Tax time everywhere

Before I travel to Albania every spring I make sure to file early my tax return in the U.S. It’s quite a headache to take care of this task every year, which I have faithfully and painstakingly attended to, also on behalf of my organization.

In the U.S. it’s a recognized fact that we could use more streamlined forms, in addition to a complete reorganization of the I.R.S. laws that have become more convoluted over the years, but at least all sorts of information is readily available in print and online, in minute details. From my experience with tax returns and filing also in countries such as Italy and Albania, this chore can become a nightmare for diverse and different reasons. Basically this is due not only to the unnecessary complexity of the rules, but to the lack of documentation, and available information to the general public, but this, of course, provides excellent business for accountants and the (Italian) “commercialisti”.

In Albania there are additional and different type of problems in this field. Some progress has been made and continues to take place, with most laws (some of which poorly worded, not very specific, and quickly approved to make progress) available also online, but not very organized, and thus, difficult and time consuming to research.

Today, conscious of the approaching deadline, I made it my business to go and take care of the city and state taxes here in Tirana, and was happy that it was a beautiful sunny day, and I tell you why.

The city hall tax offices have been recently built outside, and behind the main large building. This annex of various individual, one floor, pre-fabricated small offices form a cluster under the shadow of the old clock tower in the center of the city. Most of them, however, are just big enough to hold the working staff, their desks and files, with open windows to the outside where the public can conduct their business. There is not even a ledger where one can either lay down papers or append a signature. You can imagine the situation during bad weather, where one must additionally hold an umbrella.

I have been in such a situation years ago, for another matter and at a different place, when I also had to wait for the clerk to complete the task at hand while I was standing by the window, with my feet in mud and a puddle of water that had formed underneath it, due to a pothole. In the early 1990’s, when needing some documentation, I also experienced being inside old and decrepit office buildings with no lights in narrow corridors jammed with people – mostly men, and all smoking. Beside suffocation, I also felt like a smoked herring!

By comparison today, the progress looks great. Most government offices have been completely renovated, and they now enjoy beautiful lighting, air conditioning, and heating, with shining marble floors and large hallways. Some exception, such as the above described one, are new recent additions needed to meet today’s demands for additional services unheard of under the dictatorial regime that lasted until 15 years ago.

It was interesting today watching people, with folders under their arms, scrambling for answers, or clarifications, waving papers, while questioning employees, and getting used to the modern democratic system of being tax payers. Even at the banks, nowadays, customers have learned to wait their turn patiently on line, and conduct all sorts of transactions, as individuals or business people that did not exist for over half a century under the old totalitarian government that developed after WWII. Much is still to be done, and it necessary to push forward!