud.

In Moldova, the government—one of whose major projects was a tax reform scheduled for 2027—has resigned. Some criticized this reform, while others supported it; it was the subject of political bargaining, and various declarations and statements were made. But let’s be honest: no one ever really explained to the average person exactly how they would benefit from all these rates, charges, and withholdings.

During the first six months of 2026, the Criminal Investigations Department of the Moldovan Customs Service opened two criminal cases aimed at combating the illicit trafficking of tobacco products, documenting the activities of four criminal groups and identifying more than 15 individuals involved.

The Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization is continuing its policy of reducing excessive regulation in the private sector by streamlining the permitting system. The ministry has developed a major initiative that includes amendments to 29 government resolutions. The document has been released for public consultation.

On June 26, 2026, the Iași Court of Appeals handed down a final ruling in a major case involving the smuggling of cigarettes from Moldova. The most serious charge, involving an organized criminal group, was dropped against all 21 defendants. Eight of them will not face criminal charges. The rest received reduced sentences on the merits of the case, some of which were suspended. The case lasted ten years.

From January through June 2026, revenues administered by the Customs Service totaling 20,384.38 million lei were collected for the state budget. This represents an increase of 1,362.28 million lei (+7.2%) compared to the same period in 2025.

In this regard, the Ministry of Finance has released a document for public consultation on the mechanism for applying VAT and excise taxes to goods imported into Moldova from the region.

Non-governmental organizations in Moldova are proposing to increase the donation rate from 2% to 3.5% and to encourage donations via text message.

AmCham proposes maintaining the VAT exemption for international mail.

From June 29 to July 5, 2026, revenue from the Customs Service to the state budget totaled more than 858.8 million lei, which is 103% higher than the target for the reporting period.

Effective January 1, 2027, the design of the “Excise Stamp/Consumer Stamp” for alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, and related goods will change. The amendments have been published and have taken effect.

The Parliamentary Secretariat is conducting a series of tenders to procure catering services for official delegations.