"Controls exercised by Taxes and Customs have increased"/ Malaj: Government achievement, digitalization of administration

2026-03-30 13:03:00, Aktualitet CNA

"Controls exercised by Taxes and Customs have increased"/ Malaj:

Minister of Finance, Petrit Malaj, held a press conference on increasing revenues, improving digital services, and developing systems through Artificial Intelligence, as strategic objectives towards achieving European standards.

Also present at the conference were Besmir Beja, Director General of Customs, and Ilir Binaj, Director General of Taxation.

Malaj, during his speech, stated that compared to 2024, last year there was an increase in the control exercised by the Tax and Customs Directorate. Among other things, the minister described as the government's greatest achievement the digitalized administration, which according to him provides service at any time and at no cost.

"We have an increase in controls carried out by Taxes and Customs. On the part of the customs administration, we have a reduction in the time of physical controls in the Red Channel by 92 minutes compared to 2024. We have a faster release of goods on the Albanian market. The number of controls carried out on taxpayers has been 3707 inspections against 142,769 active taxpayers. We have an increase in the efficiency of controls and a reduction in the number of controls carried out physically. Controls are now carried out remotely through digitalized systems and there is no need for the presence of inspectors. We have a digitalized administration and at the service of citizens 24/7. There are 47 services offered by the customs administration and all are online. The tax administration offers 49 online services out of a total of 60. Within 2026, the remaining 11 services will be digitalized. Digitalization is one of the greatest achievements of this government, has increased the quality and services to citizens which are at zero cost. We have continued with the work regarding the formalization of the sectors that we have identified as at risk. It was the tourism, construction and hydrocarbons sectors. These initiatives that we have had have given concrete initiatives. Awareness of operators and remote monitoring have given tangible results. We have an increase in the personal income tax paid or health and social insurance contributions. We have a significant decrease in the phenomenon of declaring minimum wages. The next step will be to control the vehicle sector and the personal and aesthetic sector. It is a sector that we have identified as at high risk" , said Malaj. /CNA