Budget, Estonia, Financial Services, Taxation

In total, individuals and legal entities owe the State 5.2 billion kroons, 4.7 billion kroons of which are debts of legal entities. In comparison to the beginning of the year, the tax debt has grown by nearly 1 billion kroons or by 24%.

Director General of the Tax and Customs Board Enriko Aav stated that the growth in the tax debt could be predicted. "These numbers give cause for concern – we ask people to remember that in case of developing payment difficulties, they turn to the tax administration establishment as soon as possible," he said, adding that the bigger the debts grow, the more difficult the situation will be for the debtor.

Enterprises operating in the field of retail and wholesale trade have the most payment difficulties – the amount involved is a total of 1.5 billion kroons. This field is followed by the enterprises in the field of real estate, construction and manufacturing.

4,902 companies involved in developing and renting real estate and in other business activities have a total of 845 million kroons of tax debt; 2,745 construction enterprises have a total tax debt of 680 million kroons and 2,254 manufacturing enterprises have an aggregate tax debt of 728 million kroons.