ArmInfo.On May 29, the preliminary debates of the annual report on the implementation of the 2022 state budget of the Republic of Armenia began at the joint sitting of the standing committees of the National Assembly. As the press service of the RA NA reports, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, NA President Alen Simonyan, the representatives of the legislative and executive powers attended the sitting.
The RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan touched upon the economic, financial and social indicators, presented information on the foreign policy, in particular, the regional situation, the negotiation process.
In 2022, 12.6 % economic growth was recorded in the Republic of Armenia, which is an unprecedentedly high indicator for the last fifteen years. In 2022, the tax revenues of the state budget amounted to one trillion 926 billion AMD, which is 82 billion AMD or 4% more than what was initially planned. In 2022, the revenue part was planned to be 82 billion AMD less: we have made adjustments, and the actual initial plan was exceeded by 82 billion AMD. "I want to underline that the 2022 budget indicators are 339 billion AMD or 21.4% more than in 2021 in terms of tax revenues. Compared to the previous year, we have a significant increase in budget indicators, and compared to 2017, the tax revenues of the 2022 budget are more by 2 billion 20 million AMD or 66.3%, and compared to 2018 by 670 billion AMD or 1 billion 820 million dollars or 53%," the Prime Minister of the country noted. According to Nikol Pashinyan, the growth of the budget revenues is conditioned by three main factors: the indicators of economic growth, reduction of the shadow and the implemented reforms. The Prime Minister said that in 2022, 63.5 billion AMD more income tax was collected compared to the previous year, totally 522 billion AMD, and compared to 2018, when the three-level tax rate was in effect, 53% more income tax was collected.
"In other words, we lowered taxes, but income tax collections increased by 53%," Nikol Pashinyan stated. He presented the example of Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine, reminding that the Government is taking part in the management of the combine from 2021. "In 2021, Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC) paid a historically unprecedented high amount of taxes - 145 billion 636 million AMD. To imagine what this indicator is, let me say the following: The taxes paid in 2022 are about 7 billion AMD more than all the taxes paid by the ZCMC in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 combined. This is an evident indicator," the Prime Minister said and added that the progress is also significant in terms of profit tax and tax revenues and introduced the numerical indicators. According to him, the tax policy towards large taxpayers has changed significantly. In December, an absolute record in the history of Armenia in terms of jobs was registered: 704,000 registered jobs. "I am glad to record that this number is no longer topical, because in March and April 2023, new records were registered: 706.294 and 710.150, respectively," Nikol Pashinyan mentioned.