Gazprom Armenia retains its leadership position among largest taxpayers in Armenia

ArmInfo. Gazprom Armenia  retains its leadership position among the largest taxpayers of  Armenia, according to data of the State Revenue Committee of Armenia.  For 9 months of 2016, the company paid 29.6bln drams taxes to the  state budget.

The second position among TOP-5 taxpayers belongs to Electric  Networks of Armenia - more than 14bln drams. Grand Tobacco  Canadian-Armenian JV goes the third with 12.8bln drams, K-Telecom  (trademark VIVACell-MTS) goes the fourth with 10.4bln drams, and  Teghout mining company rounds out the TOP-5 with more than 9bln  drams.  These 5 companies made a total of 75.7bln drams to the state  budget in 9 months of 2016. 

In total, 1,000 big taxpayers paid 326bln drams to the state budget  for 9 months of 2016, which is by 5% or 15.5bln drams more than for  the same period of 2015.  Big businesses ensured the growth of tax  revenues amid 2.5% decline of proceeds from sales.

Rafik Mashadyan, the Head of the Tax Inspectorate for Big Taxpayers,  at the State Revenue Committee, told a news conference, on October 6,  tax payments by 4 tobacco producers increased by 6.7bln drams in 9  months of 2016. Tax payments by 29 service sector companies increased  by almost 4.7bln drams and the ones by 15 road construction companies  increased by almost 1.8bln drams. Importers and exporters of fuel  paid nearly by 1bln drams more taxes and another 27 companies  importing food products paid by 900mln drams more for the period  under review. 

He said that tax administration was improved in the retail trade  sector too. Inspections at such large trade chains as Alex Grid, SAS  Group, Evrika Group, Nor Zovq, Tsiran Market, more than 401mln drams  additional taxes were registered.  Inspections were held as alcohol  beverages importer companies Andako, Sargis-Karolina, Adamium and  nearly 150mln drams short payments were revealed. These companies  faced 75mln drams fines. 

"Intensive inspections at poultry factories and supermarkets  registered by 20% growth of sales," Mashadyan said adding that  inspections at the International Airports of Armenia Company revealed  short payments for about 600mln drams.  The company increased tax  revenues by more than 4bln drams.  

"The improvement of the tax administration is evident, which means  that the State Revenue Committee is committed to its policy of  exposing and liquidating shadow turnover and boosting tax  collection," Mashadyan said.

TOP-5 taxpayers in Armenia for 9 months of 2015 were Gazprom Armenia  CJSC< Zangezour Copper and Molybdenum Combine, Vorotan Cascade of  HPP, K-Telecom and Electric Networks of Armenia.