RA State Revenue Committee exposes tax evasion

ArmInfo.Employees of the State Revenue Committee of the Republic of Armenia have identified a case  of tax evasion in the import and sale of electronic cigarettes.

According to the press service of the department, operational  information was previously received that the company importing  electronic cigarettes was selling them at retail prices below the  excise tax on these products. During the import of another batch from  a member state of the EAEU, the SRC employees conducted an inspection  on the territory of the Cargo terminal of the Zvartnots airport. On  the spot, it was found that the volumes indicated on the  self-adhesive labels attached to the cigarette packs were 10 times  less than the volumes indicated on the real factory pack under this  label. In general, in tax and customs documents for electronic  cigarettes imported from the EAEU member states and China, the  company presented significantly understated volumes of electronic  cigarettes and evaded paying VAT and excise tax in an especially  large amount. As a result, the company caused damage to the state in  the amount of more than 142 million drams, concealing the real  volumes of liquids for electronic cigarettes in documents that are  the basis for taxation.

A complaint was filed with the Investigative Committee of the  Republic of Armenia regarding non- payment of taxes in especially  large amounts, where a criminal case was initiated. Searches were  conducted in about 30 retail outlets of the company. Documents that  are important for production - electronic media and electronic  cigarettes - were seized.

"All stages of import are monitored, so any violation can be  identified," the State Revenue Committee said in a statement.