Tax Newsflash

Law approving GO 8/2013 published

Law no. 168/2013 (hereinafter the Law) to approve Government Ordinance no. 8/2013 on amendments to the Fiscal Code and regulations of some fiscal-financial measures (the Ordinance or GO 8/2013) has been published in the Official Journal of Romania (no. 310 of 29 May 2013). The provisions of the Law are applicable starting 1 June 2013, except for those related to consolidation of fiscal results of permanent establishments (please see details in the Corporate income tax section below), which will enter into force starting 1 July 2013. We list below the most important changes that the law makes to the Fiscal Code and to the Fiscal Procedure Code.

Issue 290

Legea de aprobare a OG 8/2013, publicat

n Monitorul Oficial nr. 310 din 29 mai 2013 a fost publicat Legea nr. 168/2013 (n continuare Legea) privind aprobarea Ordonanei Guvernului nr. 8/2013 pentru modificarea i completarea Codului Fiscal i reglementarea unor msuri financiar-fiscale (Ordonana sau OG 8/2013). Prevederile legii intr n vigoare la 1 iunie 2013, cu excepia prevederilor referitoare la consolidarea rezultatelor fiscale ale sediilor permanente (detalii n seciunea Impozit pe profit de mai jos), care vor intra n vigoare ncepnd cu data de 1 iulie 2013. V prezentam n continuare principalele modificri aduse Codului Fiscal i Codului de Procedur Fiscal de ctre Lege.

Corporate income tax

The Law states that assignment daily allowances for employees are fully deductible for corporate tax purposes, given that such amounts are taxed at the level of the employees, in accordance with the provisions in the Fiscal Code on personal income tax and compulsory social security contributions, applicable as from 1 February 2013. Clarifications have been made with respect to the deductibility of the net book value of fixed assets used by taxpayers applying IFRS accounting standards and which carry out exploration and production activities related to oil, gas and other mineral substances.

Impozit pe profit

Este eliminat limitarea deductibilitii cheltuielilor cu diurna la calculul impozitului pe profit, avnd n vedere c aceste sume sunt impozitate la nivelul salariailor potrivit noilor prevederi din Codul Fiscal referitoare la impozitul pe venit i contribuii sociale obligatorii , aplicabile ncepnd cu data de 1 februarie 2013. Au fost aduse clarificri privind deductibilitatea valorii fiscale rmase neamortizate a mijloacelor fixe n cazul contribuabililor care aplic reglementrile contabile conforme cu IFRS i care desfoar activiti de explorare i producie a resurselor de petrol, gaze i alte substane minerale. ncepnd cu data de 1 februarie 2013, deductibilitatea cheltuielilor cu amortizarea mijloacelor de transport persoane care au cel mult 9 scaune de pasageri, incluznd i scaunul oferului, a fost limitat la 1.500 lei/lun. Legea introduce exceptri de la aceast limitare, pe baza acelorai criterii ca i n cazul limitrii la 50% a deductibilitii din perspectiva impozitului pe profit i TVA a cheltuielilor cu achiziia, funcionarea i ntreinerea i reparaiile acestor mijloace de transport. Astfel, sunt exceptate, printre altele, vehiculele utilizate exclusiv pentru servicii de urgen, paz i protecie sau curierat, vehiculele utilizate de agenii de vnzri i de achiziii, vehiculele utilizate pentru transportul de persoane cu plat, vehiculele utilizate pentru prestarea de servicii cu plat, inclusiv nchiriere i leasing operaional.

As from 1 February 2013, deductibility of depreciation expenses related to vehicles with a maximum of 9 seats, including the drivers seat, has been limited to 1,500 lei/month. The Law has introduced exemptions from this limitation, based on the same criteria as for the general 50% deductibility limitation for corporate income tax and VAT purposes, applicable to the acquisition, functioning and maintenance and repairs of such vehicles. Thus, the exempt categories of vehicles include those used exclusively for emergency services, security and protection, and courier services, vehicles used by sales and acquisition agents, vehicles used for transportation of persons for consideration, as well as vehicles used for rendering services involving consideration, including rental services and operational leasing.

