At a session on Friday, 71 MPs in the 120-seat Parliament voted in favor of amendments to the law on returning a portion of the value added tax to individuals. Nine MPs abstained and none was against in the fast-tracked vote.

The passing of the amendments paves the way for the ‘VAT-Free Weekend’ measure to be implemented. It is one of the many measures proposed by the government to alleviate the consequences from the coronavirus crisis.

SDSM MPs called it a ‘project of interest of the citizens’. According to the ruling majority, the VAT-Free Weekend project is designed to boost private consumption and the national budget.

The opposition criticized the government for implementing the measure ‘too late’. VMRO-DPMNE MPs propose the measure take place during four weekends – two in November and December and two in January and February next year – so as to protect public health and prevent stored getting crowded all the while helping the economy recover.

During the VAT-Free Weekend, the citizens will see value added tax returned after buying products over the weekend. It is estimated that nearly 350,000 users of the MojDDV (MyVAT) app can be part of the campaign by buying locally-produced products and services, computers and IT equipment in general that doesn’t exceed 30,000 denars (EUR 500).

According to projections, a turnover of EUR 170 million will be recorded and VAT returns will amount close to EUR 17 million.