Serbia: Amendments to the Serbian Excise Duties Act

International Tax Review is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 4 Bouverie Street, London, EC4Y 8AX

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Serbia: Amendments to the Serbian Excise Duties Act

blagojevic.jpg

Ivana Blagojevic

Amendments to the Serbian Excise Duties Act were published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia No 55/2015 on June 24 2015. The reasons for the adoption of the amendments are predominantly:

  • Harmonisation of the Serbian laws with EU laws. These amendments mean excise duties are imposed on electricity; and

  • The amendments to the Excise Duties Act will serve as the basis for the realisation of the memorandum between Serbia and the IMF. These amendments should ensure further inflow into the Serbian budget.

By introducing a 7.5% excise duty on electricity, the Serbian government expects an annual inflow of additional RSD 17 billion ($158 million) in taxes each year.

In addition, by way of the latest amendments, liquids for e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products are now also subject to excise duties. The excise duty of RSD 4.00 per milligram of liquids will provide further inflow into the Serbian budget.

The main changes to the Excise Duties Act are the following:

  • The scope of the Act is extended to cover electricity, smokeless tobacco products and liquids for e-cigarettes;

  • The excise duty on smokeless tobacco will be levied per kilogram, and the excise duty rate will be 40% of the minimal excise duty on 1,000 cigarettes, assessed for the category of the average retail price of cigarettes;

  • The excise duty on liquids for e-cigarettes will be RSD 4.00 per milligram of liquid;

  • The excise duty on electricity for final consumption will be 7.5%. The base for the calculation of the excise duty shall be the price of electricity, which includes all direct expenses attributable to the delivery of the electricity;

  • The payer of the excise duty is the supplier;

  • The calculation period is a calendar month;

  • The excise duties are due within 15 days from the end of the period in question;

  • The following supplies are exempt from excise duties:

  • Supply for business purposes of diplomatic and consular offices (under the reciprocity principle);

  • Supply for business purposes of international organisations, if the exemption is provided for in an international agreement (under the reciprocity principle);

  • Supply for private purposes of foreign staff of diplomatic and consular offices, including family members (under the reciprocity principle);

  • Supply for private purposes of the staff of international organisations, including their family members, if such exemption is provided for in an international agreement (under the reciprocity principle);

  • Supplies in connection with projects realised under international agreements, if such agreements provide for exemptions;

  • Supply of electricity, which is used for production of electricity, in the process of cogeneration, and for self-supply of electricity producers;

  • Electricity used in mines; and

  • Electricity used for the proper operation and maintenance of the electricity distribution network.

Ivana Blagojevic (ivana.blagojevic@eurofast.eu)

Eurofast Global, Belgrade Office

Website: www.eurofast.eu

more across site & shared bottom lb ros

More from across our site

The cuts disproportionately affected staff in certain positions, the report also found; in other news, MHA announced the €24 million acquisition of Baker Tilly South East Europe
The plan aims to improve the efficiency, transparency, and effectiveness of direct tax administration in India
Meanwhile, South Africa’s finance minister has accepted a court decision on suspending a VAT increase and US President Donald Trump mulls a 100% tariff on foreign films
Jaime Carey speaks about the benefits of his tax background, DEI values, the use of AI for a smarter legal practice, and other priorities that will define his presidency
Historically low levels of attrition over consecutive years made a ‘difficult decision’ necessary, PwC has reportedly said
WTS Global is also vetting new potential member firms in Algeria, Cote D’Ivoire and Benin, Kelly Mgbor tells ITR in an exclusive interview
The scope of qualifying pillar two tax credits could reportedly be broadened; in other news, hundreds of IRS appeals staff are to resign
For many taxpayers, the prospect of long-term certainty that a bilateral APA offers can override concerns about time, cost and confidentiality
Levine, who served under the Joe Biden administration, led the US’s negotiations on the OECD’s two-pillar solution
The deal to acquire ITR's parent company is expected to complete by the end of May 2025
Gift this article