They don't pay state taxes, businesses in the north act without fiscal coupons

From this number, taxes in ATK pay only 255 businesses. From January to September this year, the value of taxes received from these businesses without pension contributions is 663 thousand euros, say administration officials.

The taxes are the main source of public income collection with which the state meets public exits.

But business registration figures differ from those of ATK.

In the Agency for Registering Business, (ARBK) agencies operating under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, it is said that 3,740 businesses are registered in the northern part of Kosovo.

According to ATK, these businesses may be registered, but are not active. Also, a number of businesses may not have completed the official disregisterment procedures in the ARBK.

Radio Free Europe reports that it has visited some of the active businesses in the northern part of Kosovo, whose owners have not wanted to be promoted before the microphone. However, they say they regularly pay tax obligations in the Kosovo Tax Administration.

According to them, the payments are realised under the structure of registered business, whether small, medium or large enterprises.

Unlike statements, the situation on the ground is quite different. Businesses in this part are not equipped with Fiscal Electronic Equipment, under which fiscal coupons are issued after each purchase. Once, they are obliged to broadcast periodic reports to the Kosovo Tax Administration.

One of the owners in the north even says that “does not issue fiscal vouchers like others, but that it regularly pays its tax duties based on circulation, as well as taxes on salaries for employees, which include taxes and pension insurance contributions”.

The process of placing fiscal crates in Kosovo started in 2009, and the goal of the Kosovo Tax Administration was to avoid tax evasion, as the potential of this system is to register all entrances and sales at a store.

But ATK officials have not provided any answers to the number of businesses equipped with fiscal equipment.

Failure to issue fiscal coupon and non-transmitting data to the Kosovo Tax Administration are punishable with law in force.

Kosovo Tax Administration officials claim that the approach of this institution in the four most inhabited Serb municipalities is not very comfortable if compared to other regions of Kosovo.

Valentina Bytyqi, spokeswoman in ATK, in a response to Radio Free Europe, says there are inspectors in that part of the Serb community who are authorised to carry out activities, inspections and surveillance. And despite the difficulties, she says, it has been achieved to carry out activities and to have access to businesses in that part.

Avoiding issuing fiscal coupons, enables businesses to flee tax duties, creating fiscal evacuations, organised crime and damage to Kosovo's budget, says Rrustem Abiti, former co-ordinator of the regional office in Mitrovica under the Kosovo Economic Overa.

He says businesses in the northern part of Kosovo are not accountable to the state of Kosovo.

In this part it is argued to avoid paying taxes, which then creates tax evasion. Kosovo's state has neglected this problem, as from avoiding Kosovo budget taxes it loses millions of euros.

The state has not acted properly on this issue, because where the police are, the tax inspector, the customs inspector and all should be. I'm saying this, as Kosovo Police operate in the north, certainly it has had to be accompanied by these institutions to collect mandatory taxes”, Abiti said.

But Valentina Bytyqi says ATK has had activities in the northern part as well, but not enough to implement the law in that area as well, because of security. However, in most cases during our activities we have had support from the Kosovo Police.

Unlike the post-war, official Pristina has failed to extend its entire state authority in the northern part of Kosovo.