Suchergebnisse

The 1992 Maastricht Treaty defined the conditions for the introduction of the euro as a common currency in the European Union. These are macroeconomic indicators that measure the level of nominal convergence achieved and thus the state's readiness to participate in monetary union. These conditions (convergence criteria) relate to price stability, stability and sustainability of public finances, which includes budget deficits and public debt, exchange rate stability and convergence of long-term interest rates. In addition to nominal convergence, the degree of legal convergence is also assessed - the provisions of national legislation relating to the independence of the central bank, the ban on monetary financing and preferential access to state financing, and integration into the European System of Central Banks are assessed. Among the member states that have not yet adopted the euro, only the Republic of Croatia is fully harmonized in this regard. On July 10, 2020, the Croatian kuna was included in the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM II). Accessing the ERM II mechanism is often referred to as the euro waiting room. Despite the fact that the pandemic caused by the COVID-19 virus has not abated, the Republic of Croatia has not stopped its efforts to become a full member of the euro area. The paper will present the benefits of the introduction of the euro, but also the inevitable costs incurred during the conversion process. As the pandemic has not slowed down the conversion process and the moment of conversion is approaching, on the other hand, there are conflicting views on the introduction of the euro as the official currency, which are trying to be implemented through a referendum. The paper will discuss the legal aspects of Croatia's accession to the euro area and what measures are envisaged when exchanging the Croatian kuna for the euro, especially from the aspect of consumer protection, given the fact that Croatia has one of the highest euroization rates of all non-euro area EU member states.

Factor of labour has major role in the functioning of the economy. When it comes to employees, the remuneration they receive for their work, usually called pay or income, is in principle their main source of income and therefore has a great impact on their ability to spend and / or save. The paper analyzes the effect of changes in tax rates in the system of mandatory social contributions and personal income tax on tax burden on labour in Croatia. When it comes to the tax burden on labour, it is about taxation of the gross income of natural persons. The gross income of natural persons in Croatia is taxed with several tax forms: employer and employee mandatory social contributions, personal income tax and surtax to personal income tax. Changes in tax rates and other tax elements (eg personal deduction, tax brackets) are subject to frequent changes in order to achieve certain goals of economic and fiscal policy. EUROSTAT data show that Croatia is in the top five EU countries when it comes to tax burden on labour. Measures of tax policy and numerous tax reforms have tried to correct this fact. The main objective of this paper is to review the effects of such changes on the overall tax burden, the tax burden distribution and progressiveness and the level of tax revenues (fiscal impact). We consider it important to note that the framework of this paper does not allow a detailed analysis and that we are forced to limit ourselves exclusively to some aspects of the issue at hand.

In modern states, taxation of consumption, with taxation of personal and corporate income, is the most aboundant tax source. As a rule, developing countries such as the Republic of Croatia are mostly turning to taxation of consumption through the general sales tax of goods and services and special taxes, ie excise duties. Until 1 January 1998, consumption in the Republic of Croatia was taxed by the application of sales tax on products and services. The rates were proportional and applied to the selling price. Product and service tax disadvantages were attributable to its cumulative effect, which means that the tax burden was greater when the production process was realized in several phases. Value added tax (VAT) was introduced due to the need to reform the entire Croatian tax system in new economic and political circumstances and the need to harmonize the Croatian tax system with the EU tax system. The extraordinary place and role of this tax was reflected not only in its pronounced financial leverage in relation to other taxes, but also in frequent use as an instrument for regulating supply and demand for certain products. VAT is the net surplus sales tax that is calculated at each stage of the production and sales cycle, but only on the value added that was created at that stage, not on the total production value. Of great importance is the type of rate that applies when it comes to VAT. In the Republic of Croatia there is a fairly high proportional rate which has an adverse regressive effect on a wide circle of taxpayers. In this paper, the authors will discuss and try to analyze the efficiency of VAT rates and how to reduce the regressive effects of VAT through various measures of a positivelegal tax system in the Republic of Croatia. We consider it important to note that the framework of this paper does not allow a detailed analysis and that we are forced to limit ourselves exclusively to some aspects of the issue at hand.

Since its independence the Republic of Croatia has commenced a thorough reconstruction of its taxation system according to the market economy taxation policy. Essential taxation reforms have brought the system closer to EU systems i.e. it has been being harmonized with taxation systems of developed European countries. The Republic of Croatia has adopted solutions that are used by the majority of European countries. Current tax system of the Republic of Croatia can be viewed through three fiscal levels, but this paper deals with decentralization and revenue, especially tax revenue of local and regional self-government units. The paper will present importance and a way of collecting revenue, especially tax revenue and satisfying public needs in terms of counties, cities and municipalities. The local and central characteristics of the certain types of taxes and the specialities thereof, as well as the applied functional differences are also scrutinized, and a widely accepted opinion of the taxpayers is explained. Taking these into account, the scientific contribution of this paper is that it provides a basis for further research on tax system development.

Porez na dohodak, zbog svojega temeljnog strukturnog obilježja prilagodljivosti gospodarskoj snazi poreznih obveznika, jedan je od temeljnih instrumenata ostvarenja porezne pravednosti. Pritom progresivnost sustava oporezivanja dohotka ne utječe isključivo na ostvarenje redistributivnog načela, već se smatra pogodnim instrumentom ublažavanja ili anuliranja negativnih posljedica regresivnoga djelovanja neizravnih poreza, ponajprije poreza na dodanu vrijednost. Dodatno, sredstva ubrana s osnove poreza na dohodak, kao dijeljenog poreza, najizdašniji su izvor financiranja jedinica lokalne i područne (regionalne) samouprave i javnih usluga koje one osiguravaju građanima. Imajući navedeno na umu, promotri li se razvoj hrvatskoga sustava oporezivanja dohotka, osobito u posljednjih desetak godina, postavlja se pitanje uspijeva li on u ostvarivanju svojih temeljnih funkcija: fiskalne i socijalne. ; Because of its basic structural feature of adaptability to the taxpayer's economic capacity, personal income tax is one of the basic instruments for achieving tax equity. The progressiveness of the personal income tax system does not exclusively affect the realization of the redistributive principle; it is also considered as a suitable instrument for mitigating or annulling the negative consequences of the regressive effect of indirect taxes, primarily value added tax. In addition, the funds collected from personal income tax, as a shared tax, represent the most generous source of funding for local and regional self-government units and public services which they provide to their residents. Having this in mind, if the development of the Croatian personal income tax system is observed, especially in the last ten years, the question arises whether it succeeds in achieving its basic functions: fiscal and social.