---
title: "Moldova starts collecting taxes from firms in breakaway east"
url: https://moldova1.md/p/86116/moldova-starts-collecting-taxes-from-firms-in-breakaway-east
published: 2026-09-24T18:00:00Z
language: en
author: "Dumitru Petruleac"
section: "Economic"
source: moldova1.md
---

# Moldova starts collecting taxes from firms in breakaway east

> Moldovan authorities have begun collecting value-added tax and excise duties from companies based on the left bank of the Dniester River, Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Valeriu Chiveri said on Tuesday.

![](https://storage.moldova1.md/images/6650f47f-8535-464a-9e79-f7fa338aa2af.jpg)

Moldovan authorities have begun collecting value-added tax and excise duties from companies based on the left bank of the Dniester River, Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Valeriu Chiveri said on Tuesday.

Speaking on public broadcaster Moldova 1, Chiveri stated that the new taxation framework introduced on September 1 is operating smoothly despite initial concerns over potential administrative hurdles. A portion of the proceeds will be allocated to a Convergence Fund designed to finance local social programs and regional infrastructure, with budgetary allotments scheduled for 2027.

**Funding mechanism and consultative council**

Government officials are currently finalizing the operational framework for the Convergence Fund, which is expected to receive formal cabinet approval within the next six weeks. The mechanism will be overseen by an advisory council led by the Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration, alongside a dedicated permanent secretariat.

The council will include representatives from key state institutions, including the Ministry of Finance, the National Health Insurance Company (CNAM), the National Social Insurance House (CNAS), and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development. Financial disbursements will be determined based on the total revenues collected.

*“We want these funds to support not only social benefits, which is already happening through public health insurance, but also capital infrastructure projects,”* Chiveri said, noting that specific development proposals were presented during bilateral talks in Tiraspol earlier in the day.

**Gradual tax harmonization**

The new tax regulations apply primarily to non-essential and luxury goods, such as alcohol, tobacco, perfumes, jewellery, and specific motor vehicles. Chiveri noted that while revenue collection remains moderate, businesses on the left bank are adjusting to the framework, mirroring the gradual adaptation observed after the introduction of general customs duties.

The measure aims to establish fair market conditions for businesses across the country. Companies operating on the right bank had previously faced uneven competition from untaxed operators in the eastern districts.

*“The fact that the mechanism is functioning proves our approach is sound,”* Chiveri said. *“While authorities in Tiraspol are not pleased with this decision, extending our regulatory framework nationwide is an essential step forward.”*

The initiative represents the first phase of a broader fiscal unification roadmap approved by the government on August 26. Under this timeline, VAT and excise duties will expand on January 1, 2027, to mineral water, soft drinks, metals, and petroleum products, followed by natural gas and electricity on April 1, 2027. Full nationwide fiscal alignment is scheduled for completion by January 1, 2030.

**Healthcare coverage and regional dialogue**

Chiveri also reported that nearly 83,000 residents living on the left bank of the Dniester—representing roughly a quarter of the area's estimated 350,000 inhabitants—are officially enrolled in Moldova’s mandatory health insurance system. Most of the beneficiaries are pensioners and minors whose coverage is financed directly by the central government.

To expand regional access to medical care, Chisinau has proposed converting an administrative building owned by the state forestry agency into a local medical facility in the Bender area. Separatist authorities in Tiraspol have not yet issued a response to the written proposal.

The fiscal update followed the third round of “1+1” working-level negotiations held in Tiraspol on September 24. Discussions between the two sides also covered the operational conditions of Romanian-language high schools in Rîbnița and Grigoriopol, vehicle registration offices, and social assistance access.

Translation by **Iurie Tataru**

[Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/2OWR1zo5UA4)

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