Tweet
LAND TAXES: AHEAD OF ELECTIONS GOVERNMENT OFFERS TAX BREAKS TO FARMERS
By Gayane Lazarian
ArmeniaNow
28.02.12 | 15:56
Photo: www.parliament.am
The National Assembly of Armenia in the first reading has adopted
a draft law 'On Property Tax and Land Tax Arrears', under which
all the taxpayers who had less than 2 million drams (about $5,170)
debt within the period of 2008-2011, when paying the basic amount,
will be freed from all interests; and the time frame for paying the
basic amount is from three months to one year.
Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan stated that by this
initiative the Government forgives tax arrears of about 43 billion
drams (about $111 million) in the agricultural sector. According to
him, the bill will also promote the economic growth, because the tax
burden on agriculture will be essentially reduced.
Vahan Hovhannisyan, head of the opposition Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (ARF, Dashnaktsutyun), says it is suspicious why the
Government has submitted the bill ahead of the upcoming parliamentary
elections.
"What is this? Is this an election bribe ahead of the elections? Why
is this bill brought to the vote in a special way just now? Why do
diligent taxpayers, not being aware of anything, end up in unequal
conditions?" he says. "Out of nothing they suddenly forgive a debt
ahead of the elections appearing in the role of someone who does
a favor."
Head of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia parliamentary faction
Gagik Melikyan, not agreeing with his opponents, says that the
submission of the bill right now is not connected with the upcoming
Parliamentary elections.
"Had it [the bill] been submitted after the [Parliamentary] elections
they [the opposition] would have said that we submitted it ahead of the
Presidential elections. And had we submitted it after it, they would
have said that we did it ahead of local elections," Melikyan says.
The Union of Communities of Armenia, being concerned about the bill,
made a statement, saying that the suggested methods are disputable,
and that they may have an essential impact upon the activities of
the communities, their budgeting processes, and financial capacities
of communities.
"Besides, the diligent and unscrupulous taxpayers will be put on unfair
and unequal scales of a balance under the bill," the statement reads.
By Gayane Lazarian
ArmeniaNow
28.02.12 | 15:56
Photo: www.parliament.am
The National Assembly of Armenia in the first reading has adopted
a draft law 'On Property Tax and Land Tax Arrears', under which
all the taxpayers who had less than 2 million drams (about $5,170)
debt within the period of 2008-2011, when paying the basic amount,
will be freed from all interests; and the time frame for paying the
basic amount is from three months to one year.
Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan stated that by this
initiative the Government forgives tax arrears of about 43 billion
drams (about $111 million) in the agricultural sector. According to
him, the bill will also promote the economic growth, because the tax
burden on agriculture will be essentially reduced.
Vahan Hovhannisyan, head of the opposition Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (ARF, Dashnaktsutyun), says it is suspicious why the
Government has submitted the bill ahead of the upcoming parliamentary
elections.
"What is this? Is this an election bribe ahead of the elections? Why
is this bill brought to the vote in a special way just now? Why do
diligent taxpayers, not being aware of anything, end up in unequal
conditions?" he says. "Out of nothing they suddenly forgive a debt
ahead of the elections appearing in the role of someone who does
a favor."
Head of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia parliamentary faction
Gagik Melikyan, not agreeing with his opponents, says that the
submission of the bill right now is not connected with the upcoming
Parliamentary elections.
"Had it [the bill] been submitted after the [Parliamentary] elections
they [the opposition] would have said that we submitted it ahead of the
Presidential elections. And had we submitted it after it, they would
have said that we did it ahead of local elections," Melikyan says.
The Union of Communities of Armenia, being concerned about the bill,
made a statement, saying that the suggested methods are disputable,
and that they may have an essential impact upon the activities of
the communities, their budgeting processes, and financial capacities
of communities.
"Besides, the diligent and unscrupulous taxpayers will be put on unfair
and unequal scales of a balance under the bill," the statement reads.