The government adopted an Emergency Ordinance on fiscal and budgetary measures on Tuesday evening, Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare announced at a briefing held after the cabinet meeting.
"The fiscal and budgetary measures ordinance adopted by the Government today includes several chapters I would like to outline. First, there are measures to cut budget spending, measures to revive the economy, stimulate private investment and simplify procedures for taxpayers, measures to support vulnerable people, measures to support local authorities, measures aimed at combating tax evasion, as well as amendments to regulations in the field of excisable products and other necessary measures needed until the 2026 budget is approved," Nazare said.
Regarding spending cuts, the minister highlighted reductions in subsidies for political parties and funds allocated to minorities, as well as the postponement of certain measures that would have generated additional budget expenditure in the field of social assistance.
"Indexation mechanisms are being adjusted to ensure fiscal sustainability, with prudent updates to certain categories of entitlements and services, and, of course, stricter rules are being introduced on expenditure control and financial responsibility at the level of state-owned enterprises," he added, Agerpres informs.
According to the minister, the ordinance also includes a series of measures to relaunch the economy and stimulate investment, the most important being the reduction of the turnover tax from 1% to 0.5% in 2026.
"The most important measure contained in this ordinance is the reduction of the turnover tax from the current 1% to 0.5% for 2026, followed by the elimination of this tax from 2027 and its replacement with a tax on affiliated entities and on companies' sensitive expenses, so that this tax no longer hinders development or investment, which we will very much need for economic recovery in 2026, but instead encourages them. We will focus in particular on monitoring sensitive expenses, where we have clear, concrete information, because we see profits being shifted abroad, and this will be addressed through the taxation of affiliates," Nazare said.
The ordinance also introduces a single 1% tax rate for micro-enterprises. "All micro-enterprises with turnover below EUR 100,000 will pay 1%, instead of 3%. This is a measure that greatly helps small entrepreneurs who need liquidity or resources for development in 2026. It is also a very important simplification, because in 2026 two rates for micro-enterprises would have applied. It would have been very difficult to operate, both up to EUR 60,000 and between EUR 60,000 and EUR 100,000. I believe this measure is welcome in the micro-enterprise sector, ensuring a fair and balanced approach between measures targeting large companies and those affecting entrepreneurs and small business owners," the minister explained.
He added that the construction tax, also known as the "pillar tax", will be eliminated from 2027, calling it a very important step as part of removing "obstacles to investment".
Nazare also said additional clarifications had been introduced on how individuals can use the e-Invoice system, while RO e-VAT mechanisms have been simplified in order to reduce administrative burdens through more efficient tax controls.
"We have clarified how VAT returns and pre-filled returns will work, very important issues addressed in close consultation with the business community. These are suggestions we have gathered from businesses over several months and can now put into practice. All these measures are important and act as a prelude to the adoption of the 2026 budget, starting from the assumption that without removing these taxes - on the one hand reducing the minimum turnover tax and, on the other, providing a clear timetable for eliminating the construction tax - large companies could not plan their business strategies accordingly. Some of them had no clear deadline. Through today's ordinance, they now have one, which greatly improves fiscal predictability," Nazare said.
Last but not least, the finance minister announced that the ordinance also includes measures to support vulnerable people, extended into 2026, as well as rules to ensure the continuation of the 'Healthy Meal" programme until the 2026 budget is approved.
The Finance minister also said the ordinance provides support for local authorities, including "treasury loans for projects under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR)", amounting to nearly RON 500 million, which can be allocated to co-financing PNRR projects managed by local budgets, with a deadline of 30 June 2026.
"It is very important that from the first day of 2026 these funding sources will be available to local authorities. Also under this chapter, there is support for district heating. Local authorities can receive up to RON 200 million to cover the costs of producing and supplying heat, including the payment of arrears and losses, until 31 March 2026," he explained.
As regards combating tax evasion and changes to regulations on excisable products, the ordinance provides for the authorisation of operators in the excisable goods sector, centralises authorisation at the level of the National Agency for Fiscal Administration (ANAF), and enables risk assessments of each operator, their administrators, shareholders and funding sources, through the re-establishment of the authorisation committee that operated until 2017 and was later disbanded.
"Financial guarantees are thus introduced for importers and distributors of energy products to cover the state's risk of non-payment of VAT or excise duties. As for other measures needed until the budget is approved, we have effectively created, through transitional measures, the possibility for local authorities to continue operating until the 2026 budget is adopted," Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare added.
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