Many business owners are surprised when they receive a request from the National Statistical Institute (NSI) to complete a statistical survey — an obligation arising directly from the Statistics Act, not from tax legislation.
The legal basis of the obligation
The Statistics Act requires certain categories of person — selected by the NSI on a sample or a full-coverage basis according to their activity and size — to provide statistical information periodically for the purposes of official statistics. A refusal to provide information is an administrative offence, penalised separately from the tax laws.
The most common statistical reports for business
| Report | For whom |
|---|---|
| Annual activity report | Most registered enterprises — usually together with the annual tax return, through a single form to the NSI and the Revenue Agency |
| Specialised monthly/quarterly surveys | Specific sectors (industry, construction, trade), selected on a sample basis |
| Intrastat declarations | Companies trading goods with other EU member states above a set threshold |
The difference between Intrastat and a VAT return
The Intrastat system collects statistical information on the physical movement of goods between EU member states and is a separate obligation from the VAT return — the two have different thresholds, deadlines and purposes. Confusing them is a common mistake for companies starting cross-border trade in the EU. The Intrastat thresholds (separately for arrivals and dispatches) are set annually by the NSI.
Conclusion
Statistical obligations to the NSI are a separate, standalone layer of reporting — less often encountered in everyday accounting practice, but with real penalties if ignored, especially for companies with cross-border EU trade.
How not to miss a statistical obligation
- Open and check every piece of correspondence from the NSI — the letters are not advertising.
- File the annual activity report on time, usually together with the annual tax return.
- When you start trading goods in the EU, check whether you exceed the Intrastat thresholds.
- Keep evidence of the reports filed — in an inspection they prove the obligation was met.
Received a letter from the NSI?
Fin Logic prepares and files statistical reports to the NSI, including Intrastat for cross-border trade.
Get in touchFrequently asked questions
Why is the NSI sending me a request for a report?
Under the Statistics Act, certain companies are obliged to submit statistical information — separately from tax obligations.
What is the annual activity report?
A report filed by most enterprises, usually together with the annual tax return.
Is Intrastat the same as the VAT return?
No — Intrastat reports the physical movement of goods within the EU and has different thresholds, deadlines and purposes from the VAT return.
What happens if I ignore an NSI letter?
Failure to provide information is an administrative offence with its own penalty.
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