UIO: VAT payers must urgently register for the new method of submitting VAT returns, deadline by the end of December

(Patria) - Out of the total number of 53,775 VAT payers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, only 12.35% of payers have registered a representative with the Indirect Taxation Authority who will submit VAT returns in a new way starting from the beginning of 2024.

Given that the legally prescribed deadline for submitting VAT returns signed with a new qualified electronic signature is approaching, we warn all VAT payers to inform themselves as soon as possible, take appropriate steps, and avoid misdemeanor sanctions.

In order for indirect tax payers to use the electronic services of the Indirect Taxation Authority with the use of a qualified electronic signature, such as submitting VAT returns certified in the new way, it is necessary for each payer to first conclude an Agreement on the Use of the Information System for Electronic Business with the Indirect Taxation Authority. This is the first step that every VAT payer must fulfill.

Each payer submits the certified and signed Agreement on the Use of the Information System for Electronic Business with the Indirect Taxation Authority to the competent regional center of the UIO (Banja Luka, Sarajevo, Mostar, and Tuzla).

In addition, each tax payer must register a representative – a natural person who will conduct electronic business with the UIO on behalf of the payer (submit VAT returns using a qualified electronic certificate). The representative can be a person employed by the tax payer, or an accountant who prepares VAT returns for a larger number of tax payers. In any case, the representative is a natural person who must have a qualified electronic certificate, which they can obtain from the Indirect Taxation Authority.

The UIO is a certified body for issuing qualified electronic certificates, and as a certifier, the Authority issues qualified electronic certificates to natural persons and natural persons employed by tax payers. Applications for issuing qualified electronic certificates are also submitted to the competent regional center of the UIO.

The obligation to submit VAT returns using a qualified electronic certificate for all VAT payers starts from the tax period of January 2024, and therefore all VAT payers must take the necessary steps to be able to fulfill their obligations within the legally prescribed deadline.