The tax reform, which will increase the number of income tax payers, will leave numerous NGOs out of the equation.
Private educational institutions, patronage organizations, and savings and loan associations will now have to contribute tax at a rate of 12%. Non-commercial organizations, including expert and media organizations, many of which thrive not only on foreign grants but also on close ties with the regime, from which they generously receive projects and contracts, will still not be subject to tax. The same zero rate is also provided for the Church, but comparing the sacred with our, sometimes too sinful, NGO workers is not really appropriate.
Moreover, Moldovan NGOs not only do not want to pay taxes, but also want to receive more from the tax contributions of those who do pay them. Back in July, the National Council of Non-Governmental Organizations demanded that the government raise the rate of voluntary contributions from paid income tax from 2% to 3.5%, under the pretext that otherwise their “independence” would be under threat.
In the first half of the year, NGOs and the Church received a total of 26 million lei in such contributions, but as they say, appetite comes with eating. Especially when that appetite is financial.