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Starting 1 July 2013, non-resident legal entities carrying out their activities in Romania through several permanent establishments (PEs) may consolidate the income and expenses of their PEs. To do this, the amounts should be consolidated at the level of a PE designated by the nonresident.

ncepnd cu data de 1 iulie 2013, persoanele juridice strine care i desfoar activitatea prin intermediul mai multor sedii permanente n Romnia vor avea posibilitatea consolidrii veniturilor si cheltuielilor sediilor permanente respective. Pentru aplicarea acestor prevederi, persoana juridic strin va trebui sa desemneze un sediu permanent la nivelul cruia se va realiza consolidarea. Sediile permanente participante la consolidare vor finaliza perioada fiscal curent pn la data de 30 iunie 2013, urmnd ca declararea, calculul i plata impozitului aferent perioadei 1 ianuarie 2013 30 iunie 2013 s se realizeze pn la data de 25 iulie 2013. Pierderile nregistrate care nu au fost recuperate pn la data de 30 iunie 2013 se vor transmite sediului permanent desemnat, urmnd a fi recuperate pe perioada rmas, astfel: pierderea aferent perioadei 1 ianuarie 2013 - 30 iunie 2013 va fi inclus n calcul la stabilirea rezultatului fiscal pentru perioada 1 iulie 2013 - 31 decembrie 2013, ultima jumtate a anului 2013 nefiind considerat perioada fiscal separat; 2013 va fi considerat un singur an fiscal din prisma recuperrii pierderile anterioare anului 2013.

All existing PEs are required to close the current fiscal period by 30 June 2013 and to calculate, declare and pay their corporate income tax for the period 1 January 2013 30 June 2013 no later than 25 July 2013.

Tax losses incurred in previous periods which have not been recovered as at 30 June 2013 will be transferred to the designated PE and will be recovered in the remaining period, as follows: The loss incurred for the period 1 January 2013 - 30 June 2013 will be taken into consideration when calculating the fiscal result for the period 1 July 2013 31 December 2013, the second half of 2013 not being regarded as a separate fiscal period. 2013 will be regarded as one fiscal year for the purpose of recovering the losses incurred prior to 2013.

Tax on micro-enterprises
The Law clarifies that taxpayers which do not meet the conditions for applying the tax on micro-enterprises are not subject to the provisions of this tax regime. Previous legislation stated that these taxpayers were not required to apply the tax on microenterprises, which could have led to the interpretation that an option did exist in this respect.

Impozitul pe veniturile microntreprinderilor

Se clarific faptul c persoanele juridice romne care nu ndeplinesc criteriile pentru aplicarea impozitului pe veniturile microntreprinderilor nu intr sub incidena prevederilor referitoare la acest impozit. Anterior, era prevzut c acestea nu sunt obligate s aplice acest sistem de impunere, ceea ce putea duce la interpretarea c ar exista posibilitatea unei opiuni. Sunt introduse, de asemenea, noi exceptri de la aplicarea impozitului pe veniturile microntreprinderilor:

Additional exemptions are also introduced with respect to the application of the tax:

Companies in dissolution by liquidation. Newly established companies which intend to carry out activities which are exempt from applying this tax regime starting from the moment they register with the Company Registry. Newly established companies which at the moment of registration with the Trade Registry have subscribed a share capital of at least the equivalent in RON of EUR 25.000 have the option to pay corporate income tax.

societile aflate n dizolvare cu lichidare; societile nou-nfiinate care, ncepnd cu data nregistrrii n registrul comerului, intenioneaz s desfoare activiti exceptate de la aplicarea acestui sistem de impunere; societile nou-nfiinate care, la data nregistrrii n registrul comerului, au subscris un capital social reprezentnd cel puin echivalentul n lei al sumei de 25.000 euro, pot opta pentru plata impozitului pe profit.

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Tax on income derived by non-residents

Provisions on the income derived by non-residents from Romania in respect of services rendered outside Romania, previously introduced in the Norms to the Fiscal Code by Government Decision no. 84/2013, have been incorporated into the Fiscal Code, gaining the power of a law. Therefore, withholding tax will apply to income derived by non-residents from services of any type rendered in Romania, as well as services rendered outside Romania, the latter being limited to management services, consultancy in any field of activity, marketing services, technical assistance services, research and design services in any field of activity, advertising services irrespective of the form in which they are realized, as well as services rendered by lawyers, engineers, architects, notaries, accountants and auditors. Income from international transport and ancillary services are nontaxable.

Impozitul pe veniturile nerezidenilor

Prevederi cu privire la veniturile obinute de nerezideni din servicii prestate n afara Romniei, introduse n Normele metodologice de aplicare a Codului Fiscal prin Hotrrea Guvernului nr. 84/2013, au fost preluate n Codul Fiscal, cptnd putere de lege.

