For the past five years, the same five companies are paying the largest amounts on the basis of value added tax (VAT) on an annual basis in BiH, and therefore they are filling the state budget the most.
What is particularly interesting is that on the list are mostly companies that perform service activities, while there are only a few of the ones from the real sector, particularly those engaged in the manufacturing industry.
According to the data of the Indirect Taxation Authority, which does not take into account the payment of the excise duties, tax credits or refunds of VAT, in all five previous years, as of the 31st of December 2016, the absolute leader in the payment of VAT was “Optima Group” Banja Luka, which owns Oil Refinery Brod, Oil Refinery Modrica and the chain of gas stations “Nestro petrol”. It is followed by BH Telecom Ltd Sarajevo, PE Elektroprivreda BiH Ltd Sarajevo, Tobacco Factory Sarajevo Ltd and Telecommunications of the RS ad Banja Luka.
Ratko Kovacevic, a spokesman for the Indirect Taxation Authority said that indirect tax revenues in 2016 amounted to six billion and 638 million BAM, which is an increase of 284 million BAM or 4.48 % compared to the same period in 2015 when they amounted to six billion and 354 million BAM.
“After the completion of VAT refunds to taxpayers, which amounted to one billion and 108 million BAM in 2016, the net collected revenues that went to customers on distribution during 2016, which are the state, entities and Brcko District, amounted to five billion and 530 million BAM, which is an increase of 271 million BAM compared to revenues that users got in 2015. For financing of state institutions in 2016 was allocated 750 million BAM. The rest of the funds ended in the entity registers as follows: for the FBiH a total of three billion and 31 million BAM, for the RS a total of one billion and 560 million BAM, and for Brcko District a total of 168 million BAM,” said Kovacevic.
(Source: akta.ba)