Non-EU e-commerce platforms that sell directly to consumers in Romania may generate tax losses of about RON 10.86 billion (some EUR 2.12 billion) per year by 2027 if their expansion continues at current rates, according to an impact analysis published by the Romanian Association of Online Stores (ARMO) and carried out by independent analyst Iancu Guda.

“We are talking about at least EUR 2.1 billion per year in direct and indirect tax losses for Romania, [which is] enormous. In addition, physical stores in established categories may lose a relevant part of their traffic, with severe effects on investments, employment, and contributions to the public budget,” said Guda, as reported by Cursdeguvernare.ro.

ARMO implies the national budget is losing money if the parcels with a value under EUR 150 enter the country from non-EU platforms with no duties.

“The impact analysis highlights the size of the imbalance between local retailers and non-EU platforms. We are not only talking about competitiveness, but also about significant losses for the public budget in an already complicated fiscal and economic context,” said Cristi Movilă, president of ARMO.