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Italian pensioners in Albania face uncertainty over pension taxation, jeopardizing their livelihoods and impacting the local economy. Two leaders of the Italba Family Association, an association that promotes Italian-Albanian relations and protects the interests of Italians in Albania, have spoken out on the issue.
The Association's President, Giuseppe Mazzei, said that the debate on the 15% pension taxation has created confusion. Mazzei stated that the concern arose from unofficial information on a possible taxation of Italian pensions, which until now, according to him, have been treated in the same way as Albanian pensions, with zero taxation.
He also links the issue to bilateral relations between the two countries. According to him, based on the agreement between Albania and Italy, Italian pensioners should not be treated less favorably than Albanian pensioners.
" Our association aims to better understand Italy for Albanians and Albania for Italians. This is one of the first media outlets to publicly raise concerns about the situation of Italian pensioners living in Albania. There are unconfirmed rumors and, so far, there is no clear position from the Albanian tax authorities. Can Italian pensions, which have so far been treated the same as Albanian pensions with zero taxation, be taxed? Some talk about a tax of up to 15%. This uncertainty has created confusion and anxiety among many pensioners, some of whom are even considering leaving Albania.
"If this were to happen, it would be very serious and would damage the friendly relations between the two countries. According to the Albania-Italy agreement, Italian pensioners cannot be treated worse than Albanian pensioners. If Albanian pensioners do not pay taxes, Italian pensioners should not pay either ," he said on the show "All Roads Lead to Rome."
One of the association's main arguments is related to the economic impact of Italian pensioners in Albania. According to Mazzei, around 200 million euros of Italian pensions circulate in the Albanian economy every year, an amount he estimates as approximately 1% of Gross Domestic Product.
These funds, according to him, are translated into rent, daily consumption, services, transportation and other economic activities, creating a "chain effect" in the domestic market.
" Every year, around 200 million euros of Italian pensions circulate in Albania. This constitutes almost one percent of the Gross Domestic Product and creates a chain effect on the economy: rent, consumption, restaurants, transport, services. They do not harm the Albanian economy, on the contrary, they bring an important contribution. Our appeal is simple: clarity is needed as soon as possible. A clear statement from the Albanian government would guarantee that there are no changes from what has been the case so far. We love Albania, we feel welcome and we want to continue living here," he emphasizes.
The association's vice president, Marjus Cela, sees the problem as a result of legal ambiguity. He emphasizes that the law, according to his interpretation, does not clearly specify the issue of taxation of foreign pensions.
" I think this problem arose from a legal ambiguity. The law does not clearly specify the issue of pension taxation. To date, there is no concrete case where Italian pensioners have paid this tax. DIVA is the individual income declaration. The obligation arises only when a certain annual threshold is exceeded. Pensions are not recognized by the Albanian state as taxable income, as they are contributions made in Italy. For this reason, they should not be taxed. An official statement from the General Directorate of Taxes would be enough to clarify the situation and remove any doubt. Cities like Durrës, Vlora and Tirana would lose out. Pensioners do not come only for the fiscal benefit: they buy or rent apartments, consume, create social connections and bring family and friends. The economic and social value they create is much greater than the pension itself ," says Cela.
Shif shif si u inatosen breshkaxhinjte e Melonit. Po keni 35 vjet qe rropet emigrantet hallexhinj ne Itali, ka içik do e hani edhe ju o mashtrusa. Edhe biles te thoni faleminderit se vetem 15% po ju a fusim ????????????
Pensionistet shqiptare jo vetem qe jane taksuar por kjo takse ju a kane marre dhe pa e perfituar akoma pensionin sepse kontributet shoqerore per pensionet ne shqiperi taksohen ne momentin qe behet pagesa e tyre nga punonjesit dmth ju merret taksimi shume kohe me perpara se ata marrin pensionin, disa fatkeqe dhe nuk arrine ta marrin ate pasi ndrojne jete megjithese tatimin e kane paguar, kurse ne itali ndodh e kunderta pensioni taksohet ne momentin kur e merr ate, prandaj dhe duhen taksuar se nuk ka kuptim qe pensionistet shqiptar jane taksuar bile dhe shume vite me pare, kurse keta nuk duan te taksohen, e thjeshte nese nuk duan te shkojne andej nga kan ardhur.