Miro Džakula, Director General of the Indirect Taxation Authority (ITA) of B&H, told "Dnevni Avaz" yesterday that the collection of indirect taxes (VAT, excises, customs and tolls) in the past 11 months compared to the same period last year decreased by about 700 million KM!

What is the reason

According to him, revenues from indirect taxes for the period January-November 2020. amounted to six billion and 598 million KM and are lower by 696 million KM or 9.55 percent compared to 2019.

In November alone, 29 million KM less taxes were collected compared to the same month last year. The situation is such due to the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences on the business of companies, import and export of goods and services.

- The biggest drop in income happened in April and May, in the period when many taxpayers were completely closed due to the epidemiological situation caused by the COVID-19 virus. In April 2020., revenues were lower by 23.26 percent compared to the same month in 2019. - said Džakula.

Gradual recovery

In May this year, revenues were down by 31.93 percent in comparison to the same month last year.

- After that, the situation with revenues from indirect taxes is gradually improving, and in November this year, revenues from indirect taxes were 4.54 percent lower than in the same month in 2019. But, in addition to that, the Administration is doing everything to maintain fiscal stability - said Džakula.

Better than the region

Džakula says that, when you look at the entire region, B&H still stands well and is among the best. He told us that the IMF, which began negotiations on the loan, did not demand anything regarding the distribution of funds from the single state account.