{"id":5614,"date":"2016-08-02T12:32:48","date_gmt":"2016-08-02T12:32:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/test_manager\/doing-business-in-albania\/"},"modified":"2019-07-10T11:06:35","modified_gmt":"2019-07-10T11:06:35","slug":"doing-business-in-albania","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/managersoffice.net\/el\/doing-business-in-albania\/","title":{"rendered":"Export Tips: Doing Business in Albania"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Albania has a population of 2.8 million inhabitants (September 2011) which consists mainly <\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000033; font-size: small; line-height: 1.3em;\">of ethnic Albanians (97%).<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The remainder are of Greek, Macedonian, Gypsy, Roma, and<span style=\"color: #000033;\"> <span style=\"color: #000033; font-size: small; line-height: 1.3em;\">other descent.<br \/>\nAlbania has a relatively young population; the average age is 35.3 years.<br \/>\n<\/span><br \/>\n<\/span> <span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\"> <strong>RELIGION<\/strong> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">There are three principal religions in Albania, namely Islam (58% of the population, mostly<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">belonging to the Sunni sect), Orthodox (6%) and Roman Catholic (10%). Albania is known<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">for the tolerant and peaceful co-existence of its religious communities.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">LANGUAGE<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">The official language is Albanian, which is written in Latin script and has 36 letters. Due to<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Albania\u2019s proximity to Italy, many Albanians speak Italian. English is becoming increasingly<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">spoken.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">GOVERNMENT<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Albania is a parliamentary republic. The parliament (<em>Kuvendi Popullor<\/em>), composed of 140<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">members, holds the legislative power. The executive power is held by the Council of<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Ministers, which is chaired by the prime minister, who is appointed by the president of the<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">republic upon the approval of a parliamentary majority. Ministers are appointed and<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">removed by the president of the republic, upon the proposal of the prime minister. The<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">president of the republic is elected by the parliament for a five-year term and may be reelected<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">only once. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">CURRENCY<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">The Albanian currency is Lek (ALL), although US dollars (USD) and Euros (EUR) are<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">frequently used in business transactions. At 31 December 2014 closing exchange rates<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">were:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">EUR 1 = ALL 140.14<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">USD 1 = ALL 115.23<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">There is no specific law regulating the payments system in Albania. Payments between<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">private individuals and legal entities are considered to be part of a civil-law relationship<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">and are subject to the Albanian civil code. The use of foreign currency is allowed as a<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">means of payment. There are no constraints on trading with hard currency.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">All commercial banks licensed by the Bank of Albania may carry out foreign payments. The<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Bank of Albania, which is responsible for managing the foreign currency reserves, is also<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">active in performing international payments. Every local or foreign person may own an<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">unlimited number of accounts in any currency, in any bank in the country.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">SOURCES OF LAW<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">The sources of law in Albania are the constitution, ratified international conventions, the<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">acts of parliament, and the normative acts of the Council of Ministers. The territorial<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">jurisdiction of the acts of local governments extends only within the territory where the<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">local government exercises its jurisdiction. The normative acts of ministers and other<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">government institutions apply only within their area of material jurisdiction.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">JUDICIAL SYSTEM<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">The Albanian judicial system is composed of 29 courts of first instance, six courts of appeal,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">one military court of appeal, the Supreme Court, and the constitutional court.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Albania is a member of the Council of Europe and a party to the European Convention on<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Human Rights. Consequently the Albanian government may be held liable in front of the<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">European Court of Human Rights. As a member of the United Nations (UN), Albania is a<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">party to the Statute of the International Court of Justice. Albania has ratified the Rome<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Statute of the International Criminal Court. Albania is also a party to the European<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Convention on International Commercial Arbitration.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">ECONOMY<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">OVERVIEW<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Albania is one of Europe\u2019s developing countries. The government has been pursuing full<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">integration into the Euro-Atlantic community for several years. In June 2006, Albania<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">signed a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union as the first step<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">toward EU membership, as well as a free trade agreement giving Albanians duty-free<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">access to key EU markets and opening the country to imports. In April 2009, Albania also<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">achieved full membership to NATO.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">From 16 December 2010, Albanian citizens holding a biometric passport may freely travel<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">in the Schengen area without need of a visa.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">With the global economic slowdown, Albania has been affected during recent years and<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">the economic growth for 2013 was only 0.44%, the lowest since 1997.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">The negative effects of the global crisis could mainly be seen in the reduction of<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">remittances sent by emigrants to their families in Albania (remittances in 2014 totaled EUR 592 million against EUR 952 million in 2007 (the highest).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Albanian GDP growth saw a sharp slowdown in 2010 and 2011, but started picking up in<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">2012 and continues to rise (2.42\u00a0 in 2014 and 3.18 estimated in 2015).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Albania\u2019s financial sector has grown rapidly and credit is generally allocated on market<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">terms. Banking is increasingly dominated by foreign banks, which account for about 90% of<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">total assets. This has led to more competition and better availability of services.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Supervisory regulations have been strengthened to preserve financial stability. In response<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">to the global financial crisis, the Central Bank of Albania acted to increase liquidity and<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">maintain public confidence. With little or no direct exposure to recently troubled<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">international financial assets, Albania\u2019s banking system has been able to withstand the<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">global financial shock with little disruption.