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Romania: Business, Taxation and Investment

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On this page:
- Romania Tax-News.com Coverage »
- Romania Tax Treaty Updates from TreatyPro »
- Romania Knowledge Base »
- Romania Comments »

 

Romania News Coverage

- 08/02/2012 FTT Will Hit UK Revenues Even With Opt Out
- 18/01/2012 EU Tax Burdens Stabilize
- 02/01/2012 Romania Receives World Bank Support For Fiscal Agenda
- 04/10/2011 Huge Variations Seen In Global Corporate Tax Rates
- 05/09/2011 Switzerland Submits 6 DTAs For Approval

More Romania Tax News »


Romania Tax Treaty Updates from TreatyPro

Treaty Update: Guernsey - Romania
16/12/2011
According to preliminary media reports, Romania's parliament on December 7, 2011, ratified the TIEA signed between Romania and Guernsey earlier this year.

Treaty Update: Romania - Switzerland
25/10/2011
According to preliminary media reports, the lower house of Romania's parliament, the Chamber of Deputies, on October 12 approved a law ratifying a protocol to the DTA signed between Romania and Switzerland.

Treaty Update: Luxembourg - Romania
10/10/2011
According to preliminary media reports, a protocol amending the 1993 DTA between Luxembourg and Romania was signed on October 4, 2011.

More Romania Tax Treaty Updates from TreatyPro »


Romania Knowledge Base

Geography, Climate, Population and Culture

Romania as a united entity (comprising the principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia) formed in the late 1850s, emerging from Ottoman rule, and taking its current name shortly thereafter. Its independence was recognised in 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin.In the First World War, Romania joined the Allied Powers, gaining control of Transylvania afterwards. Romania initially fought on the side of the Axis powers in WWII, although it later joined the Allies, and was occupied by the Soviet Union during and after the war, finding itself increasingly under Communist influence, leading to the formation of the ‘People’s Republic of Romania’, and the abdication of the king. Nicolae Ceausescu, in power from 1965 (until his overthrow and execution in 1989) oversaw decades of oppression and increasing poverty. The influence of Communism continued to dominate in the country until the mid-1990s, but. since 1996, Romania has increased ties with Western Europe. It joined NATO in 2004, and the European Union in 2007. Romania has a land area of 238,391 sq km, and is situated in South Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine. The population of Romania was estimated, in 2009, at 22,215,421.

[Further Information]

Government and Legal Structure

The capital of Romania is Bucharest, and the country is divided into 41 counties. The head of state is the President, which since December 2004 has been Traian Basescu, although he was suspended by a parliamentary vote in April 2007, but reappointed after a referendum the following much. The Prime Minister is the head of government, and is appointed by the President. Since December 2004, Calin Popescu has been the Prime Minister. The bicameral Parliament comprises the Senate (or Senat) and the Chamber of Deputies. The legal system is based on civil law, and has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.

[Further Information]

 

The Economy

Romania joined the European Union in 2007, and after decades under Communist rule, and a period of oppression and poverty under the regime of Nicolae Ceausescu (until his overthrow and subsequent execution in 1989), the country has increased ties with Western Europe, and is increasingly embracing free market policies. GDP was estimated at USD271.4 billion in 2008. However, GDP growth has slowed subsequently, as the Romanian economy felt the impact of the international financial crisis. The Romanian authorities hope to be ready to adopt the euro in 2014.

[Further Information]

Company Forms

Company forms available in Romania, include the Limited Liability Company (SRL), the Joint Stock Company (SA), the General Partnership (SNC), Limited Partnership (SCS), and Partnership Limited by Shares (SCA). Sole Proprietorships, Family Associations, and Branches also exist. The most commonly used company for resident businesses is the Limited Liability Company, which must have minimum authorised share capital of RON200, and can have just one shareholder.

