The law introduces a new framework for saving and investing for retirement and will now be sent to president Nicușor Dan for promulgation, Bursa.ro reported.
“It is one of the most important laws for the financial future of Romanians,” PNL deputy Sebastian Burduja, one of the initiators, wrote on social media. “Romania joins the club of states that offer their citizens the freedom to decide for themselves how to invest the money set aside for retirement, as America has been doing for decades through the famous 401(k) system.”
Two types of Savings and Investment Accounts, with tax benefits
The CEI law provides for two types of accounts for individuals: CEI-S, with a tax-exemption regime, and CEI-D, with a tax-deductibility regime. Under the CEI-S scheme, contributions are made by the account holder, while investment income withdrawn from the account is exempt from income tax and is not included in the basis for calculating social contributions.
Under CEI-D, contributions can be made by both the account holder and the employer, through the employer where the holder has their main employment, and benefit from tax deductibility. Upon withdrawal, amounts accumulated in CEI-D accounts are subject to a final 10% tax, according to the law.
An individual can hold both CEI-S and CEI-D accounts, including with different administrators, and can open one or more accounts of each type. The accumulated funds can be invested, among other instruments, in shares, bonds and collective investment undertakings (UCITS) traded on regulated markets in the EU or equivalent markets in OECD countries.
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