Legislative changes in 2026

by Florin Gherghel, Tax Manager Ensight Finance

 

Similarly as in past years, the Romanian fiscal norms were modified significantly in December 2025. The main amendments are presented below.

 

A. Law no. 239/2025

 

It was published on 15.12.2025 in the Official Gazette.

 

1. Inactive legal entities – in force from 18.12.2025

A legal entity may be declared inactive if the respective legal entity does not have a bank account in Romania or if it has not submitted the financial statements in 5 months from the due term.

The legislation is not clear whether the above obligation related to the existence of a bank account in Romania is applicable only to Romanian legal entities or whether foreign entities registered for tax purposes in Romania (either through a branch, a fiscal permanent establishment or only registered for VAT purposes) are liable to the above obligation. We have requested clarifications from the tax authorities regarding these aspects.

 

2. Sale of shares – in force from 18.12.2025

The sale of shares of a limited liability company by the shareholder having control over the company is enforceable with the tax authorities in the following conditions:

  • there will be an obligation to validate the transfer by the tax authority by submitting a notification within 15 days of the date of the transfer,
  • if there are outstanding tax obligations, guarantees or their payment are requested,
  • when registering the transfer in the trade register, proof of the tax authority’s agreement regarding the establishment of guarantees is to be presented.

 

3. Minimum value of the share capital – in force from 18.12.2025

The minimum value of the share capital of limited liability companies is established depending on the level of net turnover reported in the annual financial statements for the previous financial year, respectively, in the case of companies that have registered a net turnover over RON 400,000, the minimum value of the share capital is RON 5,000.

In the case of newly established limited liability companies, the minimum value of the share capital is RON 500.

Failure to meet the conditions provided by law entails the risk of dissolution of the company.

 

4. Fiscal Code amendments

a) Tax regime applicable to expenses with affiliated entities

Expenses with affiliated entities have their deductibility limited to 1% of the total expenses recorded in the fiscal year of calculation for expenses related to intellectual property rights, management and consultancy expenses, in relation to affiliated entities that are not established/constituted and do not have their place of effective management in Romania.

These provisions do not apply to, amongst others, taxpayers paying minimum turnover tax, taxpayers who have a price agreement or requested ANAF, starting with 2027, to issue a price agreement that concerns transactions carried out with non-resident affiliated persons.

The following expenses are not included: (i) expenses incurred to obtain trademarks, industrial designs, copyrights and similar registered in Romania, (ii) expenses that are capitalized in the value of tangible and intangible assets. Also, the excluded expenses are not considered when determining the limit of 1%.

Taxpayers who fall under this new tax regime will apply the tax treatment in 2026 or in the modified tax year starting in 2026.

 

b) Gains from the transfer of titles

The new rules provide for the increase of tax rates in the case of withholding tax by Romanian tax resident intermediaries for income obtained from the transfer of value titles and from operations with derivative financial instruments. Thus, gains obtained from value titles and financial instruments held for more than 365 days will be taxed at 3%, and those held for less than 365 days at 6%.

The tax rate on gains from the transfer of value titles, other than those obtained through Romanian tax resident intermediaries, is also increased from 10% to 16%.

The amendment applies to transactions carried out starting with January 1, 2026.

 

c) Special tax on high-value goods

Starting January 1, 2026, the tax rates will increase as follows:

  • from 0.3% to 0.9% for residential buildings with a value greater than RON 2,500,000;
  • from 0.3% to 0.9% for cars with a value greater than RON 375,000.

 

d) Local taxes

Starting January 1st 2026, the local taxes (tax on buildings, lands, vehicles) have been increased significantly.

 

5. Granting loans and distributing dividends to shareholders or associates – in force from 18.12.2025

New provisions are introduced at the level of Law 31/1990 on Companies Law regarding several cases, out if which we mention the main changes.

Companies that distribute dividends quarterly may not grant loans to shareholders or associates or to other affiliated persons, before regularizing the differences resulting from the distribution of dividends during the year.

