Croatia
Measures taken in response to coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
Adoption date |
Type of measure |
Beneficiaries' sector specification |
Description of measure |
30/03/2020 |
Private moratoria |
All sectors |
HANFA asked leasing companies to clarify the process of approving the moratorium on leasing and sent additional recommendations to leasing companies relating to: the possibility of contracting a moratorium for a period longer than three months, termination of accrued interest during the moratorium, then suspension all forced collection procedures during the contracted moratorium period for previously regular leaseholders. HANFA also requests that no default interest be charged or levied on those lessees who have been granted deferred payment during the deferral. |
19/03/2020 |
Tax deferrals |
All non-financial sector |
Tax deferral for firms and self employed persons for 3 months with extension option up to 6 months - personal income tax |
08/04/2020 |
Tax deferrals |
All non-financial sector |
Possibility of tax deferral for firms and self employed persons for 3 months with extension option up to 6 months - personal income tax |
17/03/2020 |
Direct grants |
Non-financial corporations |
Payment of minimum wages for firms for lay-offs prevention |
07/04/2020 |
Public guarantees |
Non-financial corporations |
Guarantees issued by CBRD for and on behalf of the Republic of Croatia |
17/03/2020 |
Public guarantees |
Non-financial corporations |
Various loan instruments and guarantee schemes to support liquidity of small companies and SMEs |
27/03/2020 |
Public moratoria |
Non-financial corporations |
First measure was 3 month moratorium on loans for HBOR clients (SME, corporates and public entities) affected by Covid 19 pandemia. |
30/03/2020 |
Public loans |
Non-financial corporations |
introduction of the new loan programms to support SME, Midcaps and large entities working capital, salaries and other fixed operational costs |
17/03/2020 |
Public loans |
Non-financial corporations |
Micro loans to SME's for financing working capital and liquidity under COVID-19 measure |
31/03/2020 |
Private moratoria |
All non-financial sector |
Credit institutions shall conscientiously and urgently consider and approve requests from clients (citizens and entrepreneurs) for deferral of payment for a period of at least three months, whose creditworthiness is seriously impaired in the current circumstances due to loss or reduction of permanent sources of income, and in favor of entrepreneurs whose income is significantly reduced compared to the total income in the previous period. |
19/03/2020 |
Tax deferrals |
All non-financial sector |
Tax deferral for firms and self employed persons for 3 months with extension option up to 6 months - personal income tax |
19/03/2020 |
Tax deferrals |
All non-financial sector |
Tax deferral for firms and self employed persons for 3 months with extension option up to 6 months - personal income tax |
19/03/2020 |
Tax deferrals |
All non-financial sector |
Tax deferral for firms and self employed persons for 3 months with extension option up to 6 months - personal income tax |
08/04/2020 |
Tax reliefs |
All non-financial sector |
ENTREPRENEURS ARE EXEMPTED FROM THE CONTRIBUTION LIABILITY FOR CO-FINANCED NET SALARIES BASED ON AIDS FOR MAINTAINING EMPLOYMENT WHICH ARE PAID BY THE CROATIAN EMPLOYMENT SERVICE |
08/04/2020 |
Tax reliefs |
All non-financial sector |
EXEMPTION FROM TAX LIABILITIES (INCL. SOCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS) IN WHOLE AMOUNT OR IN PART TO TAXPAYERS WHO ARE PROHIBITED, DISABLED OR HINDERED IN THEIR WORK |
08/04/2020 |
Tax deferrals |
All non-financial sector |
EXTENSION OF THE DEADLINE FOR FILING THE APPLICATION AND PAYMENT OF THE COMPANY INCOME TAX LIABILITY FOR 2019 |
08/04/2020 |
Tax reliefs |
All non-financial sector |
ENFORCEMENT PROCEEDINGS IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, CHANGES REGARDING VAT ON IMPORTS |
19/06/2020 |
Tax reliefs |
All non-financial sector |
THE DEADLINE WAS EXTENDED FROM THREE TO SIX MONTHS FOR THE IMPORT OF GOODS CARRIED OUT UNTIL THE EXPIRY OF THE PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS AFTER THE ENTRY INTO FORCE OF ARTICLE 107A OF THE ACT (MARCH 2020), VALUE ADDED TAX ON IMPORT IS CONSIDERED PAID IF THE TAXPAYER IS REGISTERED IN THE REGISTER OF VALUE ADDED TAX PAYERS ACCORDING TO A SPECIAL REGULATION IS STATED AS AN OBLIGATION IN THE VALUE ADDED TAX RETURN |
08/04/2020 |
Tax reliefs |
All non-financial sector |
VAT EXEMPTION FOR DONATIONS |
18/09/2020 |
Tax reliefs |
All non-financial sector |
