Tax Office Foreclosing on property

[zvekov]

i am inclined to agree with the penultimate post... as long as the funds are there to make the payment... i will not sit at home... inspection or not... you have to fight tooth and nail and things will get resolved.. The objective here is for them to receive their cash and they will happily drop the foreclosure unless there's some underhand play here by the foreclosure team.

Croatia has lots of rules and regulations but one has to also remember the disposable income is still low and upholding all those rules is just not feasible.. if every croatian(natural or legal) with a tax bill had their asset repossessed that foreclosure department will be the busiest department in the tax office at this moment, as most of croatia is indebted to the tax man. So much that most of the foreign-owned banks have made it a clear policy of not lending to companies looking for working capital when the ultimate aim is to pay the government... It smacks of Greece mach II.. if the croatian government needs funding they ned to come to the money markets... we are waiting...

[Madgolfer]

Media exposure is a double edged sword and a route to be used with some caution i would suggest. In a conflict situation it can be useful as a last resort, but at an early stage probably not the best option.

The papers may well pick up on the story and run with it and once it is out in the open there is no going back.

The "local" officials will most likely not give a d**n about the story hitting the press, its only once those higher up the food chain start to get grief that anything will come of it.

Once you are known as being an "activist" etc, things can get awkward when you want or need to do anything in the future.

Tell them to get on the next flight over and go sort it out !

[crojoe]

Maybe Madgolfer, but it's the squeaky wheel that gets the oil. I have found in Croatia you really have to fight for your rights and if you want something done you have to bug the hell out of the people. The concept of customer service is at a zero rating in government, and retail follows very close behind.

At the beginning I agree to get over here and tread softly at first, wear a smile and meet half way, wit puppy eyes explain that as a “foreigner” we are naive and don't know all the laws so we need your help and understand. But, if all they then face is a brick wall, then I say pull out all the stops. Anyway, hope Carol will let us know how this dramatic story ends (a lot more intriguing then East Enders).

[gobrea]

Kind of agree with mg on this one...
nearly every week during summer there is stories about foreign owned apartments being occupied by "FRIENDS" of the owner. Now these "FRIENDS" might be paying to stay in the place and the money is not paid into any croatian account so Cro doesnt get any pieces of pie from these owners.....
The frequency of these accounts became more and more hostile...maybe hostile is to strong a word to use towards foreigners at the end of summer,
so there is probably some Gov agenda thru the media to report this more and more. "raise awareness to mugs ie.taxpayers that their money is stolen from them" by the foreigners.
so sympathy might not be forthcoming if you use the media....
in fact it could be used to highlight once again, foreigners greed etc..... Media is very funny here and i dont mean in the humoris (spelling) way.

[crojoe]

It's good to hear that while money must be paid out, at least the people won't loose their home. Shows it dosen't pay to just wait and see. Glad for example I did the registration of my company on time, so at least I have the law on my side and it won't come back to bite me.

[crojoe]

It's always easier to smear someone not local, thus all that fine reporting about foreigners not paying taxes. I am pretty sure this is not "always" the case as no doubt the daily tourism tax is paid. I'm sure some folks rent their places out to friends, and friends of friends, but it's a bit difficult to police. I am sure that many Croatians also don't report all their earnings or night stays. The year before last was about all the illegal houses built without permits, and they showed some poor folks getting their houses torn down, all the while some big wigs in the same boat saw their houses remain standing. The government just needs to do a wide spread amnesty action, and give people 12 months to register, pay the fees and get on with living.

[gramand]

Sorry Carol not intended for you personally you seem to be a pleasant and sensible person from your posts.

I'm sorry please tell me f I am being stupid but I have read 2 pages of this garbage

1) If you buy a property in Croatia you know you have to pay RETT at 5%, if your estate agent doesn't tell you your lawyer will and even as a last resort something like Martin Westby's book will tell you. It is common knowledge.
2) The bill can take from 6 weeks to a couple of years to come through, that time is interest free.
3) The rate of interest charged by the tax office is not exorbitant (lower than a bank in Hr or indeed most of the world).
4) I am sure that the time between the tax office remitting a bill and threatening foreclosure was longer than a few months.

What I am saying is YOU HAVE A BILL DUE, YOU KNOW ABOUT IT SO PAY IT.

I have been a member of this board for 3 years and have made only 30 posts I am a lowly junior member ,why?

Because the board is full of whingeing losers who cannot make a success of life in Croatia or probably their home country either. Most of the loudest posters don't even live here!