Astfel, intr sub incidena impozitului cu reinere la surs veniturile din servicii prestate n Romnia de orice natur, precum i serviciile prestate n afara Romniei, limitate la servicii de management, servicii de consultan n orice domeniu, servicii de marketing, servicii de asisten tehnic, servicii de cercetare i proiectare n orice domeniu, servicii de reclam i publicitate indiferent de forma n care sunt realizate i servicii prestate de avocai, ingineri, arhiteci, notari, contabil i, auditori. Nu sunt impozabile veniturile din transportul internaional i prestrile de servicii accesorii acestui transport.

The 50% tax rate, applicable from 1 February 2013 for income paid in a country with which Romania has not concluded a treaty for the exchange of information will be applicable, as provided under the Law, only if the income is paid in relation to transactions that are classified as artificial under the provisions of Article 11 (1) of the Fiscal Code. As provided under GO 8/2013, artificial transactions are defined as arrangements or a series of arrangements that do not have economic substance and would not ordinarily be employed in what is expected to be reasonable business conduct, their primary purpose being the avoidance of taxation or to benefit from fiscal advantages that would not be derived otherwise.

Cota de impozit de 50%, aplicabil ncepnd cu data de 1 februarie 2013 pentru veniturile pltite ntr-un stat cu care Romnia nu are ncheiat un instrument juridic n baza cruia s se realizeze schimbul de informaii, se va aplica, potrivit prevederilor Legii, numai n situaia n care aceste venituri sunt pltite ca urmare a unor tranzacii calificate ca fiind artificiale conform art. 11 alin. (1) din Codul Fiscal. Potrivit prevederilor OG 8/2013, tranzaciile artificiale au fost definite ca tranzaciile sau seriile de tranzacii care nu au un coninut economic i care nu pot fi utilizate n mod normal n cadrul unor practici economice obinuite, scopul esenial fiind de a evita impozitarea ori de a obine avantaje fiscale care altfel nu ar putea fi acordate.

Personal income tax and social security contributions

Clarifications have been made with respect to the tax treatment of assignment allowances and other similar amounts, payable to employees during their delegation or secondment for personal income tax and compulsory social security contributions purposes:

Impozit pe venit i contribuii sociale zzzzzzzzzz

Sunt aduse o serie de clarificri cu privire la tratamentul aplicabil indemnizaiilor i altor sume similare pltite salariailor pe perioada delegrii sau detarii, din perspectiva impozitului pe venit i contribuiilor sociale obligatorii :

Transport and accommodation expenses are not assimilated in allowances paid to employees for the period they are assigned. Expenses related to assignment allowances are fully deductible when calculating the annual net income from independent activities, given that amounts exceeding 2.5 times the amount set by government decision for staff

Cheltuielile de transport i cazare nu sunt asimilate indemnizaiilor pltite salariailor pe perioada delegrii sau detarii. La stabilirea venitului net anual din activiti independente, cheltuielile cu diurna sunt integral deductibile, n condiiile n care sumele care depesc limita a de 2,5 ori nivelul legal pentru personalul din instituiile publice sunt
3

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working in public institutions are taxed at the level of the employees, in accordance with the personal income tax and compulsory social security contributions provisions in the Fiscal Code applicable as from 1 February 2013.

impozabile la nivelul salariailor, avnd n vedere c aceste sume sunt impozabile la nivelul salariailor potrivit noilor prevederi din Codul Fiscal referitoare la impozitul pe venit i contribuii sociale obligatorii, aplicabile ncepnd cu data de 1 februarie 2013.

Allowances and other similar amounts are also taxable, based on the same criteria, for employees of the representative offices in Romania of non-resident legal entities. Allowances received by employees of non-resident employers during their assignment in Romania for business purposes are non-taxable up to the limit set by government decision for employees of Romanian public institutions working in the country of residency of the employer if they are assigned to that country.

Indemnizaiile i alte sume de aceeai natur sunt impozabile n aceleai condiii i pentru angajaii reprezentanelor din Romnia ale persoanelor juridice strine. Indemnizaiile primite de salariaii care au stabilite raporturi de munc cu angajatori nerezideni, pe perioada delegrii i detarii, n Romnia, n interesul serviciului, sunt neimpozabile n limita nivelului legal stabilit prin hotrre a Guvernului pentru ara de reziden a angajatorului nerezident, de care ar beneficia personalul din instituiile publice din Romnia dac s -ar deplasa n ara respectiv.

