Albania’s 2027 fiscal package is facing open resistance from organized foreign business in the country. The British Chamber of Commerce has asked the government for a full review and a five-year postponement, arguing that the proposed changes could burden companies, slow investment and translate into higher costs for consumers.
Direct opposition to the government’s package
In its response, the British Chamber of Commerce speaks out against the 2027 fiscal package and questions the logic of the interventions, which, in its view, should not be seen only as an additional source of budget revenue.
The organization warns that such changes could affect investor decisions, bank financing, employment and the competitiveness of the economy, especially in sectors with long-term investments and contracts signed earlier.
Dividend tax and VAT, the two most contested points
One of the main objections concerns the government’s proposal to increase the dividend tax from 8% to 15%. According to the British Chamber, this constitutes a significant intervention in the fiscal treatment of returns on capital and could directly affect how companies distribute profits, reinvest or finance their activity.
The organization also opposes the increase in VAT to 21%, assessing that the measure could lead to price increases for basic products and services. According to this position, the burden is expected to shift to consumers and to the competitive capacity of businesses.
Calls for real analysis, not only budget calculations
The British Chamber has presented the government with 10 concrete requests, including a review of the fiscal measures, a postponement of implementation and an analysis of their impact on the economy.
The organization’s main message is that the government should assess the package’s net effect on inflation, consumption, economic activity and budget revenue, rather than relying only on expectations of higher collections.
Concern also over the impact on prices
The response positively assesses the declared objective of reducing the consumption burden for basic food products. However, the British Chamber is calling for clear monitoring to see whether the VAT reduction will actually be reflected in final prices.
This reservation suggests that, even when measures are presented as easing, business wants proof that the declared effect will reach the consumer and will not remain only on paper.
Faced with a package that, according to the official version, aims to increase revenue and reshape the fiscal burden, the British Chamber’s opposition highlights a familiar tension: how much of the cost business will bear and how much will be passed on to the market.
The debate over the 2027 fiscal package thus remains not only a matter of taxes, but also a test of how the government balances revenue collection with the investment climate and pressure on prices.