Kosovo

Value-added tax (VAT)

The VAT law and system in Kosovo is based on the European Union (EU) Directive for VAT (Directive 2006/112/EC and its subsequent amendments). VAT legislation is regulated by Law No.05/L-037 ‘On Value Added Tax’ and the corresponding sub-legal acts. 

Registration for VAT

All taxable persons who import/export and taxable persons whose turnover is above EUR 30,000 within a calendar year are required to register for VAT.

Where turnover is less than the threshold, voluntary registration for VAT is possible.

VAT registration for foreign entities or persons not established in Kosovo should be completed from the beginning of their economic activity in Kosovo, regardless of the threshold. Nonetheless, this is not required of persons who make supplies for which the place of supply is considered to be Kosovo and the recipient is liable for the payment of VAT.

Object of taxation

VAT is levied on:

• supplies of goods or services with place of supply in Kosovo, and
• importation of goods.

VAT rates

The standard VAT rate is 18%.

A reduced rate of 8% applies to the following supplies:

• Supply of water, except bottled water.
• Supply of electricity, including transmission and distribution services, with central heating, waste collection, and other waste treatment.
• Grains, such as barley, corn, maize varieties, oats, rye, rice, and wheat.
• Products made from grain for human consumption, such as flour, pasta, bread, and similar products.
• Cooking oils made from grains or oilseeds for use in cooking for human consumption.
• Dairy and dairy products intended for human consumption.
• Salt used for human consumption.
• Eggs for consumption.
• Textbooks and serial publications.
• Supply, including lending, of books from libraries, including brochures, leaflets and similar printed materials, children's picture books, drawing and colouring books, music printed texts or manuscripts, maps, and hydro graphic charts, and similar.
• Information technology (IT) equipment.
• Supply of medicines, pharmaceutical products, instruments, and medical and surgical devices.
• Medical equipment, ambulances, aids, and other medical devices to facilitate or treat inability for exclusive use by the disabled, including the repair of such goods and supply of children’s vehicle seats.
• Live animals and poultry.

Chargeability of VAT

VAT generally becomes chargeable when the goods or services are supplied. Specific rules apply in cases where supply of goods or services occurs over a period of time, where successive payments are made, and in case of long-term contracts.

VAT becomes chargeable whichever of the following conditions is fulfilled first: payment is made, invoice is issued, or the supply of goods/services is carried out.

VAT refunds

Taxable entities have the right to carry forward to the following three tax periods the VAT credit or to claim VAT refund if the following conditions are met:

• The taxable person is in VAT credit position for three consecutive months.
• At the end of the third month the amount of VAT credit exceeds EUR 3,000.
• All VAT and other tax returns for all past tax periods have been submitted.

While taxable persons that have exports may claim VAT refund on a monthly basis after each tax period if the following conditions are met:

• The amount of VAT credit exceeds EUR 3,000 at the end of the tax period.
• The taxable person complies with all applicable customs and VAT provisions.
• All VAT and other tax returns for all past tax periods have been submitted.

On 28 January 2024, the New Law on Administration of Tax Procedures entered into force, and the Tax Administration of Kosovo (TAK) shall now review the VAT refund claim request in 30 days or less (previously, 60 days). In addition to this, based on an internal regulation of the TAK, reimbursement claims shall be reviewed within 7 to 30 days (if no tax audit is initiated) based on the classification of the taxpayer (Category A, B, or C).

Invoicing

Invoices for supplies subject to VAT must always be issued by the 15th day of the month following that in which the chargeable event occurs, at the latest.

Fiscal receipts cannot be considered as sufficient documentation to support the incurred expenses for tax purposes. Therefore, in any cases, receipts shall be accompanied by a regular invoice.

Place of supply of goods/services

Place of supply of goods or services is determined in line with the provisions set out in EU Directive 2006/112/EC on the Common System of Value Added Tax.

In respect of goods, special rules apply to establish the place of supply of goods with and without transport, on board ships, aircraft, or trains, and supply of natural gas and electricity through distribution systems.

In respect of services, there are two main rules: general and particular. The general rule defines the place of supply of services to a taxable person, which is where that person has established one’s business. Particular rules apply to specific services related to immovable property, passenger transport, restaurant and catering services, short-term rent of transportation equipment, and educational, cultural, artistic, or similar events.

For the supply of services to a non-taxable person, the general rule is that the place of supply is the place where the supplier has established one’s business. The particular rules for supplies to non-taxable persons apply to specific services as outlined above.

The place of supply of the following services to a non-taxable person established outside of Kosovo is the place where that person is established: transfers of copyrights, patents and similar rights; advertising services; consultancy, engineering, accounting, legal, and data processing services; banking, financial, and insurance transactions; supply of staff; hiring of movable tangible property (except transport); provision of access and transport or transmission through to natural gas and electricity distribution systems; telecommunication, radio, and television broadcasting services; and electronically supplied services.

Reverse-charge mechanism

Reverse charge is applied on supplies of goods and/or services that are supplied from a taxable person not established in Kosovo.

When the recipient of such services/goods is registered for VAT in Kosovo, the place of supply of such services/goods is considered to be Kosovo, and the recipient will be liable for paying the VAT.

In cases where the recipient is not registered for VAT in Kosovo, the supplier is liable to pay VAT and is obligated to register for VAT in Kosovo via a tax representative.

A special reverse-charge scheme is applicable for the supply of construction and construction-related works, as well as supplies where personnel is engaged in construction activities.

