Bislimi: Taxpayers must face an honest and efficient ATK

The Kosovo Tax Administration (ATK) today, in a virtual media conference, presented the results of the 2019 taxpayer survey, stating that compared to previous years (2015-2017), the difficulties of TAK procedures have decreased in all areas, especially for refunds.

TAK leaders emphasized that the assessment of the perception of individual taxpayers and businesses was made regarding the work and services provided by TAK, as well as the availability of information from TAK, difficulties and time reports for TAK procedures.

The Director of TAK, Ilir Murtezaj, emphasized that several actions have been taken at TAK during the past year with the aim of improving work processes and improving the integrity of the TAK institution.

However, Murtezaj said that despite the achievements in recent years at TAK, commitment to services to taxpayers is still required.

"We as an institution are not satisfied with ourselves, but on the contrary, we have taken many actions during 2019, and at the beginning of 2020, with the aim of improving work processes and improving the integrity of the TAK institution. I am highlighting some of the measures we have taken during 2019 and 2020, such as punitive measures against officials for whom administrative violations have been found, while for criminal behavior, cases have been filed with the relevant justice bodies," declared Murtezaj.

Meanwhile, the acting Minister of Finance and Transfers, Besnik Bislimit, emphasized that the survey results show that there are improvements and that in these 20 years, great work has been done in ATK, and it is on track for further improvements.

Minister Bislimi claims that what taxpayers need to be assured of is that the country has an efficient and honest Tax Administration, which would reduce the cost of doing business and promote the fight against corruption.

"Continuous changes in the tax system are not productive and create uncertainty. One of my priorities is to intervene in the tax system as rarely as possible, even if only to improve the shortcomings that have been identified. Another element that I must ensure to taxpayers, whether businesses or consumers, is that they are faced with an efficient and honest Administration, since this greatly reduces the cost of doing business, and with this I think that we must fight corruption. As far as I know, whenever there are complaints about tax officials who have exceeded their competences, they immediately suspend them. This makes me optimistic for the coming years," Bislimi declared.

He also emphasized that as Ministers, they had very good intentions, including to reduce the informal economy because business needs fair competition, but according to him, the pandemic has ruined the plans.

He noted that last month alone, 10 workers registered for the first time, compared to this, there is a decrease in unemployment of about 200 percent.