Online Government Services in Serbia: A Detailed Guide for Citizens and Immigrants

Overview of the Online Government Services System in Serbia

The Serbian government services portal is designed to simplify interactions between citizens, as well as foreigners residing in the country, and government organizations. It consolidates numerous services, enabling users to handle administrative and business matters online.

Full access to all system features is unlocked with an electronic signature (e-signature) or the ConsentID mobile app. For immigrants without these identification tools, the functionality of the portals will be significantly limited, which is particularly important to consider when running a business or applying for a residence permit.

Key Government Online Portals

Serbia's e-government system comprises several specialized websites, each responsible for its own area. Full functionality requires an electronic signature or ConsentID.

The ePorezi Portal: Access and Getting Started

The ePorezi tax portal is one of the most crucial tools for entrepreneurs. Access to its functions is strictly regulated and requires specific documents and identification methods.

• Those with a residence permit (boravak).
• Those with an electronic signature (e-signature).
• Those using the ConsentID app.
• Those with a foreigner's ID card that has an electronic signature stored on it.

To log in using an electronic signature, you need to install a special application (Windows only) that reads the certificate from a USB token and automatically opens your personal account in the browser. Other users can log in via the website using different authentication methods. After logging in, the system will prompt you to choose between a personal and a business account. If the business account is not displayed, you need to contact support.

Solving Common Problems When Using ePorezi

Users of the ePorezi portal may encounter a number of technical difficulties. Most of them can be resolved independently or by contacting customer support.

1. Redirection to the registration page when trying to log in. A common mistake is clicking the registration button instead of the login buttons labeled "Приступ" (Access).

1. Business account is missing or an HTTP 500 error occurs. If your company is not displayed in your personal account, you need to email [email protected], attaching an extract from the APR (Business Registers Agency) confirming that you have added your residence permit number (boravak) to your sole proprietorship data. Example email text in Serbian: Мој паушални порески обвезник није на списку. Извод из АПР-а у приложеној датотеци. [First Name Last Name], Ев. Брой [your 13-digit number from the residence permit] .

1. The system does not detect the e-signature certificate. The problem may be due to a driver conflict. Check the "Device Manager" on your computer. Under "Smart card readers," there should be only one device, for example, OMNIKEY. If others are present (e.g., from Acronis), they should be removed.

1. Loss of access after changing your passport or residence permit number. In this case, you should also email [email protected], attaching an extract from the APR with the new data. Example email text: Добар дан. Променио сам пасош и изгубио приступ к ePorezi (имаjу доступ као физичко лице, али не имаjу као предузетник). Извод из АПР-а у приложеној датотеци. [Sole Proprietorship Name, reg. number]. Стари пасош [number]. Нови пасош [number].

Working with Documents: Tax Decisions and Statements

The ePorezi personal account allows you to receive important documents from the tax service electronically. It is important to check messages specifically in your sole proprietorship's account, not in your personal profile as an individual.

A few days after registering your sole proprietorship, the tax inspectorate sends tax decisions (rešenja) to your personal messages section. New decisions also arrive at the beginning of each year. If you have made changes to your sole proprietorship's data (address, activity code, freezing of business), the tax office will send new decisions, divided into periods before and after the changes. Payments for the period before the changes must be made within 15 days.

You can also request a statement of debt or overpayment (Upit stanja) through the portal, which is only available for sole proprietorships. If the statement is empty after generation, it may mean that the sole proprietorship has not yet started its activities, is in a frozen status, or you are logged into your personal account.

How to Read a Debt Statement and Pay Off Debt

Correctly understanding the statement of account balance with the budget (Upit stanja) is crucial for timely tax payments. The document contains all the key data regarding your tax liabilities.

If you find a debt, use the Poziv na broj and the tax account number from the statement to pay it off. The payment details must match those you use for your monthly payments. You can pay the current tax and the debt in a single sum. The data in the system is updated within 2-7 business days after payment.

• Missed payment or an error in the payment details.
• Tax recalculation by the inspectorate.
• Using an outdated Poziv na broj after changing the legal address.
• Payment on the last day (the 15th), when the money did not arrive on time.
• Incorrect rounding of cents during payment.

Ordering Certificates via ePorezi for Various Purposes

The ePorezi portal allows you to order official certificates (Uverenja) online, which are necessary for various life situations. This function is only available for sole proprietorship accounts.

If a download link for the certificate does not appear on the site after ordering, but you receive an email notification that it is ready, simply refresh the page. An application status of "Одбијен" (Rejected) usually means there is a tax debt.

There are several types of certificates:

• Certificate of payment of all taxes. It may be required for an embassy or for renewing a residence permit (although it is not necessary to attach it when applying for a residence permit unless an inspector specifically requests it). Request type: Уверење о плаћеним обавезама на свим уплатним рачунима јавних прихода за одређеног ПОБ. Purpose: Продужетак боравка страног лица у Републици Србији or Доказ код амбасаде.

Additional Features: Mobile App and Access Delegation

For user convenience, the ePorezi portal has a mobile application. To link it to your account, you need to log into your personal account on a computer, go to the "Uredjaji" section, and scan the QR code with the app on your phone. The functionality of the mobile version almost completely mirrors the capabilities of the desktop site.

Additionally, the system allows you to grant access to your tax account to another person, such as an accountant. To do this, both users must have an electronic signature. After granting access, the authorized person will be able to switch to your company's profile within their own account, obtain certificates, fill out applications, and view statements—that is, perform almost all the same actions as the sole proprietor.