FOR IMPORTS OF GOODS MADE UP TO AND INCLUDING 31 DECEMBER 2020, VAT IS CONSIDERED TO HAVE BEEN PAID UPON IMPORT, IF THE TAXPAYER ENTERED IN THE REGISTER OF VAT PAYERS ACCORDING TO A SPECIAL REGULATION STATES IT AS A LIABILITY IN THE VAT RETURN |
12/01/2021 |
Private moratoria |
All sectors |
extension of the existing measure (HR-005) |
12/03/2021 |
Tax reliefs |
All sectors |
Received donations (in charity campaign and public campaigns) are not taken into account when determining receipts of dependants. |
08/12/2020 |
Other measures of fiscal nature |
All sectors |
Reimbursement of all or part of paid fixed expenses for December 2020. The taxpayers whose work was suspended by virtue of the Decision of the Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia may request for reimbursement of paid fixed expenses. |
30/01/2021 |
Other measures of fiscal nature |
All sectors |
Reimbursement of all or part of fixed expenses for January 2021. The taxpayers whose work was suspended by virtue of the Decision of the Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia may request for reimbursement of fixed expenses. |
25/02/2021 |
Other measures of fiscal nature |
All sectors |
Reimbursement of all or part of fixed expenses for February 2021. The taxpayers whose work was suspended by virtue of the Decision of the Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia may request for reimbursement of fixed expenses. |
30/03/2021 |
Other measures of fiscal nature |
All sectors |
Reimbursement of all or part of fixed expenses for March 2021. The taxpayers whose work was suspended or restricted by virtue of the Decision of the Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia may request for reimbursement of fixed expenses. |
12/03/2021 |
Tax reliefs |
All sectors |
When establishing tax deductible expenditures for 2020, due to the occurrence of exceptional circumstances and poor tourist season, the provisions on profit taxation under which the amount of gained profits is determined for the purpose of establishing tax deductible expenditures based on the use of vessels, apartments and vacation houses, do not apply. |
23/12/2020 |
Tax deferrals |
All sectors |
Possibility of administrative agreement between tax authority and taxpayer for the sake of settling due tax debt and grace period of rescheduled debts. |
30/04/2021 |
Other measures of fiscal nature |
All sectors |
Reimbursement of all or part of fixed expenses for April 2021. The taxpayers whose work was suspended or restricted by virtue of the Decision of the Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia may request for reimbursement of fixed expenses. |
31/05/2021 |
Other measures of fiscal nature |
All sectors |
Reimbursement of all or part of fixed expenses for May 2021. The taxpayers whose work was suspended or restricted by virtue of the Decision of the Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia may request for reimbursement of fixed expenses. |
30/06/2021 |
Other measures of fiscal nature |
All sectors |
Reimbursement of all or part of fixed expenses for June 2021. The taxpayers whose work was suspended or restricted by virtue of the Decision of the Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia may request for reimbursement of fixed expenses. |
29/07/2021 |
Other measures of fiscal nature |
All sectors |
Reimbursement of all or part of fixed expenses for July 2021. The taxpayers whose work was suspended or restricted by virtue of the Decision of the Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia may request for reimbursement of fixed expenses. |
01/09/2021 |
Other measures of fiscal nature |
All sectors |
Reimbursement of all or part of fixed expenses for August 2021. The taxpayers whose work was suspended or restricted by virtue of the Decision of the Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia may request for reimbursement of fixed expenses. |
23/04/2021 |
Other measures of fiscal nature |
Other |
The non-taxable remuneration paid to pensioners by JL(R)S, as well as the one-off cash supplements paid in addition to pensions pursuant to the Decision of the Government of the Republic of Croatia or pursuant to a special regulation to mitigate the consequences caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, are not taken into account when determining the right to personal deduction for dependent members, and since there is no obligation for paying agents to submit a JOPPD form, they are not included in the remuneration records of the recipients’ natural persons. |
29/09/2021 |
Other measures of fiscal nature |
Other |
