Romania’s Decree Extending Tax Pool Not Directed Against True Creators – PM

The prime minister said the emergency decree amending the Fiscal Code, which extends the tax pool and introduces social security contributions for income gained from copyright, target people who use copyright abusively. He mentioned drivers who use copyright only to be exempt from paying social security contributions.

Boc said that in 2010, a total EUR3.3 billion, which were supposed to be used for investments, had to be transferred to the pension budget, because contributions to the state budget had not been paid. He highlighted that an online payment system will be implemented starting September to ease taxpayers’ access to information and help them pay taxes rapidly.

Many artists, writers, graphic designers, moviemakers and translators in Romania said they will stage protests and will not pay the new taxes on copyright royalties until the decree overtaxing gains from copyright is annulled. The also said they will not spend days queuing to pay these taxes, as an online system is not yet available.

The emergency decree amending the Tax Code was approved by the Senate on Tuesday.