eMAG group paid 900 million lei to the Romanian state, between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, according to the figures presented on Wednesday, June 4, at a press conference by Tudor Manea, CEO of the group of companies.
Asked by several journalists about the anticipated tax increases in Romania – in order to reduce the deficit – Manea said he does not want to comment yet. But he indicated a way in which the Government could collect up to an additional 1 million euros per day.
eMAG presented its balance sheet for the last fiscal year. In short: it increased its turnover by 12% (specifically, by 11.4 million lei) compared to the previous fiscal year. And it paid taxes to the state amounting to 900 million lei.
It could pay even more in the current fiscal year, if the Government were to increase taxes.
Asked by several journalists present at the balance sheet conference whether eMAG had created scenarios for tax increases, which increases would affect the companies in the group the most and which would be the most comfortable, Manea avoided giving a clear answer.
He only mentioned that eMAG had made some internal calculations, but will wait to see what decisions the Government makes regarding taxes, without prejudging.
Instead, he pointed out a market sector where the Government is losing a lot of money. And where firm measures should be taken. It is about the segment of online commerce occupied by Chinese companies like Temu and Shein, which deliver to Romania without having a fiscal presence here and without adhering to European quality standards.
When asked by one of the journalists how he sees the competition between eMAG and these companies, Manea stated:
"If we look from the customer's point of view, yes, we should consider a competition (between eMAG and those Chinese companies that deliver small-value parcels to us - ed.).
But when you look at them structurally, you can't really consider them as competition.
Because we don't play by the same rules. I don't receive subsidies from the Romanian state, as they receive from the countries they come from.
I pay customs duties on all the goods I bring, at least 10%. I have a legal entity registered in Romania. And I am supervised by all institutions in Romania and I must have compliance with all institutions in Romania.
If you add all these (difficult and expensive actions that the Chinese don't do - ed.), yes, those are the prices that customers prefer. (...)
I believe that the Romanian Government has the necessary tools to equalize the conditions. And I expect them to do so.
(...) I think it has already appeared in the public space: about 1 million euros are lost per day (because the state does not tax the Chinese retailers who deliver to us without any legal presence in Romania - ed.).
It would be quite unfair for them to come to us, impose taxes on labor and VAT (referring to the increase in these taxes that eMAG already pays - ed.) and not take those millions of euros from them," Tudor Manea added.