Because the taxation of meditation did not bring who knows how much money to the budget, the government is making another attempt and this time it is addressing parents: those who send their children to training could benefit from a 10% reduction in fees and taxes. With one condition, however: they must provide proof of the tax receipt received from the meditator. The authorities are thus trying to reduce tax evasion among teachers who offer their services for a fee.
The aid given to parents, “an electoral smoke”. Photo source: archive
The government wants to introduce tax deductions for meditations paid for by parents. In this way, the Government hopes that teachers will tax their activity with students outside of class. The decision will be included in a large package of measures that the Executive is preparing for next year, in an attempt to keep the budget deficit under control. But, say the representatives of the parents, everything is nothing but fluff: the deductions are very small and will not be felt in the family budget.
Parents’ representative: “A ridiculous decision!”
“A 10% tax reduction means 180-200 lei, maximum 300 lei per year. What do you do with this money? I mean, it’s very, very little.” said Cătălin Viorel Nan, president of the National Federation of Parents, for “Adevărul”. “I think that everything is just an electoral smokescreen. It seems to me a measure more anti teachers – those who have PFA – than pro parents. It’s a tiny amount. It’s ridiculous!” the father also specified.
Cătălin Nan believes that these vouchers, which must be registered by parents, would be nothing more than an extra chore, of no help. “The teacher gives you a voucher, but what do you do with it? Where are you going? We will probably fill out another form. I’m sure they’ll put out another one. Otherwise, how? We will most likely wake up with another fiscal e-receipt, e-tax…don’t you see that we are still digitizing. And it is not specifically said who benefits, under what conditions, up to what amounts. It’s kind of like let’s say we’re helping parents. But this is not a help”.
“We want to eliminate the meditation industry”
He is of the opinion that the state, rather than complicit in this way, should do something for the definitive elimination of “parallel education”. “We’ve been fighting for years to reduce the meditation industry. It is not beneficial for the education system. I can understand this kind of training for students who participate in national and international competitions. Who want to perform. But not to help them pass the class”.
This is what education experts also support. “A parent will only be able to deduct his expenses with a valid tax document. So, the obligation to pay these fees and taxes is shifted to the teachers. I think that either we recognize that we have a parallel education system, a secondary education that we tax, or we go back to doing the basic things much more deeply”, said Daniela Vișoianu, expert in education.
Marcel Ciolacu: “A nice amount is being raised”
“My job as prime minister is not to put people in prison or hire tens of thousands of people at ANAF to follow teachers if they pay taxes on meditation. We all know, meditations have been taking place in Romania for 50 years. Everyone takes their children to meditations. My son also meditated. It is normal for everyone to have access to these meditations. Depending on income, there will be tax deductions for meditation for lower earners and the middle class. When you enter the meditation receipt into the computer, it is deducted from your tax. Normally, you calculate this tax monthly, but it is calculated annually and then you will see that a substantial amount is collected”, said Marcel Ciolacu.