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">ECONOMIC ZONES<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Economic zones \u2013 both free zones and industrial parks \u2013 encompass every kind of<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">economic activity which can be carried out under the main business laws (except when<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">activities may have bad impact on the environment or the Albanian national heritage).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">The activities in the Economic zone may be carried out by Albanian or foreign persons<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">(physical and legal), subject to licenses released by the economic zone\u2019s administration.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Administration of assets (concession) in economic zones, whether public or private<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">property, as well as services and\/or activities of national or local interest, can be subject of<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">licenses. This is accomplished through an agreement by which the administration of the<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">economic zone (developer) transfers for a period of a maximum of 35 years to the<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">operator, the operation right and duty of the management of the assigned asset , in<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">exchange for an amount which will constitute income for the respective administration.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Users can be physical or legal persons or developers and operators must be legal persons.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Developers and operators, as well as users, can be Albanian or foreign persons; the law<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">treats them with no discrimination, giving them the same rights and same duties.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">The Law on Economic Zones is highly favourable to investments and it gives palpable<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">incentives to business. Services, products and other goods which are introduced in the<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">economic zones or will be exported to other countries, benefit from custom duties<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">exemption as well as exemption from VAT payment. These exemptions apply only to<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">economic zones which do not have the status of an industrial park.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">INDUSTRIAL PARKS<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">According to Law no. 9789\/2007, the industrial park is defined as a precisely determined<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">area where industrial production and service activities are performed with special<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">incentives, for the purpose of optimising the human and material potential within an area.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">The creation of an industrial park is based on a joint venture agreement between the<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">public authorities, economic agents and\/or other interested partners. Industrial parks may<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">be managed by commercial companies, set up in accordance with Law no. 9789\/2007.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">FREE ZONES<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">According to Law 9789\/2007, free zones are expressly delimitated, having a specific<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">customs regime which limits customs only to the borders of such areas. The setting up of<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">the territorial area of the free zones, customs offices and border police points is carried out<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">pursuant to a government decision granted upon each proposal.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Means of transportation, products and other goods are accepted within the free zones<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">with no restrictions concerning the country origin, or destination country. The import of<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">goods which are subject to prohibitions under Albanian laws or international agreements<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">to which Albania is a party, is nevertheless forbidden.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">TAXATION<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">LEGAL FRAMEWORK<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Since 1995, following the process of the opening and liberalization of the market, the<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Albanian government, supported by the IMF, European Union, the Treasury Department of<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">the United States of America and other organisations, has adopted a series of tax laws.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Currently, the legal framework regulating the tax system in Albania is based on:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">\uf0b7 Law No. 9975 \u2018On the national taxes\u2019 dated 28 July 2008 and subsequent amendments<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">\uf0b7 Law No. 9632 \u2018On the local taxation system\u2019 dated 30 October 2006 and subsequent<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">amendments<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">\uf0b7 Law No. 8438 \u2018On the income tax in the Republic of Albania\u2019 dated 28 December 1998<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">and its subsequent amendments<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">\uf0b7 Law No. 92\/2014 \u201cOn the Value Added Tax\u201d effective on 1 January 2015<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">\uf0b7 Law No. 8976 \u2018On the excise duty\u2019 dated 12 December 2002 and subsequent<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">amendments<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">\uf0b7 Law No. 9920 \u2018On the tax procedures in the Republic of Albania\u2019 dated 19 May 2008 and<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">subsequent amendments.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Electronic declaration is obligatory from January 2011.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">TAX ON PROFIT<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">The Law No. 8438 \u2018On the income tax in the Republic of Albania\u2019 (Law 8438), dated 28<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">December 1998 and subsequent amendments which came into force on 21 January 1999,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">has substantially changed the tax system.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Law 8438 governs direct taxes on natural and legal persons.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Liable to the tax on profit are:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">\uf0b7 Companies, corporate groups, consortiums and institutions<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">\uf0b7 Albanians and foreigners who conduct a business in Albania \u2013 all those that are subject<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">to value added tax payments (\u2018legal persons\u2019).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Law No. 8438 establishes the criterion of territoriality i.e. all sources of income are taxable,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">even if sourced abroad. Subject to income tax are legal persons having their headquarters<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">(residence) in Albania, as well as legal persons not resident in Albania, but still having<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">sources of income produced in Albania. A legal person\/entity is considered as a resident<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">where they have a registered office or place which has the effective management of their<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">affairs in the country.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Since January 2014, small entrepreneurs (natural persons or legal entities) which have a<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">gross annual turnover up to ALL 2 million will pay tax on profit to the amount of an ALL<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">25,000 per year flat fee, payable by 30 June of the actual year.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">For other small entrepreneurships, making a turnover between ALL 2\u20138 million per year,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">the tax on profit is 7.5%.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">For all other companies, the tax on profit is 15%.