Deputy prime minister comments on idea to tax labor migrants’ money transfers
19.11.2018,
18:16
The idea to tax money transfers sent by Armenian labor migrants working outside the country to their families should be backed by the majority of the citizens, the acting first deputy prime minister Ararat Mirzoyan said today during an extraordinary cabinet session.
YEREVAN, November 19. /ARKA/. The idea to tax money transfers sent by Armenian labor migrants working outside the country to their families should be backed by the majority of the citizens, the acting first deputy prime minister Ararat Mirzoyan said today during an extraordinary cabinet session.
Mirzoyan’s remarks came on the heels of a statement made earlier by the head of the State Revenue Committee David Ananyan, who unveiled the idea in an interview with Public Radio saying that money transfers sent by labor migrants to their families may be subject to 23% income taxation.
According to him, the tax should be levied on an annual basis. Ananyan said if a person who received income outside the country, had paid the taxes, he/she must submit documents to prove it and if the amount of income tax paid abroad is different from the local rate, the migrants will have to pay the difference.
"The public and especially the social networks are actively and thoroughly discussing this idea. I want to emphasize for all Armenian citizens that without broad public debates and public consent no increase in the tax burden will be enforced," Mirzoyan said.
Mirzoyan added also that the idea to tax migrant workers’ remittances was a bit distorted and incorrectly commented. He explained that there is a proposal to introduce a unified income declaration system for all citizens, which, if enforced will require that all citizens declare their income, as civil servants and officials now do.
He said there is a need to find out public feelings concerning the idea saying also if it is implemented, it will be necessary to exclude double taxation of any income.
According to the Central Bank, in the first 9 months of 2018, a total of $1.279.1 billion were remitted to Armenia as private money transfers from $1.234.7 billion a year before. --0--
Mirzoyan’s remarks came on the heels of a statement made earlier by the head of the State Revenue Committee David Ananyan, who unveiled the idea in an interview with Public Radio saying that money transfers sent by labor migrants to their families may be subject to 23% income taxation.
According to him, the tax should be levied on an annual basis. Ananyan said if a person who received income outside the country, had paid the taxes, he/she must submit documents to prove it and if the amount of income tax paid abroad is different from the local rate, the migrants will have to pay the difference.
"The public and especially the social networks are actively and thoroughly discussing this idea. I want to emphasize for all Armenian citizens that without broad public debates and public consent no increase in the tax burden will be enforced," Mirzoyan said.
Mirzoyan added also that the idea to tax migrant workers’ remittances was a bit distorted and incorrectly commented. He explained that there is a proposal to introduce a unified income declaration system for all citizens, which, if enforced will require that all citizens declare their income, as civil servants and officials now do.
He said there is a need to find out public feelings concerning the idea saying also if it is implemented, it will be necessary to exclude double taxation of any income.
According to the Central Bank, in the first 9 months of 2018, a total of $1.279.1 billion were remitted to Armenia as private money transfers from $1.234.7 billion a year before. --0--
