New Order on the Method of Payment of Public Revenues: Important Changes to Accounts and Payment Rules
The Ministry of Finance adopted the Order on the Method of Payment of Public Revenues (“Official Gazette of Montenegro”, No. 023/26 of 23 February 2026), which prescribes the accounts to which public revenues in Montenegro are to be paid.
The Order is significant for legal entities and individuals who fulfil their obligations towards the state and local self-governments, as it defines the accounts for the payment of different types of public revenues, as well as the method of completing payment orders.
Which accounts are used for the payment of public revenues?
The Order establishes state and municipal accounts for the payment of public revenues. When it comes to state revenues, these include Tax Administration accounts for various tax obligations, including personal income tax and contributions, corporate income tax, withholding tax, as well as other public revenues.
Accounts for local public revenues, i.e. municipal revenues, are also specifically prescribed, such as local taxes, surtaxes, and administrative and utility fees.
The Order covers a large number of accounts and different types of public revenues, which is why, for each payment, it is important to check whether the appropriate account for the specific obligation is being used.
Important rules when completing payment orders
In addition to the accounts themselves, the Order also regulates certain elements of payment orders for public revenues. For payments, among other things, the prescribed model 18, the appropriate reference number, and payment code are used, depending on the type of revenue being paid.
For legal entities, where prescribed, the PIB is entered in the approval reference number, while for individuals, the unique identification number is used, together with the appropriate municipality code. For electronic payments, the account number is entered as a sequence of 18 digits, without hyphens.
Correct completion of the payment order is particularly important to ensure that the payment is properly directed and recorded by the competent authority.
What if a payment is incorrect or made in a higher amount?
The Order also regulates the handling of incorrectly directed, overpaid, and incorrectly paid public revenues. Such funds may be refunded to the taxpayer or beneficiary of the public revenue on the basis of an appropriate decision and in accordance with the law and other regulations.
Therefore, when paying public revenues, it is important to pay attention not only to the amount but also to the recipient’s account, model, reference number, and other mandatory payment details.
Termination of the previous Order
Upon the entry into force of the new Order, the previous Order on the Method of Payment of Public Revenues (“Official Gazette of Montenegro”, No. 6/25) ceases to apply.
The new Order enters into force on the eighth day following its publication in the “Official Gazette of Montenegro”.
The new Order represents an update of the public revenue payment system and introduces a new overview of the accounts used for state and local revenues. For business entities, accounting agencies, and other persons who make tax and other public payments on a daily basis, it is important to use valid accounts and correctly completed payment details when making payments, in order to avoid incorrect allocation of funds and any potential need for subsequent corrections.
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