The Law also makes further amendments to the taxation regime for agricultural activities introduced by the Ordinance (e.g. forestry, commercial fishing, natural pastures and hayfields, cultivation of fodder plants), as well as changes to the non-taxable levels (e.g. for apiculture and for growing sheep and goats) and to the standard notional income levels for certain agricultural activities. The scope of application of social security contributions has been extended to cover individuals deriving taxable income from independent activities, agricultural activities, forestry, fishing and associations without legal status. Thus, compulsory social security contributions are due in relation to such income, if the income is taxable under the Fiscal Code. Previously, social security contributions were due only if the income was taxable under Title III of the Fiscal Code (Personal income tax).

Legea aduce modificri i sistemului de impunere a activitilor agricole introdus prin OG 8/2013, aducnd clarificri cu privire la activitile supuse impozitrii (ex. silvicultur, pescuit comercial, puni i fnee naturale, cultivarea de plante furajere), precum i modificri ale nivelurilor neimpozabile (ex. apicultur i creterea ovinelor i caprinelor), respectiv ale normelor de venit pentru unele activiti agricole. Sfera de aplicare a contribuiilor sociale este extins n cazul persoanelor care realizeaz venituri impozabile din activiti independente, activiti agricole, silvicultur, piscicultur, precum i din asocieri fr personalitate juridic. Astfel, se prevede c persoanele care obin astfel de venituri datoreaz contribuii sociale obligatorii pentru veniturile realizate, dac aceste venituri sunt impozabile potrivit Codului Fiscal. Anterior, contribuii sociale erau datorate numai dac veniturile erau impozabile potrivit titlului III (Impozitul pe venit).

Value added tax

The application of the reverse charge for supplies of cereals and technical plants has been extended by one year, until 31 May 2014 inclusive. Nevertheless, to continue to apply this derogation from the VAT Directive, Romania needs an authorization from the Council of the European Union, which apparently has not been received as at the date when the Law was published. Moreover, at the end of February, the European Commission objected to an extension of the derogation.

Taxa pe valoarea adugat

A fost prelungit cu un an (pn la 31 mai 2014) termenul pn la care se aplic taxarea invers pentru cereale i plante tehnice. Cu toate acestea, pentru a continua s aplice aceast derogare de la prevederile Directivei TVA, Romnia are nevoie de autorizarea Consiliului Uniunii Europene, care se pare c nu a fost obinut pn la data publicrii legii. Mai mult dect att, la sfritul lunii februarie, Comisia European a ridicat obiecii privind extinderea termenului de aplicare a derogrii.

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Excises
Beer
The criteria under which small independent producers of beer can obtain a specific reduced excise duty rate is annual production not exceeding 200,000 hl/year (previously, the criteria was the nominal capacity). Small independent producers of beer must provide the relevant authority with a statement detailing annual production, no later than 15 January of each year. The current excises duty rates for beer (0.8228 euro/hl/1 Plato degree, and the specific reduced excise duty rate of 0.473 euro/hl/q Plato degree applicable for small independent producers) are applicable until 31 December 2015 inclusive. (Under previous legislation these were due to apply up to 31 December 2017).

Accize
Bere
Criteriul n baza cruia micii productori independeni de bere pot beneficia de acciza specific redus este producia anual ce nu depete 200.000 hl/an (anterior, criteriul era capacitatea nominal). Acetia au obligaia de a depune la autoritatea competent, pn la data de 15 ianuarie a fiecrui an, o declaraie pe propria rspundere privind producia pe anul n curs. De asemenea, nivelurile actuale ale accizei pentru bere (0,8228 euro/hl/1 grad Plato, respectiv acciza specific redus pentru micii productori independeni de 0,473 euro/hl/1 grad Plato), se aplic pn la data de 31 decembrie 2015 inclusiv (fa de 31 decembrie 2017 anterior).

Guarantee
The Law states that the guarantee may not exceed the threshold that will be established through the norms, for each group of excisable products that are manufactured or stored. Until now only a minimum level of guarantee was defined.

Garanie
Valoarea garaniei pe care trebuie s o constituie antrepozitarii fiscali, destinatarii i expeditorii nregistrai nu poate fi mai mare dect cuantumul care va fi stabilit prin normele metodologice, n funcie de grupa produselor accizabile ce urmeaz a fi realizate sau depozitate. Pn acum era prevzut numai un nivel minim al garaniei.

