Against the backdrop of the Romanian state’s revenue collection issues, Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare strongly criticized the National Agency for Fiscal Administration, which he considers dysfunctional and lacking transparency.
Alexandru Nazare stated that the level of tax collection in Romania is very low compared to other Eastern European countries.
"ANAF has been dysfunctional not just recently, but for years. It is an opaque structure. Taxpayer assistance does not work as it should," the minister said on Antena 3.
Among the means of change that can be implemented within ANAF structures, the minister suggested the establishment of a helpline.
"ANAF should also provide assistance. To explain things. To explain to taxpayers the various situations they request. Not to hunt them down, but to help them," Nazare emphasized.
He also criticized the fact that the institution is unaware of certain sectors of the market.
"It should know, in detail, the business market, across various segments. Because the better you know the industries, the better you understand what is happening in those industries. And this is a more profound effort.
Unfortunately, ANAF has neither done this nor been encouraged to do so. We have not accepted to acknowledge that we have a problem. To acknowledge where it comes from. And after acknowledgment, of course, measures for remediation can follow," Nazare concluded.
In early June, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan announced that he appointed new leadership at the National Agency for Fiscal Administration (ANAF).
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Thus, Adrian Nicușor Nica, former head of the Prime Minister's Control Body, was appointed to lead ANAF, replacing Nicoleta Cîrciumaru.
Bolojan also indicated dissatisfaction with the agency's performance so far, although ANAF claims to have exceeded the budget revenue collection target in the first half of the year.
The agency announced that it collected net budget revenues totaling 245.22 billion lei in the first half of this year, an increase of 12.20% compared to the same period last year.