The new draft budget for 2026 is expected to increase several taxes and duties that will directly affect citizens' pockets. Excise duties on consumer goods such as beer, oil and coffee will increase by 1.5%, while the carbon tax will go from 3 lek to 4.5 lek per kilogram. This will affect the increase in energy prices and daily consumer products.
There will also be significant growth for the technology sector, where the profit tax will go from 5% to 15%, removing this industry from the current tax relief benefits.
However, the government also provides for some relief. Ten-year obligations and fines will be forgiven until 2014, while for the remaining years there will be conditional relief. For farmers, the VAT compensation is increased to 10% of the value of sales invoices, to promote the formalization and competitiveness of domestic production. In the real estate sector, the revaluation tax is proposed to be reduced from 15% to 5%.
The fiscal package also includes changes to tax procedures, introducing the use of electronic signatures for administrative acts, online publication of business data, lowering the limit for cash payments, and the obligation to equip with "POS" terminals.
The combination of tax increases and relief measures aims to raise additional revenue for the budget, but will have a noticeable effect on the prices of goods and the costs of living for citizens and businesses.
