The company Delhaize Serbia rejected as incorrect the claims of the Governor of the National Bank of Serbia (NBS) Jorgovanka Tabakovic that the company "took 130 million euros out of Serbia without paying taxes" and that it "falsified the liquidation procedure".
The company's statement stated that all the mentioned steps of status changes, including the separation, transfer of capital and subsequent liquidation of the newly created entity in 2021, were carried out in accordance with the laws Of Serbia and in consultation with an internationally recognized audit and tax house.
The Delhaize company claims that Tax Administration In 2022, it reviewed the transactions and adopted a decision reclassifying the transfer of capital into the distribution of dividends.
It was pointed out that Deleuze Serbia, respecting the aforementioned decision, paid EUR 7.000.000 in tax on the dividend, despite disagreeing with the interpretation of the Tax Administration, which is why it filed a formal complaint on April 1, 2022.
The Delez Srbija company stated that the decision on the appeal is still ongoing.
"Publicly stated claims accusing our company of disobeying the law and evading tax payment are contrary to the culture of transparent and responsible business to which Delez Serbia is consistently committed in the Republic of Serbia, where it is the largest employer in the private sector and one of the largest taxpayers. Such statements are unfounded and misleading and can negatively affect the business environment and trust in institutions," said Delez Serbia.
Jorgovanka Tabaković's accusations
NBS Governor Jorgovanka Tabaković previously stated that Delez Srbija company faked the liquidation procedure in order to withdraw profit in the amount of 130 million euros from Serbia, without paying taxes.
Tabaković added that she is therefore not worried about the possibility that some stores will close their stores due to limiting margins.
"Deleuze makes a significant profit in Serbia. We found out at the time that Deleuze needs to pay 120-130 million euros, and we mean profit, that's logical, they pay the profit and pay tax to the state. That transaction is done, but that amount does not appear in the dividend report, we get another code - payment of liquidation assets," said Tabaković.
She stated that Deleuze then founded a company at the same address, where the parent company is located Belgium, he held for five months and transferred 130 million euros to her, without dinars of taxes paid to Serbia.
She pointed out that Deleuze faked the liquidation procedure in order to take the profit out of Serbia without paying taxes.
Tabakovic said that she also communicated this to the company's representatives.
According to her, this is proof that someone never has enough profit, but that he also has no respect for the host country, which provided him with so much money.
"That's why I perceive this threat with bitterness. That's why I say that maybe these measures with margins are a little too late," Tabaković said.
