Effective 16 September 2026, ANAF’s General Directorate for Fiscal Anti-Fraud (DGAF) initiated Operation F.O.C.U.S. (Fiscalizarea Operaţiunilor Și Conformarea Unităților de Schimb), a nationwide simultaneous control action targeting 180 currency exchange offices across Romania. The operation aims to verify compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations, foreign exchange reporting obligations under Law 127/2011, and fiscal legislation governing the declaration of income derived from exchange rate margins and service fees. Inspectors will examine transaction records, customer due diligence files, suspicious transaction reports submitted to the National Office for Prevention and Control of Money Laundering (ONPCSB), and the accurate calculation and payment of corporate income tax and VAT on exchange services. The initiative responds to identified risks of tax base erosion and illicit financial flows through under-declared foreign currency operations.
Key Takeaways
- Comprehensive Compliance Sweep: The simultaneous national deployment across 180 entities signals a zero-tolerance approach to regulatory arbitrage in the foreign exchange sector, ensuring uniform enforcement standards.
- AML-Tax Nexus Focus: The operation bridges anti-money laundering supervision with fiscal control, targeting the dual risk of unreported income and failure to flag suspicious transactions as required by EU Directive 2018/843 (AMLD5) transposed into Romanian law.
- Operational Readiness Required: Exchange offices must ensure real-time availability of complete transaction ledgers, KYC documentation, and tax returns for the past five years, as inspectors possess full access rights under Article 138 of the Fiscal Procedure Code.
Disclaimer: This article is compiled and summarized by the AI based on publicly available information and is for general information purposes only. It does not constitute any form of formal tax advice, legal opinion, or basis for performance. Please consult a qualified professional tax advisor or legal counsel for tax advice.
Source: Read Official Announcement