Finance ministry waiting for donations from gambling companies after tax error
The Estonian Finance Ministry awaits voluntary donations from gambling companies following a tax exemption error costing the state €4 million.Summary
The Estonian Ministry of Finance is anticipating voluntary donations from remote gambling companies after a legislative error temporarily exempted them from paying taxes, a mistake projected to cost the state €4 million. The Riigikogu has since approved a technical fix to reinstate the gambling tax for online casinos. While the tax is expected to generate around €27 million in 2027 and €4 million in the first quarter, several gambling operators have expressed willingness to donate to the state instead of paying the tax. The Ministry of Finance has provided guidelines for these donations, allowing companies to contribute to the Cultural Endowment of Estonia or directly to the state treasury, though donations are also subject to income tax. As of now, no donations have been received, but operators are planning to make payments around the tax deadline. The shortfall in tax revenue impacts the Cultural Endowment's budget, but its head, Margus Allikmaa, expects the prime minister to compensate for the missing funds from the government's reserve.
(Source：Err)