Conditions for authorisation of tax warehouses

In the case of manufacture of energy products, the request for authorisation must be accompanied by a report which should contain semi-finished and finished products included in the manufacturing nomenclature and also their field of use. The report must also contain the assimilation of these products with the equivalent excisable products. This report can be made by institutions or companies which have CAEN codes 7112, 7120 or 7490 in their manufacturing nomenclature and which have implemented quality standards ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS18001.

Condiii de autorizare a antrepozitului fiscal

n cazul produciei de produse energetice, cererea de autorizare trebuie s fie nsoit de un referat care s cuprind semifabricatele i produsele finite nscrise n nomenclatorul de fabricaie, precum i domeniul de utilizare al ac estora. Referatul trebuie s cuprind si o rubric aferent asimilrii produselor din punct de vedere al accizelor. Referatele pot fi ntocmite de institutele sau societile comerciale care au nscris n obiectul de activitate una dintre activitile cu codurile CAEN 7112, 7120 sau 7490 i au implementate standardele de calitate ISO 9001, ISO 14001 i OHSAS 18001. Astfel de institute sau societi comerciale pot realiza i studiile privind coeficienii maximi de pierderi specifice activitilor de depozitare, manipulare, distribuie i transport al produselor accizabile. Studiile deja realizate i depuse la autoritatea competent nainte de intrarea n vigoare a Legii 168/2013 i menin valabilitatea.

Institutions or companies are also entitled to perform studies in relation to the maximum specific losses for storage, handling, distribution and transport activities, at the request of tax warehouse keepers.

Offenses
The sale of excisable products at prices which are lower than the costs incurred for the production, import or putting them on the market is no longer considered an offense, in the following cases:

Contravenii
Nu mai este considerat contravenie practicarea de preuri de vnzare mai mici dect cele ocazionate de producerea, importul sau desfacerea produselor accizabile, n urmtoarele cazuri:

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The sale of excisable products under excise duty suspension agreements. The sale of excisable products which are subject to international quotations or which are listed on the stock exchange.

comercializarea produselor accizabile n regim suspensiv de la plata accizelor; comercializarea produselor accizabile pentru care exist o cotaie internaional sau bursier.

Fiscal Procedures and other provisions

Following the introduction of the designated permanent establishment concept, non-resident taxpayers carrying out their activity in Romania through one or more PEs registered with the tax authorities as at 30 June 2013, are required to submit a tax registration statement to the tax authorities, along with a list of all PEs which are registered for tax purposes, also stating the designated PE. The return must be submitted within the period 1 July 31 July 2013. PEs which are registered with the tax authorities as at 30 June 2013 and do not meet the criteria for being registered as taxpayers for salary taxes (i.e. having at least 5 employees), will have their fiscal registration numbers cancelled. The tax authority where the designated PE is registered will have administrative competencies in this respect.

Procedur fiscal i alte prevederi

Ca urmare a introducerii noiunii de sediu permanent desemnat, contribuabilii nerezideni care desfoar activiti pe teritoriul Romniei prin unul sau mai multe sedii permanente nregistrate fiscal pn la data de 30 iunie 2013 sunt obligai s depun, n perioada 1 31 iulie 2013, declaraia de nregistrare fiscal, care va fi nsoit de lista tuturor sediilor permanente nregistrate fiscal i care va indica sediul permanent desemnat.

Pentru sediile permanente nregistrate fiscal pn la data de 30 iunie 2013, care nu ndeplinesc condiiile prevzute de lege pentru a fi pltitor de salarii i venituri asimilate salariilor (cel puin 5 salariai), codul de nregistrare fiscal va fi anulat. Competena de administrare revine organului fiscal pe a crui raz teritorial se afl situat sediul permanent desemnat.

The deadline for submitting tax returns for income from carrying out agricultural activities that are taxed based on notional income (Form 221) has been postponed until 25 June 2013. Previously, the deadline was 25 May 2013. The methodology for establishing the standard notional income for agricultural activities, applicable as of 2014, will be issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development within 120 days from the date the law was published.

Termenul de depunere al Declaraiei privind veniturile din activiti agricole impuse pe norme de venit (formular 221) este prelungit pn la 25 iunie 2013. Anterior, termenul era 25 mai 2013. Metodologia de stabilire a normelor de venit pentru veniturile din activiti agricole, aplicabile ncepnd cu anul fiscal 2014, va fi elaborat de Ministerul Agriculturii i Dezvoltrii Rurale n termen de 120 de zile de la publicarea legii.

For more details please contacts us:

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2013 KPMG Romania S.R.L., a Romanian limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.