Budget revenues up 27.4%

State budget revenues in 2004 reached 321,537bn ROL (7.9bn euros), up 27.4% on 2003. Top performers in terms of growth were the profit tax-related revenues, which rose by 47.4%, according to the data provided by the National Fiscal Administration Agency. The bulk of state budget revenues, 234,008bn ROL (some 5.8bn euros), were derived from value added tax (VAT), accounting for 72% of total revenues. VAT revenues were 42% higher than the revised forecasts by the collecting authority, this being the biggest difference between estimates and actual results. Contributions to social security witnessed growth similar to that seen by state budget revenues. The 156,268bn ROL (3.9bn euros) in revenues is 25.9% higher than for 2003. Health care contributions came close to 70,000bn ROL (1.7bn euros), 24.4% more than in 2003. The only area to see a deficit was unemployment, where revenues fell in real terms compared with 2003. The unemployment fund collected 18,549bn ROL (4.6bn euros). ZF