Croatia is a beautiful and yes, sometimes difficult country, riddled with bureaucracy the odd bit of corruption and it can be frustrating. The same could be said of most of the world.

But if you, smile, ask questons, try with the language and are reasonable you can achieve whatever you want here. Stop whining and start trying to fit in. Try and people will help you.

[Ribaric]

I agree with much of what you say Gramand but I'd get a refund from that charm school if I were you.

[crojoe]

Ouch gramand, a bunch of wingers you say? 3 years and 30 posts? With all your insight, you could always chime in with some good advice. Sure, some stuff said here is done so out of frustration, other bits of input from experience, even some first hand experience, then we also take a moment or two to let it all hang out (maybe not a pretty sight). It's all fun most of the time, and helpful. Actually, the requirement to register ones company came to light on this board, prior to that I never heard about it, so sometimes a bit of useful info falls from the grand table of wingers.

[3lions]

Dec 29, 2010 17:22:06 GMT 1 gramand said:

the odd bit of corruption

www.croatiantimes.com/news/General_News/2010-12-28/16106/Over_hundred_of_art_pieces_taken_from_Sander%B4s_collection

...there are lots of different posters on here, and I think it would be a mistake to try to walk in all their shoes at the same time.

[gramand]

Ribaric: Thanks, we met in the british embassy when you were arranging your nuptuals, glad that went well hope you get through with the car too. If you need any help PM me, I know a man who has.

Crojoe: Not sure what you are trying to tell me? In 3 years here I have,
1) Formed a Company
2) Achieved business and residence permits
3) Bought a property
4) Failed miserably with the language but am still trying
5) Brought across all my worldly goods with no customs hassle
6) Made lots of good Croatian friends
7) Paid all my bills taxes and dues
I even now have the germ of a business which may work.

But I have only achieved 30 posts which apart from this one have been non contentious.

If I had listened to all the miserable stories on this board I would have achieved 0 out of 7 goals and probably gone home with my tail between my legs.

All I am trying to say is, yes the bureaucracy is bad (but mainly because of the old Napoleonic Law code which is rampant in France and Italy too) , but wait till you see the bureaucracy the EU churns out. There is a bit of corruption undoubtedly but last year we "discovered" that 97% of British MPs were crooks so Croatia ain't so bad really.

3Lions: Way too deep for me sorry, Mr Sanader may well be corrupt as alleged and have lined his own pockets.

But did he take his country into an illegal war based on bogus, faked intelligence, and then send his country's young men to die ill equipped thousands of miles from home as Blair , Brown and Bush did. When he retired/resigned did Mr Sanader travel the world charging 250,000 euros a night to sing his own praises as Mr Blair is still doing.

And will any of those 3 ever be brought to trial or have their ill gotten gains confiscated as it appears Mr Sanader might?

[prkbrk]

Dec 29, 2010 20:17:10 GMT 1 Ribaric said:

I agree with much of what you say Gramand but I'd get a refund from that charm school if I were you.

You see this is what happens when you let 'juniors' post on the boards- 'out of the mouths of babes' springs to mind IMO

With my footballing hat on we have two sayings that i think might be relevant to some who post here:

MOPE(s)- Most Offended People Ever (when they complain continually about everything to do with HR) - (geez, you would think it was your country).

'Why dont you go home'- the solution (if you dont like it here)!

Anyway off to play with the tipsters- looks like I am slipping behind you Ribaric

[crojoe]

gramand... then that makes two of us! Only difference is I have been here 6 years. My point is not everything on this forum is from the wingers, but there is plenty of useful info. Since you are an intelligent person, a forum by most accounts is for expression, be it positive or negative. And this forum is so diverse in topics. Some folk’s ramblings I don't bother with, but others I comment on.

But, glad to see a success story like yours.

[3lions]

Dec 30, 2010 17:28:10 GMT 1 gramand said:

3Lions: Way too deep for me sorry, Mr Sanader may well be corrupt as alleged and have lined his own pockets.

But did he take his country into an illegal war based on bogus, faked intelligence, and then send his country's young men to die ill equipped thousands of miles from home as Blair , Brown and Bush did. When he retired/resigned did Mr Sanader travel the world charging 250,000 euros a night to sing his own praises as Mr Blair is still doing.

And will any of those 3 ever be brought to trial or have their ill gotten gains confiscated as it appears Mr Sanader might?

well OK compared to Idi Amin I guess he is a thoroughly decent chap.

[3lions]

I am particularly fond of the new cleaner finding the mail