I think there may be a misunderstanding. Taxes may have nothing to do with this specific case because the surprisingly low price is for a foreigner who does not

I think there may be a misunderstanding. Taxes may have nothing to do with this specific case because the surprisingly low price is for a foreigner who does not pay taxes in Croatia, that is why he had to pay in the first place. I am not a Croatian but I live in other EU state with similar system - here locals who pay taxes would not have to pay anything.