Program Achievements
Albania’s initial threshold program was largely implemented as planned and achieved most of its intended goals. The program launched an electronic tax return filing system, which became mandatory in 2010. This system reduced interaction between tax inspectors and taxpayers, resulting in reduced opportunities for corruption in revenue collection.The program helped streamline business registration procedures by creating a one-stop-shop that reduces the days to register a business from 42 to 3, driving a 49-point, one-year rise on the Doing Business Report in 2009, and a smaller increase in 2010. The new registration system automatically brings new businesses into the tax system, which expanded the tax base and increased government revenues.
The program also created an electronic procurement system now used on all procurements above $4,000 in value. The system doubled competition for the average tender, reducing costs to the government by nearly 12%, and won a United Nations Award for Public Service in 2010.