ANAF warns inactive Romanian firms remain liable for tax debts

Romania’s tax authority, ANAF, cautions that ending a company’s operations does not erase its fiscal obligations. Administrators and shareholders can be held jointly responsible for outstanding tax debts, and the agency may order bank account freezes and seize personal assets to recover the amounts owed. Experts note that many entrepreneurs abandon firms because of economic pressure, but the lack of formal liquidation leaves them exposed to enforcement actions. The legal deadline for pursuing joint liability is debated: ANAF applies a five‑year period from the declaration of insolvency, while a recent Bucharest court ruling suggests the general three‑year prescription may apply in the absence of specific tax legislation. The risk extends beyond individual exposure, potentially disrupting cash flow for other businesses owned by the same founders and increasing administrative friction in the broader economic environment. ANAF recommends formal liquidation or temporary inactivity registration to avoid these consequences.