Collection Of Taxes, Fines Is Frozen Since Government Amendment

Chairman of the National Chamber of Bailiffs, Ibrahim Bouchachi, criticized, in a statement to Echorouk, the decision to create fines collection offices at the courts level by means of a decree that is expected to be issued soon.

“This would create an actual crisis and doubling decisions between the justice and finance sectors”.

“Effects of the transfer of tax collection orders from the Tax Directorate to the courts will be negative especially on the judicial prosecutors. We will be harnessing enormous potential to implement the new resolution, but we will not reach any conclusion and we are forced to return to routine administrative work. Courts do not have the jurisdiction to collect taxes, and this new trend will complicate the work of bailiffs more than ever”.

“Process of taxes and fines collection was frozen since the last government’s amendment. The chamber was dealing with the Tax Directorate that is headed by Abderrahmane Raouia, but since his appointment as Finance Minister to succeed Hadji Baba Ammi, Beiliffs did not receive any contacts from the Directorate, which decided earlier to recruit bailiffs in order to collect the “debts” of the Algerians to the tax administration over the coming years. In addition to the involvement of the bailiffs in the protection of the national economy, by activating Article 145 of the Penal Code, which gives bailiffs the right to work as tax agents, in case of tax evasion, by both institutions or citizens, to force them to pay taxes”.

“Bailiffs present themselves as alternatives to the collection of these funds through the implementation of friendly and forced procedures, to get this evader to pay the debts”.

Bouchachi complained about the difficulties in the bailiffs’ profession and the obstacles which they find in implementing the verdicts.

“Bailiffs are still oppressed by some citizens, departments and institutions. In this regard, the Chamber will hold meetings with media in order to discuss the problems of bailiffs in Algeria”.

In this regard, they ask for the need to implement the text of Article 108 of the Finance Act 2017, taking into account the requirement of legal protection, which will be done only by establishing the necessary legal framework that allows the judicial commission to perform its functions to the fullest extent in order to contribute to the realization of an economic development.