The import of goods by the EU or an agency or body established under EU law shall be exempt if the EC or that agency or body imports those goods in the performance of their tasks assigned to them by EU law to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, unless the imported goods are used, immediately or later, for the purpose of subsequent supplies for consideration by the EC or that agency or body. |
30/03/2020 |
Borrower-based measure |
Other |
The recommendations allow leasing companies to adopt decisions according to which the lessees who have duly settled their obligations and who, based on clearly defined criteria, are determined to be unable to further pay their obligations, and whose business is already affected or will be affected and, starting from April 2020, fail to settle three instalments/annuities for three consecutive months, will not undergo enforcement until 31 March 2021. |
21/04/2020 |
Other measure |
Insurance sector |
HANFA recommended to undertakings to: 1. tolerate delays in life insurance premiums payment up to 180 days, 2. in the case of MTPL, provide maximum waiting period of 30 days (where applicable), 3. in credit insurance, adjust contractual rights and obligations in relation to the legal possibilities of a moratorium on bank loans, especially in the case of clients who use the moratorium on credit repayment, 4. for other non-life insurance contracts, reconsider the postponement of premium payment deadlines, especially in the case of a multi-year insurance contract |
21/04/2020 |
Other measure |
Insurance sector |
HANFA recommended to undertakings to: . to make investment decisions with heightened caution, taking into account all risks, in particular market risk, credit risk and liquidity risk and the best interests of policyholders, and when deciding on all new investments in shares, corporate bonds, loans and leases to take particularly careful consideration of the credit risk and current creditworthiness of issuers, borrowers, lessees and other persons and to assess the consequences of the current situation on their operations. |
21/04/2020 |
Other measure |
Insurance sector |
HANFA has recommended to undertakings to adjust their business strategy, implementation plans and projections of expected cash flows and investment portfolios, to new circumstances and expected challenges of the time to come. |
19/03/2020 |
Special provisioning policy |
Banking sector |
For all clients (legal or natural persons) that are not classified as default as of the end of 2019: Same for clients - natural persons which are employees of the aforementioned legal person. CIs have to conduct new assessments of these clients as of the end of 1H 2021. |
26/03/2020 |
Dividend distribution policy |
Insurance sector |
Temporary ban on dividend payments for insurance companies |
26/03/2020 |
Reporting requirements |
Infrastructure |
30-day delay of regular reporting deadlines for firms authorised to provide investment services and market infrastructure institutionsa and pension companies |
26/03/2020 |
Reporting requirements |
Insurance sector |
Delay of deadlines for regular Solvency 2 reporting in line with EIOPA Recommendations on supervisory flexibility regarding the deadline of supervisory reporting and public disclosure - Coronavirus/COVID-19. Delay of deadlines for other regular reports (other than Solvency 2) for one month. |
26/03/2020 |
Other measure |
All financial sectors |
Hanfa recommends to insurers, leasing and factoring companies to make necessary actions, i.e. to continuously monitor and evaluate solvency and liquidity and to cut all non-essential costs (including dividend payout, rewards and bonuses), in order to ensure continuity of business. |
27/03/2020 |
Reporting requirements |
Securities and markets |
Hanfa will refrain from supervisory measures for issuers on domestic capital market if they fail to meet reporting deadlines due to justified circumstances |
13/03/2020 |
Asset purchase programme |
All sectors |
Purchasing bonds of Republic of Croatia with an aim of maintaining stability in the market of government securities |
17/03/2020 |
Asset purchase programme |
All financial sectors |
The CNB has expanded the list of eligible participants in monetary policy operations carried out by the purchase and sale of government securities to pension funds, companies for the management of open-ended investment funds with public offering (UCITS funds) and insurance companies. |
23/03/2020 |
Other measure |
Banking sector |
Lowering general reserve requirement from 12% to 9%. |
09/03/2020 |
Other measure |
Banking sector |
Four FX interventions in the period from 09.03.2020. to 16.03.2020. |
12/03/2020 |
Market stop |
Securities and markets |
