Pensioners and the blind, tax relief - Interest groups: Expand the range of beneficiaries
The draft law that provides for exemption from personal income tax for pensioners with foreign residence and the employed and self-employed blind people has been presented to the Economy Committee.
Endrit Yzeiraj, Deputy Minister of Finance
“The draft law aims to bring a measured and well-targeted intervention in the income tax law to further improve tax policies. On the one hand, the draft law aims to increase Albania's ability to attract individuals as an attraction for residence for pensioners and strengthens protection for special categories of society. One of the personal income tax exemptions for pensioners with foreign residence. The draft law addresses the personal income tax exemption for persons with blind status, including those who are employed.”
Invited to the parliamentary committee, interest groups representing people with disabilities have expressed that the range of beneficiaries should be expanded since the draft is exclusionary.
Abdulla Omuri, Chairman of the Association of the Disabled Workers
"The exception for the blind should include all people with disabilities. One of the incentives is this. Disabled people are not a burden on health."
Jonid Ferhati, President of the Association of the Blind
"The phrase 'single self-employed' means that an individual is self-employed and employs other individuals who do not benefit from the law on the status of the blind, then this point of the law for this blind self-employed falls. This would lead to regression. This needs to be looked at. The single part should be removed and the employed or self-employed added."
Ndrek Ismailaj, Chairman of the Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Association
"What difference does it make between a blind person with one eye or a quadriplegic? The draft law discriminates. Because just as the blind person has status, I also have status. The UN convention does not allow you to discriminate like that."
Stefan Paloka, Representative of “Caritas Albania”
"This situation of discrimination stems from the way the legislation for people with disabilities has been constructed over the years. It is time to review all legislation and have some kind of equalization of benefits to eliminate discrimination."
The draft law sends a clear signal and invitation to the Albanian diaspora, as this tax exemption serves as an efficient incentive instrument to encourage them to spend their retirement years in their homeland and, on the other hand, encourages the category of blind people to seek employment.
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