UNMIK/PR/143
Pristina—Yesterday 34 tax inspectors recruited by the Tax Administration of the Central Fiscal Authorities of Kosovo (CFA) graduated from a rigorous one-week training program and were sworn in as the first tax inspectors in post-conflict Kosovo.
The candidates were selected from over 700 job applications received from around Kosovo since recruitment efforts began in November 1999.
Mr. Joly Dixon, Deputy SRSG for the Economic Development, Reconstruction and Recovery Project, EU Pillar IV, told the graduates their task would be extremely difficult as “you will have to work hard at changing peoples’ views and thinking”.
“A tax system works well, if it is administered well. People will pay their taxes if they know that the government will use those funds to pay for things that will benefit them, and also if the system is fair and transparent”.
Jo Beth Mertens, Head of Tax Revenues for the CFA, told the graduates that “Kosovo will need to develop a strong tax base in order to support its political priorities. This is the first step on the road to self sufficiency”.
The first job for the new tax inspectors will be educating the owners of large establishments on the pending tax on hotels and restaurants grossing more than 15,000 DM a month, proposed to go into effect on 1 February.
The CFA will soon post more job announcements in the media for a variety of posts in the Tax Administration and in other areas of the Authority.