ITA is implementing digital transformation

The Indirect Taxation Authority (ITA) of BiH has started the process of digital transformation with the goal of making all its services electronic, it was said today at the  Jahorina Economic Forum.

Speaking within the panel  Indirect Taxes – News and Challenges, ITA Assistant Director Svjetlana Perković stated that the Administration started the digital transformation in 2014, and that in 2021 it was certified to issue digital signatures, making it the first authority at the BiH level to issue this type of signature.

“The intention is to switch to paperless business activity in the future, for which a digital signature is necessary,” Ms. Perković explained.

Sedin Mešinović, the head of the ITA Audit and Control Department,  said that the submission of VAT and excise declarations with digital qualified signatures should be started very soon.

If all necessary activities are completed on time, Mešinović announced that from October 1, 2022, users will be able to submit applications signed with a digital signature, while from the beginning of 2023 it would be the obligation of all major taxpayers, and from the beginning of 2024 of all other taxpayers, because until then is the deadline for all indirect taxpayers to start using a digital qualified signature.

When it comes to BiH’s accession to the European paperless transport system with the use of electronic transport declaration, it was pointed out that the condition for that is a change in legislation.

“The deadline for the adoption of amendments to the Law on Customs Policy of BiH and the Law on Customs Offenses was June 1, 2021, but that has not been done by then,” said Ms. Perković. Stating that the new deadline is August 1, 2022, Ms. Perković specified that the amendments to the Law on Customs Policy have been adopted, and that the Law on Customs Offenses is in the procedure in the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH.

“If we meet all the conditions, next year we could apply for access to the European system for the transport of paperless goods,” Ms. Perković added.

ITA Customer Support Advisor Aleksandar Pavković explained that EU countries have introduced transit declarations, with shipments crossing the border without stopping, and that Turkey, Serbia and Northern Macedonia have joined the system.

“It is planned that BiH will join that system,” Pavković added, emphasizing that it means faster and cheaper flow of goods, and shorter delivery time.