VAT in Romania – a complete guide. Rates and registration thresholds | VAT in Europe #15

VAT was introduced in Romania in 1993, locally referred to as Taxa pe valoarea adaugata. The regulations governing Romanian VAT are outlined in the national Value Added Tax Act of 2003 and in the Romanian VAT code.

When should you register for VAT in Romania?

Non-resident entrepreneurs operating in Romania may be required to register for VAT purposes if they are involved in, among others, the following activities:

• importing goods into the EU as imports through Romania,
• intra-Community sale or purchase of goods from another EU country,
• purchase and sale of goods in Romania,
• storing goods in Romania as consignment stocks for sale to local customers,
• selling goods online to consumers in Romania – if turnover to all foreign consumers exceeds 10,000 euros.

How to register for VAT in Romania?

Businesses must register for VAT within 10 days from the end of the month in which they became liable for registration. EU-based businesses can register directly with the Romanian tax office or use the services of a tax representative.

Businesses from outside the EU can only register through a fiscal representative. Businesses headquartered in the EU, when applying for registration, should provide the following documentation:

• a VAT certificate (notarized copy) if registered elsewhere in the EU,
• the company’s Articles of Association,
• an extract from the national commercial register, and
• documentation proving taxable translations in Romania.

VAT returns in Romania

Every company registered with the Romanian tax office as a non-resident VAT entity must report taxable transactions through periodic reports, known as declarations.

In Romania, the standard period for filing VAT returns is one month. Businesses with an annual turnover of less than €100,000 can file quarterly returns. However, if a business makes intra-Community acquisitions, monthly VAT returns are required.

VAT returns, either monthly or quarterly, must be submitted by the 25th of the month following the end of the accounting period. The tax must also be paid by this date.

Medium and large enterprises, i.e., those with an annual turnover exceeding 7 million RON, must submit Romanian VAT returns electronically.

What should a Romanian invoice include?

Romanian VAT invoices must be issued by the 15th day of the month following the delivery or service provision. Romania, like all EU member states, currently permits the use of electronic invoices under specific conditions.

The Romanian invoice should include, among others, the following elements:

• date of issue,
• sequential number,
• VAT number of the supplier and buyer,
• full name and address of the supplier and customer,
• details of the tax representative in Romania, including VAT identification number – if applicable,
• description of the goods or services provided,
• details regarding the quantity of goods,
• delivery date, if different from the date of issue,
• net value,
• VAT rate,
• VAT amount,
• gross value.

Invoices must be kept for a period of 10 years.

Rates of VAT in Romania

RATE	TYPE	TYPE OF GOODS OR SERVICES
19%	standard	all goods and services not covered by the lower VAT rate,
9%	reduced	some food products, some pharmaceutical products, medical equipment for disabled persons, books (excluding e-books), hotels and accommodation, water supply items, non-alcoholic beverages, cut flowers and plants for food production, some agricultural products, some goods and services intended for consumption in means of transport, social housing.
5%	reduced	newspapers and magazines, admission to cultural events, admission to sports events, admission to amusement parks, some pharmaceutical products, certain medical equipment for disabled persons, books (excluding e-books), accommodation in hotels, restaurants and catering services (excluding certain alcoholic beverages), takeaway food, bars, cafes, and nightclubs (excluding certain alcoholic beverages), residential properties.
0%	zero	intra-Community and international passenger transportation.

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