
Second-rate banks in Albania have issued over 1million debit cards to citizens, or cards used by employees to withdraw their salaries at bank ATMs.
But the debit card figure issued by the banks does not match the number of employees declared in The Tax, which resolutions about 650,000 persons. The difference of 500,000 people is not justified by the number of two-employed and therefore, the Ministry of Finance sees this as an indicator of informality.
The MF strategy envisions the obligation to be imposed that all businesses that exercise cash sales activity in the trade, tourism and services sector will have the obligation to install POS. It is estimated that the number of primary and secondary commercial units that will use POS terminals will be about 130 thousand.
Measures proposed by the MF:
1-Establishing the obligation of tax-payers who develop activity in the field of trade, services and tourism to install POS terminals;
2- Obligation to be equipped with debit card of all employees in the country and penalty application in case of refusal;
3- The creation of a working group together with the Bank of Albania and the Association of Banks to lower the commissions for the use of POS terminals between second-rate banks and tax-payers, as well as lowering the cost of holding bank accounts for individuals and small business;
4- Lowering the threshold for cash payments among businesses from 150,000 lek which is currently at 80,000 lek.