The Indirect Taxation Authority (ITA) has launched a public campaign “Stop Smuggling”, whose goal is to enable all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) who have any information about the evasion of indirect taxes and illegal trade in goods, especially tobacco products, to report it to the number 080 02 06 07.
In this year’s “Stop Smuggling” campaign, citizens can also send a photo and location where cigarettes and tobacco are illegally sold to Viber number 065 355 155 so that the authorized ITA officers on duty can perform a field check in real–time.
Last year’s action by the ITA, the “Stop Smuggling” resulted in a large number of calls and submitted information, many of which were useful, on the basis of which field activities were carried out, and excise goods that were sold contrary to legal regulationsmanaged to be found and confiscated.
Regarding customs fraud on the Internet and cybercrime, the ITA recognized this issue and determined in the Work Plan that it will pay special attention to undertaking actions, measures,and activities aimed at investigating, detecting, preventing, and prosecuting these criminal activities regarding illegalities with indirect taxation. In this regard, ITA officials monitor the websites and social networks where illegally produced tobacco products are sold.
“Revenues from indirect taxes (VAT, excise, customs, and tolls) are of the greatest importance for the overall fiscal stability of the whole of BiH. The money collected from indirect taxes mostly finances health, education, road infrastructure, various social benefits, and like. As of today, the ITA has collected 3 billion and 755 million BAM, which is 672 million or 22 percent more than in the same period last year,” it was mentioned by the ITA, Klix.ba writes.
E.Dz.
