NEW SUPPORT MODEL BEING PREPARED TO REFUND PART OF FUEL EXCISE TAXES

BANJA LUKA, MARCH 23 /SRNA/ - SNSD President Milorad Dodik said that Republika Srpska is preparing a new support model for citizens and the economy through a refund of part of the funds collected from fuel excise taxes, to ease the economic pressure caused by rising prices.

He stated that both citizens and business entities will be able to submit fiscal receipts for fuel purchases at the premises of the Tax Authority at the end of each month, after which they will be refunded a portion of the amount related to excise taxes. The estimated refund, he explained, will range between 10 and 20 percent, representing direct financial relief for households and the economy. He believes this is a fair and sustainable approach that protects the economic interests of Republika Srpska and helps citizens amid an unstable energy market. "This model is based on the principle that funds collected within Republika Srpska should be returned to its citizens, rather than having decisions on their allocation transferred to the level of joint institutions of BiH," Dodik told reporters in Banja Luka. He expects that the implementation of this measure will contribute to greater financial discipline, as citizens will be motivated to collect and submit fiscal receipts, which will further strengthen the tax system. Dodik emphasized that excise taxes are also a matter of patriotism, noting that in BiH, there is hardly any issue, big or small, that cannot be viewed through the lens of patriotism. "And I want to say that it is not patriotic at all if someone today insists on accepting Muslims' efforts to centralize BiH by changing the Law on Excise Taxes and transferring decision-making authority over excise taxes to the Council of Ministers of BiH. This is not a matter of rates; it is not about anything else, it is about the transfer of competencies," he emphasized. He concluded that this is certainly not patriotic and is not in the interest of Republika Srpska.