Prime Minister Vasile Tofan presented the main aspects of the bill at a press conference on August 6. He noted that the proposed approach does not simply involve raising taxes, but rather a proper shift in priorities—lower taxes on labor, more investment incentives, stricter measures against so-called "vices," and a fairer approach to exemptions from general tax rules. According to the draft, the personal tax deduction is proposed to be increased by 35%—from 29,700 to 40,000 lei per year. As a result, citizens will not pay income tax on the first 40,000 lei of their annual income, and the budgetary impact of the measure is estimated at nearly 800 million lei—these funds will remain with working citizens. It is also proposed to extend the application of the zero tax rate on undistributed profits until 2029 and to expand access to it for companies with turnover or assets of up to 200 million lei (currently up to 100 million lei). When profits are withdrawn from a business, a dividend tax will apply, and the rate is proposed to be increased from 6% to 8%. The capital gains tax is planned to be increased from 6% to 12%. For banks and other financial institutions, it is proposed to temporarily raise the corporate income tax rate from 12% to 18% in 2027, while the authorities intend to ensure that the additional burden does not lead to a reduction in lending to the economy, an increase in bank fees, or higher interest rates for customers. A reduced VAT rate of 8% will remain in place for essential goods, including bread, vegetables, fruits, most dairy products, medicines, and essential medical supplies. However, the rate will be higher for some food products, and the VAT rate for the HoReCa sector will increase from 8% to 12%. Starting April 1, 2027, new rules for taxing energy resources are proposed. The first 100 kWh of electricity per month will be subject to a zero VAT rate, the first 150 cubic meters of natural gas will be taxed at a rate of 8%, and district heating will continue to be taxed at a zero rate. The standard VAT rate (20%) will apply only to consumption exceeding the established thresholds. It is proposed that packages containing goods ordered from foreign online platforms be subject to VAT, with a fixed fee of 12 lei per shipment. The proposed mechanism will be automated, and buyers will not have to handle customs clearance on their own. Starting in 2027, it is proposed to introduce a 6% tax on gambling. "Moldovans spend 10 billion lei on gambling. This amount exceeds the state budget transfers allocated to healthcare. It is equivalent to all heating subsidies provided by the government over the past nearly four years," Vasile Tofan noted. The draft law provides for a 10% increase in excise taxes on most excise-taxable goods. For tobacco products, an excise tax increase of at least 15% is proposed for 2027 and at least 10% for the following two years; depending on the product category, rates will rise at a faster pace. The excise tax on diesel fuel is planned to be increased by 20% to accelerate alignment with the EU's minimum rates. Excise taxes are also being introduced on sweetened and energy drinks, as well as pyrotechnic products. The direct positive impact of the proposed measures on the state budget is estimated at 5.1 billion lei, including approximately 820 million lei from changes in corporate and personal income taxation, 1.6 billion lei from VAT, and 2.7 billion lei from excise taxes. The draft has been submitted for public consultations. It is worth noting that this was originally a draft tax and customs policy for 2027 that the Ministry of Finance (led by Andrian Gavrilita) presented in June; at that time, the impact of the proposed measures was estimated at 6 billion lei. However, following consultations and a wave of criticism from citizens and the business community, it was decided to revise the draft. The new bill omits some of the measures previously proposed. Before approving the draft, the government will hold a series of consultations with the business community and civil society. // 06.08.2026 — InfoMarket.