Suspension of trading of all financial instruments on the regulated market until the end of the trading day |
21/04/2020 |
Announcement or public statement |
Insurance sector |
HANFA recommended to undertakings to implement all necessary measures to secure business continuity, especially: 1.1. inform consumers about the measures they take and how those measures may affect their contractual relationship and insurance services provided and 1.2. establish or continue to maintain a comprehensive communication in order to inform employees, distributors and customers about the status of business continuity plans and instructions on how to stay safe |
21/04/2020 |
Other measure |
Insurance sector |
HANFA has recommended to undertakings to: . in accordance with own capacities in maintaining continuity in key business processes to make maximum efforts to enable the conclusion of distance contracts for all lines of business, taking into account the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act |
12/03/2020 |
Announcement or public statement |
Non-financial corporations |
Recommendation for issuers on domestic capital market to disclose all relevant informations related to COVID-19 outbreak impact on their business, which was meade in line with ESMA recommendation. |
17/03/2020 |
Other measure |
All non-financial sector |
Stand still for corporates and households for 3 months |
19/03/2020 |
Other measure |
Banking sector |
Supervisory stress test and review of P2G is suspended until further notice |
19/03/2020 |
Other measure |
Banking sector |
On-site inspections suspended |
19/03/2020 |
Other measure |
Banking sector |
Delay in meeting supervisory measures might be granted in exceptional cases |
23/03/2020 |
Exemption from penalties/fines |
Non-financial corporations |
Decision on exemption from issuer fees |
30/06/2020 |
Tax reliefs (w/o fin. stab. relevance) |
All non-financial sector |
NOTWITHSTANDING THE SPECIAL REGULATIONS GOVERNING ADMINISTRATIVE COOPERATION,THE TIME LIMITS FOR SUBMITTING INFORMATION ON FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS TO THE CTA ARE EXTENDED BY 3 MONTHS |
18/09/2020 |
Other measures of fiscal nature (w/o fin. stab. relevance) |
All sectors |
IN CONDITIONS OF SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, AND EXCEPTIONALLY FROM SPECIAL REGULATIONS ON INCOME TAXATION, IT IS PRESCRIBED THAT THE COSTS OF LABORATORY TESTING OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES THAT THE EMPLOYER PAYS TO ITS EMPLOYEES AND WHICH ARE IN THE INTEREST OF THE EMPLOYER, ARE NOT CONSIDERED INCOME (SALARIES). |
12/01/2021 |
Other measure |
Insurance sector |
extension of the existing measure (HR-002) |
23/12/2020 |
Other measures of fiscal nature (w/o fin. stab. relevance) |
All sectors |
The taxpayer whose work was suspended by virtue of the Decision of the Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia and the tax authority may conclude an administrative agreement in exceptional circumstances in view of settling the tax debt for tax liabilities which fell due in the period of suspension. In addition, the taxpayer whose work was suspended by virtue of the Decision of the Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia and whose liabilities were rescheduled under pre-bankruptcy settlement, pre-bankruptcy agreement, bankruptcy plan, administrative agreement or instalments, may submit an Application for Grace Period for Unsettled Rescheduled Liabilities that were rescheduled under the said procedures and fall due in the period of suspension. Liabilities that were granted the grace period fall due after the last annuity of previously rescheduled liabilities. During the grace period, no interest will be calculated for the liabilities that were granted the grace period. |
19/10/2020 |
Other measures of fiscal nature (w/o fin. stab. relevance) |
All sectors |
The costs of vaccination against infectious agents that the employer and payer of receipts or salary provides at its own expense to workers and natural persons gaining receipts are not considered as receipts from employment regardless of the method of settling the vaccination cost. |
23/12/2020 |
Other measures of fiscal nature (w/o fin. stab. relevance) |
All sectors |
Deadline for amending the decisions on local taxes with the possibility of temporary repelling the provisions on consumption tax and/or tax on the use of public land for certain months in 2021 has been extended |
12/03/2021 |
Other measures of fiscal nature (w/o fin. stab. relevance) |
All sectors |
The deadline for submitting tax return for 2020 has been extended (and for other forms and reports). |