For a year, citizens spent 58m euros on car delivery

In general, 20 thousand and 689 cars were imported last year. Of them, 17 thousand and 340 are used cars, and 3 thousand and 349 new cars.

According to Kosovo Customs data, of the total of 183m euros, more than 129 million have been spent on used cars, while close to 54m euros for new cars.

As for the purchase of cars, citizens spend a considerable amount of money later on progress.

Based on official data, from the process of running these vehicles, Kosovo Customs has collected close to 58m euros (57m and 953m euros). Of them, about 22m euros have been charged only by customs and excise duties, while another 36m euros have been collected by TVS (The State Value Tax).

Customs has registered close to 10 million and 500 thousand euros, only from the distribution of 3 thousand and 349 new cars that are not subject to all taxes. It is estimated that the owners of new cars, on average, have paid taxes worth 19.4 percent of the car price.

In addition to the distribution of 17 thousand of the 340 cars used, which are subject to customs, excise and TVS, citizens have paid 47.5m euros. The owners of these cars, on average, have paid taxes worth 36.7 percent of the car's basic price.

Of the total of 47.5m euros in taxes paid for used cars, 21m euros (approximately 9m euros have been paid for excise only, while more than 12m euros for customs duty).

Without an accounting for TVS, this represents 44 percent of the total amount that Customs has been running from the distribution of used cars.

Current laws in effect, in Kosovo, allow the import of old cars up to 10 years.

Free Europe Radio has made a simple estimate, in the online calculator of Customs and the GAP Institute, of the sum a citizen must pay to put, freely and legally, a car bought abroad in circulation.

The estimate is made by taking an example car worth 5,000 thousand euros, with engine volume under two thousand cubes and older 10 years.

According to the calculator, for such a car distribution costs two thousand and 316 euros. Of this, a thousand and 116 euros go to T VSH, for taxing in import 500 euros and another 700 euros per excise.

When safety (simply) and registration (side with road tax, billboards), usually cost about 250 euros, the total cost of the vehicle registration documentation usually amounts to about $2,600.

In a simplification, for a car worth 5 thousand euros, bought abroad, a citizen should pay at least half that amount, only for documentation needed to put his car loose and legitimate on the streets of Kosovo.

Currently, vehicle import customs is 10 percent, T VSH 18% and excise are counted according to engine volume and production year.

Former Customs Director and field connoisseur Naim Huruglica estimates the taxes are not too high.

However, he acknowledges that they are not in line with the economic standard of the majority population in Kosovo, as, according to him, most citizens cannot afford to buy new cars, which are released from the excise.

When it comes to old or used cars, then the tax and excise application starts, which goes up gradually according to car age. I wouldn't say that our taxes are very expensive, but the problem is that our people, in general, don't have the economic power to buy new cars and it's always the orientation to used cars and that's why they're subject to paying these obligations,” estimates Huruglica.

The idea of placing the excise, according to Dogan's former first, has been to discourage citizens from buying old vehicles.

However, Huruglica's taxes on car import are also linked to the filling of the state ark, for according to him, Kosovo would find it very difficult to replace the taxes it collects.

The problem is, basically, it's true that we have accysis, which is very much a burden to those who don't have the power for a newer car, but I also see a budget problem. The revenues coming from the import of cars are a very important category and it's difficult for the Government to immediately lower it or completely remove it because it's a problem to replace those taxes that come from this product”, he explains.

Huruglica adds that with the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, which Kosovo has signed with the European Union, the decrease in customs duties year-on-year is provided, and, in 2021, it is envisioned to be one per cent. / REL