Companies that, based on the annual financial statements, have a net asset value reduced to less than half of the value of the subscribed share capital, may not repay the shareholders or associates or to other affiliated persons, the loans taken from them.

Failure by companies to comply with the prohibitions constitutes a contravention with a fine of RON 10,000 to RON 200,000 by the tax authorities.

 

B. Emergency Ordinance no. 89/2025

 

It was published on 24.12.2025 in the Official Gazette.

 

1. Minimum turnover tax

Taxpayers who register a turnover of more than EUR 50,000,000 in the previous year and who determine a profit tax lower than the minimum turnover tax in the calculation year are obliged to pay profit tax at the level of the minimum turnover tax. The tax rate for 2025 was 1% of the calculation base. For the tax year 2026/amended tax year starting in 2026, the tax rate will be 0.5%.

The minimum turnover tax is to be eliminated starting with 2027/amended tax year starting in 2027.

 

2. Tax on microenterprise income

The 3% tax rate is eliminated starting January 1st, 2026. The 1% tax rate is maintained, which becomes a single rate for all microenterprises, regardless of the activity carried out or the income generated.

The tax regime applies starting January 1, 2026 to companies that have not exceeded the equivalent in RON of EUR 100,000 turnover. The verification of the ceiling for 2026 is made based on the income generated until December 31st, 2025.

If the turnover recorded on December 31, 2025 exceeds the ceiling of EUR 100,000, the company will become a payer of profit tax starting January 1st, 2026.

 

3. Construction Tax

The construction tax will only apply for the year 2026 and will be repealed again starting January 1st, 2027.

 

4. RO e-Invoice

Starting January 1st, 2026, the deadline for submitting invoices to the national electronic invoice system RO e-Invoice is 5 working days from the date of issuance of the invoice, but no later than 5 working days from the deadline for issuing the invoice. Previously, the deadline was 5 calendar days from the date of issuance.

Amendments of Romanian Fiscal Code in 2025

by Florin Gherghel, Tax Manager Ensight Finance

 

The Romanian Fiscal Code was modified in 31.12.2024 and the below main amendments are applicable starting with the next day, 01.01.2025, as Emergency Ordinance 156/2024 was published in 31.12.2024 in the Official Gazette.

 

1. Dividend tax
The dividend tax has increased to 10% (from 8%) for dividends distributed after 01.01.2025, regardless of the year when the profits were obtained.
The new dividend tax is applicable to dividends distributed to Romanian legal entities, Romanian natural persons, non-resident Romanian natural persons / legal entities.
The exemptions / reductions based on EU Directive / Double Tax Treaties are applicable.
The dividend tax of 8% for interim dividends distributed in 2024, to be settled in 2025, is not changed.

 

2. Micro-enterprise income tax
The turnover for applying micro-enterprise tax regime has decreased to EUR 250.000 (from 500.000 EUR), based on 2024 revenues. From 2026, the turnover will be decreased to EUR 100.000, based on 2025 revenues.
The threshold of consultancy / management revenues out of total revenues is no longer applicable.
New NACE codes are eligible for 3% micro-enterprise tax: 6210 – software; 6290 – information technology activities, 5611 – restaurants, 5612 – public food activities, 5622 – other food services.

 

3. Salary tax
The facilities granted to salaries of employees of IT / constructions / agriculture companies are repealed starting with January 2025 salaries, which are subject to undiminished social contributions.
Starting also with January 2025 salaries, the non-taxable amount of RON 300 RON /month is maintained for which no income tax is due and is not included in the monthly base of mandatory social contributions, if the following conditions are cumulatively met:

  • the level of the basic monthly gross salary established according to the individual employment contract, without including increments and other additions, is equal to the level of the minimum gross salary per country, respectively RON 4,050;
  • if the total gross income does not exceed the value of RON 4,300.

