"Compared to 2024, the 2025 tax revenue increased the most in terms of income tax of natural persons, value added tax, and social tax. In addition to tax rate increases, receipts were also affected by a strong wage fund, which grew by 5.1% over the year," said Raili Roosimaa, ETCB’s Deputy Director-General for Taxes.
Graph: Monthly tax receipts over 12 months in 2024 and 2025
In December 2025, taxes collected amounted to €111.4 million more than in December of the previous year, totalling €1.5 billion.
In 12 months, more than €3 billion in the income tax of natural persons was collected. Tax receipts grew the most in 12 months, by a total of €498 million, including nearly €33 million in December. Social tax revenue amounted to approximately €5.2 billion for the year, which is €261 million more than in the previous year. In December, social tax revenue increased by €7.7 million compared to December of the previous year.
Corporate income tax amounted to € 1.1 billion for the year, which is €162 million more than in the previous year. The increase in corporate income tax revenue was mainly due to the tax rate increase that came into effect in January 2025, which resulted in an exceptionally large amount of corporate income tax revenue for that month.
No further changes were made in 2025, and the planned tax rate increase for 2026 was cancelled. As a result, corporate income tax revenue for the rest of the year was fairly similar to the monthly revenue in 2024.
VAT revenue amounted to approximately €4.2 billion for the year, which is approximately €330 million more than in 2024, representing an increase of nearly 9%. In December, VAT revenue was approximately €12 million higher than in December of the previous year. Growth was largely supported by the VAT rate increase in the summer, the effects of which were felt throughout the rest of the year, as well as by stable growth in e-commerce and increased fuel sales in the autumn months. The largest contributors to VAT revenue were retail and wholesale trade and the construction sector, where VAT revenue grew the most overall compared to 2024.
Total excise duties collected during the year amounted to nearly €1.1 billion, which is €57.6 million more than in 2024. Fuel excise duties accounted for the largest share, making up approximately half of total excise duties. Over the year, revenue from all excise duties increased compared with 2024: fuel excise duty by approximately €37 million, tobacco excise duty by more than €10 million, alcohol excise duty by more than €3 million, electricity excise duty by €4.5 million, and packaging excise duty by approximately €49,000. Excise duty revenue was affected by tax rate increases, but also by growth in the volumes of fuel and tobacco products released for consumption.
Graph: Tax receipts in the 12 months of 2025 compared to the 12 months of 2024
As of 1 January 2026, tax arrears totalled €367.6 million, an increase of €25.5 million over the course of the year. The largest tax arrears as of the beginning of the year are in the construction sector, wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, manufacturing, as well as administrative and support service activities.
Tax arrears being paid in instalments amount to €52.5 million as of 1 January 2026. At the beginning of the year, €21.2 million of tax arrears, which is slightly less than 6% of the total tax arrears, had to be written off due to expiry. “The remaining tax arrears are the part that the ETCB is required to collect by law. First and foremost, we recommend rescheduling unpaid tax liabilities and paying them in instalments," said Roosimaa.
In December, the number of tax debtors increased by more than 32,200, more than 28,900 of whom are natural persons. The increase in the number of debtors was influenced by the deadline for the second instalment of motor vehicle tax on 15 December, as well as the payment deadlines of new tax notices at the end of December.
Compared to the beginning of last year, the number of tax debtors has doubled, with more than 78,600 tax debtors as of 1 January 2026. “Over the year, the number of tax debtors has doubled, mainly due to motor vehicle tax obligations. This is logical, as it concerns a very large number of taxpayers whose arrears nevertheless account for only a small share of the total tax arrears. In other types of taxes, the number of debtors has remained stable compared to the beginning of the year," said Roosimaa.
Although tax arrears increased during the year and the number of debtors doubled, tax discipline remains at a good level. 88% of all claims continue to be paid on time. “The ratio of tax arrears to tax revenue has fallen to its lowest level in recent years. This shows that most people and companies are fulfilling their obligations responsibly," Roosimaa said.
More information on the rescheduling of tax arrears for private customers and companies can be found on the website of the ETCB. Instructions and FAQs can also be accessed by logging in to the e-MTA and selecting Help Center and “Payments of tax liabilities in instalments” from the menu.
Overview of tax receipts can be found on the website of the Tax and Customs Board.