[Further Information]

Tax System

The corporate income tax rate is 16%, but a 3% rateis imposed on qualifying small companies (which must have between 1 and 9 employees, an annual turnover of less than EUR100,000, and must be either engaged in 'productive activity', or in the provision of brokerage, banking, insurance, or consultancy services). A 16% withholding tax is imposed on dividends paid to non-resident companies (reduced to 10% for payments to other EU countries in 2009), unless exemption is available under the terms of the EC parent-subsidiary directive. The standard VAT rate is 19%. There is a reduced rate of 9%, which applies to medicines, some books and newspapers, certain accommodation related services, inter alia, exports are zero rated, and there are also various exemptions.

[Further Information]

Lowtax Opportunities

There are no low tax opportunities as such available in Romania, as following entry to the European Union in 2007, tax incentives which had been available for investment in Free Trade Zones and Industrial Parks, and for significant cash investments likely to have an economic impact, were withdrawn. However, various measures are available to qualifying entities, including preferential treatment of tax on gains (although there is no capital gains tax as such) on shares listed on the Romanian stock exchange, accelerated depreciation, and tax benefits with regard to reinvested profits.

[Further Information]

Holding Companies

Tax consolidation, either domestic or cross-border, is not permitted in Romania.

A 16% withholding tax is imposed on dividends paid to non-resident companies (reduced to 10% for payments to other EU countries in 2009), unless exemption is available under the terms of the EC parent-subsidiary directive.

[Further Information]

Tax Treaties

A 16% withholding tax is imposed on dividends paid to non-resident companies (reduced to 10% for payments to other EU countries in 2009), unless exemption is available under the terms of the EC parent-subsidiary directive. Additionally, a 16% withholding tax is imposed on interest or royalties paid to nonresident companies. However, under transitional rules contained in the Interest and Royalties Directive, Romania is authorized not to apply the exemption from withholding tax until 31 December 2010. During this transitional period, the Romanian withholding tax on payments made to a company in another member state can be up to 10%, although treaties in place with other countries may affect this. In 2007, Romania had more than 70 Double Tax Treaties in place.

[Further Information]

Internet and Telecommunications

Liberalisation of the telecommunications sector concluded in 2003 has led to rapid expansion of the market, in particular with regard to wireless services. In 2007, there were an estimated 4.3 million fixed lines in operation, and approximately 22.8 million mobile phones. Internet users in 2007 numbered an estimated 12 million (2007).

[Further Information]

Banking System

The currency is known as the New Leu (RON); prior to the currency reform of 2005, an earlier Leu (ROL) was in place. RON1 is equal to ROL10,000. The central bank is the National Bank of Romania, which has primary responsibility for monetary and exchange rate policy, ensuring financial stability, oversight of the country's credit institutions, and the issuing of currency. Foreign banks play a significant role in the Romanian banking sector.

[Further Information]

 


Lowtax Network Comment System

To ask a question or if you have an opinion you want to share: start a new thread, or reply to a thread below:

Topic: Romania
The best solution for a Romania based company to work in the EU countries?
What is the best solution for a Romania based company to work in the EU countries? I work as programmer fro my company in different EU countries and recently I take one contract for 1 year in Slovakia. I have to register and pay taxes in Slovakia if I will stay there more than 183 days or is not mandatory? Basically I will work in Slovakia for my company, but on behalf of my client: German company. So all of my invoices are to the German company not to a Slovak one, and all of the income will be from Germany. Thank you for advice.  
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Topic: Romania
ROMANIAN-GREEK COMPANY- ESTABLISHMENT
What is the best solution to choose Romania or Greece as establishment for company with business in both countries. Greece has an increased taxation against Romanian which is in general 16% so Romania is preferred. The problem now arises as what taxation will be paid for business activities that took place in Greece.  Konstantinos the Greek
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Topic: Romania
What is the best solution for a Romania based company?
What is the best solution for a Romania based company with 2 associates: 1 romanian and 1 french. The activity of the company is worldwide and we are looking for an optim financial solution to simplify the tax system of our company.
The activity of the company is management and consulting services.  
Read Replies | Reply | Start New Thread
Topic: Romania
Countries where interest earned on savings is not taxed?
Can anybody provide a list where income from savings interest is not taxed. (ie. Bahamas, Hong Kong, etc)  Benj
Read Replies | Reply | Start New Thread

 



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