Tax Task Force in Action on the Coast, Businesses: They Seized Our Computers, Tourist Season at Risk

At the height of summer, when accommodation facilities, beaches and hotels are packed with tourists, the Tax Task Force has launched a series of inspections in coastal areas. Rather than choosing a quieter period, inspectors have selected the days with the highest holidaymaker traffic to conduct their checks.

Inspectors Besnik Dalliu, Elton Ndoci and Andi Hajdari, authorised to inspect commercial units operating in the tourism sector, have also been deployed in the field during days off.

But is this timing in line with the spirit of supporting businesses? According to complaints from entrepreneurs themselves, even in cases where all documentation appears to comply with the rules, their computer equipment has been confiscated. This has deprived them of the ability to carry out the most basic part of their work: issuing invoices and recording sales. The economic consequences on these crucial days are considerable, and businesses are raising concerns over who will be held responsible for these damages.

This situation runs counter to the tone of the Prime Minister’s previous statements, in which he insisted that the tax administration should act as a partner, not as a “gang” towards entrepreneurs. In this context, the question naturally arises as to whether surprise inspections at the peak of the tourist season are consistent with this philosophy. Faced with actions that, according to the claims, paralyse activity during the most productive period of the year, there is a tangible risk that tourism itself will be hit, sending a discouraging message instead of combating tax evasion.