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">DOING BUSINESS IN ALBANIA <strong>41<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Law 8438 introduced a list of non-deductible expenses. Items which cannot be deducted \u2013<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">among others \u2013 are:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">\uf0b7 Costs inherent to the acquisition, improvement, renovation and reconstruction of<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">depreciable assets<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">\uf0b7 Payments for voluntary social security contributions<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">\uf0b7 Capital increases<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">\uf0b7 Corporate dividends<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">\uf0b7 Interest on loans that exceed the average rate declared by the Bank of Albania<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">\uf0b7 Sponsorships that exceed 3% of income before tax and book sponsorships that exceed<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">5% of untaxed income<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">\uf0b7 Personal consumables, gifts or fines<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">\uf0b7 Arrears and penalties<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">\uf0b7 Pay and any other form of compensation related to employment, payment of which is<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">not made through the banking system etc.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">\uf0b7 Any other expense that is not documentable.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">The tax on dividends distributed by companies, consortiums or groups of companies that<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">have their headquarters or that actually manage their economic activity in Albania is not<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">applied in respect of persons that:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">\uf0b7 Are subject to VAT<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">\uf0b7 Own no less than 25% of the shares\/quotas or of the right to vote and not less than 25%<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">of the initial share capital of the company, consortium or group.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Tax authorities have discretionary powers to redefine the tax to be paid (in advance) if they<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">believe the current year\u2019s profits are higher by at least 10% over the period of reference.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Tax evasion and false accounting are punished with a fine equal to 100% of the difference<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">between the owed and the stated amounts.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">PERSONAL TAXATION<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Since January 2014, the tax on personal income from employment was shifted back to a<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">progressive taxation system (as it used to be before 2007).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Personal tax has the following brackets for a monthly gross salary:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Up to ALL 30,000 0%<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">From ALL 30,001\u2013130,000 13%<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Above ALL 130,000 23%<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">(ALL = National currency LEK)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">The following are required to pay tax on their entire income:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">\uf0b7 Residents<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">\uf0b7 People treated as residents.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Non-residents are subject to tax only on income earned in Albania.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">On other income subject to taxation, for which there are no specific law provisions, a 10%<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">flat tax rate applies.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">VALUE ADDED TAX (VAT)<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">The introduction of VAT was approved by the Albanian Parliament in April 1995 and<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">entered into force on 1 July 1996. This law was substituted by the current Law no. 92\/2014<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">\u201cOn the Value Added Tax\u201d effective on 1 January 2015.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Significant efforts were made to narrow down the differences of the previous law with the<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">European Laws in the new Law.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">According to current requirements all legal and natural persons performing taxable<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">supplies that have an annual turnover exceeding ALL 5,000,000 are subject to pay VAT.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Taxpayers are required to register within the first 15 days of the start of their economic<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">activity. Natural persons and legal entities operating in the import\/export industry are<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">required to register regardless of the amount of their annual turnover. A special office<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">dedicated to VAT registration operates in each district tax office.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">According to the Decision of the Council of Ministers No. 18 dated 12 January 2011, natural<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">persons or legal entities which exercise liberal professions (as defined by law) such as<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">lawyers, accountants, architects, doctors etc, are always subject to VAT, no matter their<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">annual turnover.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">The VAT rate is 20%. The taxable amount is the value of provided goods and services<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">excluding VAT. The taxable amount of imported goods includes transportation costs and<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">insurance, import costs, taxes, duties or tariffs.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Law No. 92\/2014 states that VAT is equal to 0% in some cases, including:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">\uf0b7 Exports of goods outside Albanian territory<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">\uf0b7 Services performed outside the Republic of Albania by a person whose place of business<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">or place of residence (if individual) is located in Albania<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">\uf0b7 Provision of goods or services relating to international carriage of persons or property<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">\uf0b7 Provision of goods or provision of services relating to commercial or industrial shipping.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Under certain circumstances, the fiscal authorities make a discrete assessment of the VAT<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">payable amounts and give written notice to the taxpayer. A taxpayer wishing to contest the<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">amount of such obligations shall, in any case, first pay the disputed amount and only then,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">within 30 days from the date of notice\u2019s receipt, present their case in front of the Taxes<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">General Directorate. This body will inform the applicant, through a written reply, about<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">whether their application has been accepted or rejected.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Law No. 92\/2014 grants to taxpayers who export goods, the right to request a VAT refund<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">in cases of a credit higher than ALL 400,000 (EUR 3,200) for three consecutive months. The tax credit will be repaid by authorities within 60 days of the taxpayer\u2019s request.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000033;\">Manager\u2019s Office<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva;\">Financial Dept<\/span><\/strong><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Albania has a population of 2.8 million inhabitants (September 2011) which consists mainly of ethnic Albanians (97%).<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7882,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":""},"categories":[153],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v15.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Export Tips: Doing Business in Albania - Manager&#039;s Office<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/managersoffice.net\/el\/doing-business-in-albania\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"el_GR\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Export Tips: Doing Business in Albania - 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