ARMENPRESS

CUSTOMS AND TAX AGENCIES EXCEED PROJECTED TARGETS

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS: The government
has twice revised this year the originally projected
targets for the state customs committee having raised
them eventually to 188 billion Drams, nevertheless the
government-affiliated agency will have collected this
year some 210 billion Drams.
Chief of the committee, Armen Avetisian, who met
December 27 with journalists, described the progress
as unprecedented, saying it was the direct outcome of
an improved administration and effective `customs and
tariff’ policy.
He said overall his subordinates registered this
year 43 cases of smuggling and 252 cases of breach of
customs procedures.
Tax authorities have collected for their part 255
billion Drams, up from 194.5 billion Drams from a year
ago. The state taxation service said growth was
reported both in direct and indirect tax collection
rates.
It said profit and income taxes amounted to 65.7
and 40.3 billion respectively. Collection of
simplified taxes also rose to almost 9 billion Drams.
The service attributed the growth to better tax
administration and a stronger crackdown on tax
evasion.