In sector of tax and financial consulting and accounting, the main novelty is that certified accountants again have to be licensed, which is definitely a step forward
IB Interbilanz Consulting & Audit d.o.o. was founded in Austria and has been providing consulting and auditing services since 1991 . The Group currently operates in eight countries – Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, Ukraine and the Czech Republic – at a total of twelve locations. In his interview for InFocus Germany, Filip Boršik, CEO of IB Interbilanz, talks about the company’s 18 years of business in Serbia, Serbian laws, environmental protection and education.
IB Interbilanz Consulting & Audit d.o.o. Belgrade has been operating on the Serbian market for 18 years, in the segment of taxes, accounting and finance. Is there any advice or warning you can give potential clients who intend to do business in Serbia?
I believe that Serbia is a good destination for investors, especially foreign ones, since the government incentives here are significant and can help attract foreign investments. However, Serbia’s geographical position and its quality workforce, which unfortunately is disappearing and leaving Serbia, is what make the country really appealing to investors.
Serbia is generally considered to have good laws, but they are often not implemented or poorly implemented. What is the current situation in the segment that your company operates in?
I agree with you that Serbia has relatively good laws and regulations that are quite close to the EU ones. Of course, things can always be better and implementation is always problematic in our country. Somehow, we have always been more inclined towards being creative in implementing laws rather than strictly adhering to them.
In our sector, that is tax and financial consulting and accounting, the main novelty is that certified accountants again have to be licensed, which is definitely a step forward in providing professional and quality customer services.
I would like to appeal to the legislators in Serbia to encourage sustainable development, whether through tax incentives or some other measures, in order to raise awareness about these very important topics.
Late last year, the Serbian Parliament passed a number of amendments to the Law on Personal Income Tax, the Law on Mandatory Health and Social Insurance, the Law on Corporate Income Tax, the Law on Property Tax, etc. What impact will this have on foreign companies in Serbia and employee status in those companies?
All these changes were made in order to further improve the business sector and harmonize it with the standards of developed market economies. I am very pleased with the amendments to the Law on Personal Income Tax, because it encourages young successful people under the age of 40, who have the strongest potential in this country, to stay in the country and work even more productively and responsibly, which, of course, facilitates development and prosperity of our beautiful country.
How important it is for foreign companies in Serbia to be socially responsible and to get involved in solving everyday problems in communities in which they operate, as well as to work on improving the situation in areas of general interest (such as environmental protection, education, etc.). Do you give advice in that direction too?
As a director of an Austrian consultancy and an associate member of the Renewable Energy Association, it is very important to me that both foreign and domestic investors are aware of sustainable development and the green economy, because without that awareness, I honestly do not know what the future holds. I would like to appeal to everyone to turn to education and environmental protection to save this plant for future generations. On the other hand, I would also like to appeal to the legislators in Serbia to encourage sustainable development, whether through tax incentives or some other measures, in order to raise awareness about these very important topics.