 

4. Tax on special constructions
A tax of 1% is introduced again for the value of special constructions (mentioned in group 1 “Constructions” of the catalogue regarding fixed assets) recorded in accounting as of 31 December of the previous year (the buildings for which building tax is due are not taken into consideration).
The tax is due by Romanian legal entities and Romanian permanent establishments of foreign companies.
The tax on special constructions is paid in 2 equal installments until 30th of June, respectively 31st of October and 2025 tax must be declared until 25th of May 2025.

Significant amendments of Romanian Fiscal Code

by Florin Gherghel, Tax Manager Ensight Finance

 

The Romanian Fiscal Code was significantly modified in end of 2023 and you may find below the main amendments.

The changes are applicable, mainly, starting with 01.01.2024.

 

1. Corporate Income Tax

Starting 01.01.2024, the fiscal losses may be recovered up to 70% of their value in maximum 5 years.

The fiscal losses as of 31.12.2023 may be recovered up to 70% of their value in maximum 7 years.

The expenses (including depreciation) related to the owned premises registered as headquarters, which are not used exclusively for economic activities, are deductible up to 50% (the related VAT is subject to the same limitation).

The provisions for bad receivables have decreased up to 30% of the provision value for receivables incurred after 01.01.2024.

Starting 01.01.2024, entities with a turnover in the previous year a turnover higher than EUR 50,000,000 will owe a minimum tax of 1% on turnover (applied to a specific formula), if the corporate income tax is lower than the tax on turnover. In this case, the due corporate income tax will be the minimum tax on turnover.

 

2. Micro-enterprise income tax

Starting 01.01.2024, the tax rates due by micro-enterprises will be as follows:

  • 1% for micro-enterprises with revenues below EUR 60,000 inclusive, obtained from other activities than those listed below;
  • 3% for micro-enterprises with (i) revenues above EUR 60,000 or (ii) with activities with NACE codes 5832, 5829, 6201, 6209, 5510, 5520, 5530, 5590, 5610, 5621, 5629, 5630, 6910, 8621, 8622, 8623, 8690 (software development / editing, HoReCa, legal assistance, medical and dental assistance).

 

Also from the same date, the regime of micro-enterprise taxpayers was significantly tightened as follows:

  • A micro-enterprise must submit annual financial statements in due time.
  • 2023 financial statements must be submitted until 31.03.2024.
  • The threshold of EUR 500,000 will be computed by taking into consideration both the revenues of the company and the revenues of the associated companies according to Law 346/2004.
  • A shareholder may own, directly or indirectly, more than 25% of the shares in only 1 micro-enterprise tax-payer.
  • A micro-enterprise cannot use as fiscal credit the sponsorships performed.

 

3. VAT

Starting 01.01.2024, a 9% VAT rate will be applied to the following transactions currently under the 5% VAT rate:

  • Sale of houses;
  • Sale of photovoltaic panels, solar thermal panels and other related items in specific cases.

 

The standard 19% VAT rate will be applied for several services / goods with reduced VAT rates (e.g. non-alcoholic drinks, food with added sugar).

Starting 01.01.2024, the VAT exemption for deliveries of medical items will be amended.

 

4. RO e-Invoice

Starting 01.01.2024, entities established in Romania are compelled to submit invoices through the RO e-Factura system for B2B transactions with place of supply in Romania.

Similarly, foreign entities not established but registered for VAT purposes in Romania are compelled to submit invoices through the RO e-Factura system for B2B transactions with place of supply in Romania.

E-invoices must be sent to SPV in 5 calendar days from the issuance date.

Starting 01.07.2024, the fine for Romanian entities / Romanian VAT fixed establishments of foreign companies is of 15% of the value of the invoice for non-sending / non-receiving invoices through e-invoice national system (and not the value of VAT disclosed in the invoice as previously published). The fines between RON 1.000 and RON 10.000 remain applicable for the period 01.04 – 30.06.2024.

Non-resident companies registered for VAT purposes are subject to a fine from RON 1,000 to RON 2,500 starting with 01.04.024.

No sanctions are applied during the period January 1 – March 31, 2024.