Lawmaker: The Government of Armenia changed its position sharply for the second reading on amendments to the Tax Code

ArmInfo. At the March 1 sitting, the Armenian parliament sharply changed its position on the draft amendments introduced by the "Tsarukyan Bloc" in the Tax Code, which provide for easing the tax burden for business entities.

According to one of the authors of the document, NA Vice Speaker Mikael Melkumyan, by the second reading there was a strange situation, in which the document, previously adopted unanimously on the first reading, because of the objections of the government could not get enough votes. The bill was aimed at improving the entrepreneurial and investment environment, alleviating the financial burden of companies engaged in foreign economic activities, and developing working capital.

Currently, there is a provision according to which importing companies pay VAT to the state budget even before the goods cross borders of Armenia from third countries. The document proposed to establish a provision under which the VAT will be calculated within 90 days from the date of crossing the goods of the state border of Armenia. This would give entrepreneurs the opportunity to create additional working capital to solve their problems. As expected, the document was to enter into force on January 1, 2019.

But, as the deputy noted, by the second reading the government unexpectedly changed its position on the draft law, which was adopted unanimously in the first reading at a plenary session.

Justifying the government's position, RA Deputy Finance Minister David Ananyan pointed to the fact that in addition to fiscal problems related to reduction of allocations to the revenue part of the state budget, the document also contradicts supranational legislation. From the standpoint of international treaties, in particular, the Customs Code of the EAEC, and the Constitution of the country, Armenia can face serious problems, the Deputy Minister stated.