The Republic of Moldova will enter 2027 with a new package of tax and customs measures that provides for increases in certain taxes and excise duties, changes to VAT rates, the introduction of new fees, and expanded tax benefits for certain categories of taxpayers. Parliament has adopted the tax and customs policy package for next year, and the Ministry of Finance estimates that the measures will generate approximately 5.1 billion lei in additional budget revenue. The largest contributions are expected to come from excise duties and VAT.
According to the document submitted to Parliament and reviewed by BANI.MD, one of the most significant changes concerns fuel excise duties. Diesel excise duties are set to increase by 20% in 2027, while excise duties on most other excisable goods, including petrol, are due to rise by 10%. The increase in diesel excise duties could put pressure on pump prices, affecting transport companies, farmers, and businesses that use large quantities of fuel. However, a 20% increase in excise duty does not automatically mean that diesel prices will rise by the same percentage, as the final price also depends on international quotations, exchange rates, and other price components.
Significant changes are also planned for the taxation of personal income. The annual personal allowance is set to increase from 29,700 to 40,020 lei, reducing the taxable income base for eligible individuals. For taxpayers entitled to the full personal allowance who have sufficient taxable income, the increase could mean annual tax savings of approximately 1,238 lei, or 103 lei per month.
By contrast, the taxation of investment income will become stricter. The tax rate on dividends is set to rise from 6% to 8% for profits generated from 2027 onwards. In addition, capital gains will be taxed at a rate of 12% on the entire taxable gain, with the 50% reduction in the tax base being eliminated.
Another change concerns the HoReCa sector, where the VAT rate is set to increase from 8% to 12%. The change could affect prices for catering and accommodation services, depending on the extent to which businesses pass the additional tax costs on to consumers.
The package also includes measures concerning the taxation of energy consumption. Natural gas used by household consumers will be subject to the reduced VAT rate of 8% for monthly consumption of up to 150 cubic metres, starting on April 1, 2027. Consumption exceeding this threshold will be taxed at the standard rate. For electricity, the document provides for maintaining the VAT exemption with the right to deduct VAT for the first 100 kWh consumed per month at each consumption point.
Regarding food products, the package extends the reduced VAT rate of 8% to eggs and poultry meat, while a 12% rate will apply to certain agricultural products. These changes have sparked debate over their impact on agricultural producers and consumer prices.
Another new measure is the introduction of fees for goods purchased from foreign online stores. Parcels worth up to €150 will be subject to a special VAT regime, as well as a handling fee of 12 lei per parcel. The measure aims to reduce differences in tax treatment between cross-border e-commerce and local retailers.
The new tax package also targets the tobacco industry. Excise duties on tobacco products are scheduled to increase by 20% in 2027 and by 15% in each of the following years, 2028 and 2029. Additional taxes are also planned for certain sweetened beverages, energy drinks, e-cigarette liquids, and pyrotechnic products.
For the first time, the draft introduces excise duties on fully electric vehicles, calculated according to vehicle weight. Excise duties on cars with internal combustion engines are also set to increase by 10%.
For businesses, one of the key benefits is the extension until 2029 of the zero tax rate on retained profits, alongside an increase in the eligibility threshold from 100 million to 200 million lei. The measure is intended to encourage companies to reinvest profits and support business development.
Meanwhile, the financial and insurance sectors will be subject to a temporary income tax rate of 18% in 2027, while peasant farms will face a rate of 12%, up from 7% under the previous rules.
The changes also affect the wealth tax. For residential real estate, a threshold of 4 million lei has been established, and the 0.8% rate will apply only to the value exceeding this limit, subject to the conditions set out in the law.
According to Ministry of Finance estimates, the tax package will have a positive direct budget impact of approximately 5.1 billion lei. Of this amount, 2.7 billion lei is expected to come from excise duties, 1.6 billion lei from VAT, and approximately 820 million lei from income tax and other fiscal measures.
The Government says the changes aim to simplify legislation, strengthen budget revenues, and bring the national tax system closer to European Union standards. At the same time, the authorities say the new rules should encourage investment and the reinvestment of profits while maintaining certain benefits for the population and businesses.
Debates on the draft were accompanied by numerous amendments submitted by MPs. Among the changes accepted by the Government during the amendment review process was the temporary retention of the reduced VAT rate of 8% for wheat, maize, and sunflower seeds, alongside the introduction of the reverse-charge mechanism.