A number of truck drivers in Montenegro are ready to block roads and other radical measures because they are now receiving less, 11 cents instead of 18 cents per liter, through a refund for the excise tax paid on fuel. The truck drivers claim that this makes them uncompetitive in the region, and that they will start filling fuel in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) due to cost-effectiveness, and are asking the government to invite them to talks to find a solution.
This was told to "Vijesti" by the owner of one of the transport companies. Vesko Sljivancanin, who explained that until now they could get a refund of part of the excise duty of 1.000 euros for 180 liters of fuel purchased, while now they receive 110 euros. As he says, they received this compensation every three months and it was used for truck services and other purposes, but it was only at the beginning of March and after a notification from the Customs Administration that they learned that changes had been made.
"Each truck travels up to 10.000 kilometers per month and consumes 4.000 liters of fuel. With this fee, we are not competitive compared to our colleagues from BiH, because a liter of fuel is up to 20 cents cheaper there, depending on the location, and their transporters have a refund of excise duty and VAT. Fuel in North Macedonia is also up to 30 cents cheaper per liter. Essentially, we now have a cost of 70 euros per 1.000 liters of fuel, especially for those who have more trucks, so the state forces us to fill up the fuel in BiH, while Montenegro loses money from both excise duty and VAT. In this way, small and medium-sized companies are endangered, and the sector is already losing drivers due to higher salaries in Croatia and Slovenia," said Šljivančanin.
He stressed that the transporters had already approached the Chamber of Commerce and then the Government, but it was explained to them that the amendments to the Excise Law were made in accordance with European Union directives. The amendments to the Excise Law that the truckers are challenging were published in the Official Gazette on September 30 last year, and entered into force on January 1 this year.
"Vijesti" is still waiting for answers from the Ministry of Finance, while the Customs Administration has not confirmed that there have been any complaints from transporters, nor whether they will take any action regarding the announced blockades. They pointed out that in accordance with the Fiscal Strategy for the period 2024-2027, the amendments to the Excise Law from January 1 this year, and the obligations towards the European Union from Negotiating Chapter 16 - Taxation, they have continued to harmonize excise policy.
"In this case, with Directive 2003/96 restructuring the Community framework for the taxation of energy products and electricity. To this end, the excise duty on gas oils used as motor fuel for industrial and commercial purposes has been changed and, as of January 1, it is 330 euros per 1.000 liters, instead of 259 euros, which was the prescribed amount until December 31, 2024. In accordance with this amendment, the Customs Administration, as the competent authority, is obliged to, upon requests for the right to a refund of part of the excise duty paid for the purchase of quantities of gas oils used in road freight transport, subject to the fulfillment of the conditions prescribed by law, approve, as of January 1, 2025, the difference between the excise duty prescribed in Article 52, paragraph 3, item 4, indent 1 (440 euros) and the excise duty prescribed in Article 52, paragraph 3, item 4, indent 3 (330 euros) of the Excise Duty Act," they emphasized. Customs Administration.
Šljivančanin added that they just want the state not to make their business more difficult, because, as he says, regular passenger carriers already receive a refund on the excise tax paid of 44 cents per liter, or almost the entire amount of the fee. The Ministry of Finance adopted a regulation at the beginning of this year that exempts owners of yachts and other vessels from paying excise taxes on fuel, explaining that they are doing this as an incentive to develop nautical tourism.
Now we have a cost of 70 euros per 1.000 liters of fuel, especially those who have multiple trucks, so the state forces us to fill up fuel in BiH, while Montenegro loses money from both excise duty and VAT. In this way, small and medium-sized companies are endangered
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