A Cashless Step Toward Easier Payment of Fees and Charges

As of January 1, 2026, citizens and businesses have been given the option to pay all administrative fees and charges electronically through the upgraded ePlati system, facilitating the digitalization of payments and improving the transparency of non-tax revenue collection. The Plati system now allows users to generate electronic general payment slips and pay all fees and charges without visiting a counter, while providing institutions with a clear overview of payments and support in process management.

To further enhance the user experience for citizens and businesses, plans are in place to integrate the Plati system with the Register of Administrative Procedures, with the aim of automating the completion of payment slips. A key challenge was the existence of two databases of procedures—the Register of Administrative Procedures and the Catalogue of Procedures. Through the project “Towards Next Generation eGovernment: Cashless Payments and Digital Identity Wallet,” a detailed methodology was developed to match administrative procedure data from these databases, covering more than 3,000 procedures across over 160 institutions, thereby laying the groundwork for future integration and potential consolidation of the databases.

As part of the project, the possibilities of applying a digital identity wallet in electronic payments were explored. Such a wallet could enable reliable user authentication and connection to payment instruments, such as current accounts or cards. The digital wallet could be used to initiate payments and authenticate transactions, including online payments and contactless payments at points of sale (NFC), while ensuring a high level of security and data protection. This system would allow for simpler and more secure integration of digital identity with electronic payments and further facilitate the use of existing e-payment systems, encouraging a broader shift toward cashless transactions.

Building on these experiences, and with the support of the technological infrastructure and global capabilities of Visa, a new project titled “Towards Next Generation eGovernment: Scaling Cashless Payments” has been launched, focusing on the further development and promotion of digital payments. The main goal is to make digital services more accessible and easier to use, increase trust among citizens and businesses in electronic payment systems, and provide institutions with higher-quality data for planning and improving public revenue collection.

Although visible progress has been made in the digitalization of payments, the use of electronic payments, including card payments, remains limited—primarily due to additional transaction costs and established habits favoring traditional methods. The new project will address these challenges by assessing the potential for improving digital payments, developing recommendations for relevant stakeholders, and raising awareness of the benefits of cashless services, with the aim of encouraging more active use of modern electronic services by citizens and businesses.

These initiatives contribute to a more stable, transparent, and accessible electronic payment system in Serbia, making it easier for users to access public services while enabling institutions to manage and plan more efficiently in the digital era.