Tax

Hungary could become the world's first country to levy usage of the Internet after its Economy Minister Mihály Varga proposed the move on Wednesday.

A fee of HUF 150 (EUR 0.48) will be imposed on providers for each 1GB of Internet data if the plans are approved.

The measure is not envisaged to affect the consumer, but could possibly push providers to announce bill hikes.

Tax on special structures as well as other rates and taxes could be reanalysed when the Romanian Government's tax revenue collection reaches between 37 -38 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), up from a current 32-33 per cent, Economy Minister Constantin Nita told a taxation conference on Wednesday.

Turkey may create new taxes to deter luxury consumption and raise domestic savings, representatives from the Finance Ministry have said.

By Prokopis Hatzinikolaou and Nikos Roussanoglou

The current 24 percent level of the value added tax is too high, and it is the main item of tax avoidance; the VAT should be reduced to the previous level of 19 percent, presidential candidate Klaus Iohannis of the Christian Liberal Alliance said on Wednesday in a campaign stop in Curtea de Arges (northwest of Bucharest).

An Albanian Ministry of Finance spokesperson told BIRN that a new lottery, aimed at tackling tax evasion, will be "launched officially in April 2015".

BELGRADE - The Serbian parliament on Friday passed by a majority vote the amended bills on public property and tax procedure and tax administration.

Also adopted were bills confirming an agreement between the governments of Serbia and Moldova on mutual assistance in customs matters and a loan agreement between Serbia and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

By Prokopis Hatzinikolaou

The government is planning to ease the tax burden on corporations as part of a drive to rekindle growth by increasing foreign investment and encouraging domestic entrepreneurship.

Over 400,000 tax> cases remain pending at the country’s administrative courts, with half of them yet to receive a date for their hearings, according to a report presented on Thursday by the Business Environment Observatory of the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV).

Judicial authorities are expected to launch an investigation into claims by International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde that she received death threats after pushing for a crackdown on Greek tax evasion, Kathimerini understands.

Justice Minister Haralambos Athanasiou sent a letter to Lagarde, asking her to provide details about the threats, it emerged Tuesday.