Similar to the regular reverse-charge mechanism, the person liable to pay the VAT on the supply is the recipient of the construction services.

With a new public decision, as of 1 January 2020, this rule does not apply in invoicing between the main contractor and the investor, and, in such cases, the contractor issues the invoice with VAT.

VAT exemptions

VAT exemptions without the right to deduction are applicable to activities in the public interest, welfare, education, culture, sports and religious activities, media, and public transportation. Other activities exempt from VAT include financial services, health and life insurance, lottery, land, housing for residential purposes, etc.

VAT exemptions with the right to deduction include exports, international transport, intermediary services, and special customs arrangements. As per the Law on Economic Recovery, raw materials produced by Kosovo manufacturing businesses are exempt from VAT for both internal trade and exportation with the right to deduction. This is valid until 31 December 2028 as a measure against COVID-19 economic impact.   

Importing of production lines and machinery for use in the production process, raw material used in the production process, as well as IT equipment, newspapers, and periodic publications, and equipment required for electronic and printed media benefit from VAT exemption (with crediting rights) on importation.

Supplying goods and services that are co-financed by donations from foreign governments and the Kosovo government and destined for projects with the public as the beneficiary are exempt from VAT (with deduction rights) if such exemption is foreseen between the parties and the participation from the Kosovo government is not more than 20%.

The right to deduct VAT

The right to deduct input VAT arises at the time when VAT becomes chargeable and such VAT is related to goods or services obtained for business purposes.

Input VAT is non-deductible for several goods/services, including the purchase of yachts, boats, private aircraft, cars, and motorcycles intended for recreation and used for non-business purposes, as well as representation costs related to entertainment during business or social contacts. A taxable person can, however, deduct input VAT on advertising expenses, meals, and transportation for personnel.

For cars used for both business and personal purposes, only 50% of input VAT can be deducted. The use of immovable property in the same manner allows VAT deductibility only up to the proportion of the property’s use for business purposes.

In case purchased goods and services are used to make both taxable and exempt supplies, VAT shall be deducted proportionally to the transactions for which VAT is deductible.

VAT compliance

Monthly submission of VAT returns to the TAK and monthly payment of VAT are due by the 20th day of the month following the end of each tax period.

In addition, VAT records have to be kept for six years after the end of the tax period to which they relate.

Customs import duties

The rate of customs import duty is zero on goods that originate in the territory of a country that is a party to the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA), for some goods imported from the European Union as per the provisions of the Stabilization and Association Agreement, and for some goods imported from Great Britain and North Ireland as per the provisions of the Partnership, Trade and Cooperation Agreement. A reduced customs rate is applicable for some goods imported from Turkey, which is subject to gradual reduction as foreseen by the Free Trade Agreement between Republic of Kosovo and Republic of Turkey.

Most rates of import duty on goods that originate outside of CEFTA/EU/Turkey are 10% ad valorem (10% of the price paid or payable for the imported goods); however, some imported goods are exempt from the payment of the 10% import duty. The Integrated Tariff Code of Kosovo (TARIK) provides detailed information on import duty rates, VAT rates, and excise tax rates (if any), as well as any required certificates or licences that pertain to all imported goods.

Excise taxes

Excise tax is levied as a percentage of the value of the goods or represents a fixed amount per specified quantity. Excise tax in Kosovo is applicable on certain goods like beer, wines, alcohol, liquors, and other alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, other tobacco products, cars, petrol, diesel, etc.

For applicable excise taxes on these items, please see: https://gzk.rks-gov.net/ActDetail.aspx?ActID=2688

Property taxes

The new Law on Immovable Property Tax, which entered into force on 16 August 2023, has changed the progressiveness of the tax rate. Immovable Property Tax is based on the appraised amount of the taxpayer’s immovable property as the tax base in the respective municipality. The tax base for the taxpayer with immovable properties within a municipality is determined as a single tax base according to the combined amount of all the taxpayer’s immovable properties.

Property tax rates also vary for each municipality. For the capital city of Pristina, the following rates are applicable based on the category of the real estate and activity undertaken:

The municipalities shall stipulate the applicable tax rate for each tax limit. 

The valuation of the property for property tax purposes (calculated in EUR/m2) depends on the location and type of property.

Transfer taxes

Transfer of immovable property is subject to a property transaction fee levied at the municipal level at EUR 150 per unit. One unit equals 100m² of residential/commercial building or 1 hectare of land.

Stamp taxes

There are no stamp taxes in Kosovo.

Payroll taxes

Entities are required to withhold personal income tax (PIT) from the gross salaries of their employees. Progressive tax rates ranging from 0 to 10% are applied to gross income. Based on the new Law on Administration of Tax Procedures, entities are required to inform the tax administration about a new employee one day before the employee starts to work. Salary payment shall be through bank.

Social security contributions

Both employer and employee are subject to compulsory pension contributions in Kosovo. The total compulsory contribution is 10%, where 5% represents the employee’s share (withheld from gross wages) and 5% the employer’s share.

Employers and employees may contribute additional pension contribution up to 30% (15% + 15%).

The compulsory pension contributions are deductible for CIT purposes of the employer, whereas voluntary contributions and those exceeding 15% of the annual salary are not deductible.

Other local taxes

Taxes are collected by the municipalities and vary on the activity and location of the business. Such taxes include vehicle tax, property tax, ecological tax, and advertising tax.