Latvia: rapid increase of excise tax to cause dramatic rise of smuggling activity

The National Association for Tobacco Product Manufacturers (TIRNA) is confused about Finance Ministry’s submitted proposals for tax reform that provide for raising excise tax on cigarettes by 11% instead of previously planned 5.5%. TIRNA believes the submitted proposals are rushed, economically unjustified and will not secure the economy any major tax income. “Exactly the opposite…

Latvia: Toyota sales up in H1 2017

5,735 new Toyota cars were sold in Baltic States in the first six months of 2017, up by 33% YoY. Toyota’s total market share in Baltics is 14.2%. Toyota sales in Latvia have grown by 25%. 1,264 new Toyota cars have been sold in Latvia since the beginning of the year. More than half of…

Latvia: envelope wages priority this year

More than half of Latvian employers pay their employees wages below the minimal monthly amount, said Director of the State Revenue Service Tax Control Office Sandra Karklina Admine on July 24. She says SRS puts a lot of effort into combating grey economy. Combating envelope wages will be one of this year’s main priorities, she…

Latvia: Norvik Banka and Rietumu Banka fined

Finance and Capital Market Commission in cooperation with Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Counterproliferation Center found out in a target inspection that Latvian banks – Norvik Banka and Rietumu Banka – had not followed requirements of regulations for the prevention of money laundering and terrorism funding. Violations are associated with client evaluation, which includes transaction monitoring…