Around 450,000 to 500,000 citizens across Albania use public transport, but the cost of the service and the tax burden on operators risk becoming even heavier.
This concern was raised by the National Association of Urban Transport in a letter addressed to Parliament, outlining a series of requests for tax relief as part of discussions on the 2027 budget and fiscal package.
Transport operators oppose the proposed increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) from 20% to 21% and are calling for a reduced VAT rate of 6% for public transport, arguing that it is an essential service for households.
“Taking into account rising fuel costs and living expenses, the Association believes that any additional increase in the tax burden on public transport should be assessed in relation to its impact on citizens and the financial capacity of operators,” the association stated in its letter.
In addition to a VAT reduction, the association is requesting that licensed buses be exempted from the new annual road tax. It is also calling for an exemption from excise duty on fuel used for public transport or the introduction of a reimbursement scheme.
Operators argue that while fuel, wage, and maintenance costs continue to rise, they cannot unilaterally change ticket prices or monthly pass fares.
For this reason, they are asking Parliament to hold a hearing and conduct a specific assessment of the potential impact of next year’s fiscal package on both the public transport sector and citizens.
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