"POPULIST DRAFT WITH AWKWARD FORMULATION"
Panorama.am
14:41 01/10/2007
Larisa Alaverdyan, member of "Zharangutiun" block at the National
Assembly described the government submitted Draft Law "On making
amendments in profit tax" as "populist." "This is a populist initiative
in pre-election period but is an awkward and embarraced formulation,"
Mrs. Alaverdyan said in her speech.
Armen Alaverdyan, deputy state tax service head, presented the draft
and informed that oorganizations registered in tax-exempt areas
will pay 10 percent profit tax in case the draft passes. Until now,
such organizations were exempt of profit tax. In the words of Hamlet
Harutunyan, member of Armenian Republican Party (HHK), tax-exempt
areas known as ovshor zones are centers for money laundering and many
organizations of Armenian origin have registered in such countries
and are tax exempt but work in Armenia.
Armen Alaverdyan confirmed what Harutunyan said also saying that
the founders easily register their organizations in "ovshor" zones
through internet but pursue activities in Armenia. That is why they
have decided to require 10 percent profit tax from such organizations,
thus, bringing them out of shadow.
The deputies will vote on the draft in the first reading after the
discussions.