MP: AMENDMENTS TO TAX LAWS SPECIFYING LOCAL AUTHORITIES’ POWERS

ARKA
Feb 18, 2010

YEREVAN, February 18. /ARKA/. The government-proposed amendments
to tax laws don’t widen local governing institutions’ powers, but
only specify them, Vardan Ayvazyan, chairman of Armenian National
Assembly’s economic committee, said on Wednesday.

"Even if the proposed bill is passed without changes, it doesn’t
mean that local self-governing authorities will get a right to set
new taxes at their own discretion," he said.

The lawmaker said that the amendments "give local administrations
greater financial opportunities necessary for using their legal
powers".

He said that that despite local authorities enjoy legal powers,
they have no levers against unfair taxpayers.

The bill, he said, clearly specifies property and land taxes, which
constitute the main financial source for filling community budgets.

At the same time, Ayvazyan agreed with opponents who think that some
taxes, such as tax on sales, need better specification.

The amendments imply separation of national and local taxes and define
types of local taxes.

Property, land, hotel, sales taxes, as well as taxes on uncompleted
construction, uncultivated agricultural areas, misapplication of land
plots intended for construction, advertising on the communities’
property, car parking and occupation of public territories are
considered as local taxes.

The bill will brought to a vote on the next parliamentary session
scheduled for February 22.