Drastic tax hikes: pensioners among those hardest hit by new property taxes

The new increases in local taxes and charges have triggered a profound crisis for many families across Romania, with pensioners among the hardest hit. The situation has become particularly dire for seniors who are simultaneously facing delays in receiving their pensions and substantially higher property tax bills.

Tax office counters across the country are overwhelmed by endless queues, made up largely of elderly people trying to understand why the amounts they owe have risen so sharply. Many pensioners report that they can no longer cope with their day-to-day expenses and describe the situation as "dramatic".

Extreme cases of tax increases

Cases have been identified in which taxpayers have faced property tax rises of up to 750%. One particularly troubling case involves a person who discovered they owe nearly 3,000 euros in tax on their home — a sum that effectively turns the owner into a "tenant in their own house".

The electronic payments system has been suffering frequent outages, precisely at peak times when residents are trying to access their information. This is causing additional confusion, particularly for elderly people who are unfamiliar with technology.

The impact on older people

For pensioners, the situation is especially difficult. Many have yet to receive this month's pension, and without a regular income they cannot pay the increased charges. They find themselves trapped: either they forfeit the 10% discount for early payment, or they risk being unable to pay at all.

The authorities maintain that residents rushed to pay based on provisional figures displayed online. However, taxpayers explain that they were trying to pay promptly in order to take advantage of the 10% reduction valid until the end of March.

Many pensioners are now calling for their taxes to be correctly recalculated and for clear explanations of how the figures have been arrived at. Until the system displays accurate and justified amounts, large numbers of elderly taxpayers are refusing to make any payments, fearing further errors in the system.